It may benefit forehead and frown lines, crow's feet, lower eyelids, lines on the side of the nose, and the area between the upper lip and the nose. The injections need to be repeated every few months, since the effects wear off. The treatment decreases the ability to frown or squint and may cause the corners of the mouth to turn down. It is also useful for treating involuntary muscle movements that can occur after a face-lift. The muscles are tightened and excess fat and tissue, such as fat under the chin and neck, are removed.
Excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is sutured or stapled in place.
Endoscopy, a more recent technique, is less invasive. Using this method, the surgeon raises facial structures rather than cuts away flaps of skin. Only three half-inch incisions are made, and scarring is minimal. Some time after the SMAS facelift, the upper face begins to age again while the lower area still retains its shape, causing the face to look imbalanced. Procedures called composite facelifts that lift most muscles in the face are being investigated.