Short-scar face lift with extended SMAS platysma dissection and lifting and limited skin undermining.

In the past 8 years, short-scar cervicofacial rhytidectomy has been used with great success and a high level of patient satisfaction. The operation involves limited incisions in the sideburn and preauricular areas, extending just around the fold of the ear lobule. Extensive undermining of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS)/platysma is performed, and lifting of the face and neck is performed mainly at this level. Skin undermining is kept to a minimum, eliminating the need for extended incisions to reduce dog-ears. The preservation of fibrous bands between the skin and the SMAS/platysma unit is an important factor in making such an operation practical and is the reason why the skin incisions can be kept short. Dissection of large areas of skin and separation of the skin from the underlying SMAS necessitate larger incisions. The operation is safe, speedy, less traumatic, and well tolerated among patients at high risk, such as smokers. The risks of complications are also reduced with this operation.