MACS-Lift/S-Lift (Short-Scar Facelift)

Are the negative cosmetic effects of age reducing your confidence? If you want to do something about it, but don't want to experience the trauma, expense and down time of a face lift, you owe it to yourself to find out about the MACS-Lift.

An S-Lift or MACS-Lift can accomplish just about everything that facelift surgery can accomplish -- with less surgery, less downtime and less cost. It is an ingenious minimally invasive outpatient procedure that is a perfect example of "less is more." It is performed using tumescent local anesthesia and oral sedation (Ativan). The MACS-Lift surgery involves performing only the first half of a facelift. There is an incision hidden along the contours in front of the ear, and none behind the ear or into the scalp. To get an idea of what you would look like after a MACS-Lift, find a picture of yourself from ten years ago: this will give you some idea of what a MACS-lift can do. The MACS-Lift restores the youthful lines and contours of the face and neck by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying facial layers. The MACS-Lift will not make you look like a different person but will make you look younger, more refreshed, rested and healthy. The correction is designed to produce uplifted contours and improved facial tone. Today we are able to give people a natural appearance rather than the "lifted" appearance that was often present after facelifts years ago.

What can a MACS-Lift accomplish?

The idea behind a MACS-Lift is to gently remove excess skin that is sagging on the face and neck, and to tighten the underlying tissue to achieve a long lasting result. The incision is shaped like a narrow "S" in the natural crease in front of the ear and is meticulously closed to produce a scar which is usually becomes almost invisible with time. It takes two to three hours for the entire procedure, which results in:

• A natural look
• Quick recovery time (2-7 days)
• Significant cost savings and lower risk, since general anesthesia is not involved
• Smaller incisions with minimal bleeding
• Much less post-operative bruising, swelling and scarring
• Youthful restoration of sagging skin in the lower face and neck

What is an Extended MACS-Lift?

In the Extended MACS-Lift, there is a more extensive loosening of the cheek tissue, accompanied by placement of additional sutures that serve to elevate the fat pad that gave you fuller cheeks when you were younger. As we age, this fat pad descends, producing hollowness in previously full cheeks. This fat pad also contributes to the deepening of the fold running from the corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth. By moving this tissue upward, it is possible to further roll back the years, and many people can look close to their appearance in their twenties. This type of result was not attainable with the standard facelift. One disadvantage of the Extended MACS-Lift is that because there is more surgery than the standard MACS-Lift, the recovery time is a bit longer.

What additional procedures can enhance the effect of the MACS-Lift?

Although the MACS-Lift is a wonderful procedure producing exceptional results with mildly invasive surgery, there are some people who will benefit from additional procedures, which frequently can be performed at the time of surgery. First, there are people who have sagging of the brows, producing hooding of the eyes. This can be corrected with a temporal brow lift. Second, there are people who have lost a large amount of deeper tissue. Even though their lax skin has been removed, they have a hollow appearance. This can be corrected through the use of fillers. Finally, there are people who have persistent skin wrinkles, especially on the lips and around the eyelids. This can be improved by laser resurfacing.

Who is the best candidate for a MACS-Lift?

The best candidates for MACS-Lifts are men or women with relatively well defined bone structure whose face and neck skin has started to sag, but whose skin has retained some elasticity. A candidate should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in his or her expectations. A MACS-Lift you make one look younger and fresher but it cannot produce a totally different look. Overweight patients are not good candidates. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but occasionally younger patients will benefit, and people in their seventies or eighties can also have gratifying results.

How can you learn more about a MACS-Lift?

The best way to obtain more personalized information about any procedure for yourself is to call 800-500-5842 to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Bock. He will evaluate your face including the skin and underlying bone and will tell you whether you are a candidate for this procedure or whether another procedure would better meet your needs. At the initial consultation Dr. Bock will tell you what you can expect from the procedure, the cost of the procedure and give you some idea of the risks and complications of the procedure. Should you decide to go ahead with the procedure, you will be scheduled for a photo session. At that time a detailed health history will be obtained from you and we will go over the nature of the procedure and its benefits and potential downsides in great detail. Preliminary photographs will also be obtained at that time.

Why should you choose the California Skin & Laser Center for your MACS-Lift?

At California Skin & Laser Center, we want you to have the best outcome when it comes to facelift surgery in California. We want to make sure that your needs and concerns have been promptly addressed in a caring and sensitive fashion. We strive diligently to ensure your satisfaction, your comfort, your privacy, and your safety. All treatments are supervised or performed by a board-certified facelift doctor in California with many years of successful experience in a large variety of cosmetic procedures. Many treatment modalities are available, and we can recommend the one or two that are most likely to meet your needs; we're here to meet your needs and help you realize your aspirations. At our clinic in Stockton, CA, we serve communities throughout San Joaquin County and the Central Valley, including Lodi, Sacramento, Tracy, Manteca, Modesto, Galt, and Valley Springs; many of our patients also come from the San Francisco Bay Area.