The Fresh New Face of Facial Rejuvenation

Approximately six years ago, two Belgian plastic surgeons developed a new approach for facial rejuvenation that used loops of suture and a shorter incision that was located in front of the patient’s ear. Dr. Jewell became interested in this approach as it appeared to offer patients better, more natural outcomes, faster recovery back to normal activities, and best of all, when it was finished, not having the tell tale signs of a “classic” facelift.

Formerly, most facial rejuvenation procedures were performed by deeper, more invasive approaches (“classic rhytidectomy”). While this approach still remains a good option for some patients, the MACS lift offers most patients a more simple way to tighten and lift face and neck structures. Dr. Jewell believes that patients seeking facial rejuvenation should have options regarding the best, most effective technique to meet their needs.

The MACS (Minimal Access-Cranial Suspension) short scar facelift provides patients seeking facial rejuvenation greater choice to improve neck looseness, jowls, and return of youthful volume to the cheeks and mid face region. It can be performed at the same time with other complimentary procedures such as blepharoplasty, brow lift, VASER® lipoplasty to chin and jaw line, and tissue fillers (Restylane®/Juve’derm®) or fat grafts.

The MACS lift offers the plastic surgeon a greater level or versatility in facial rejuvenation as it appears to be very effective in restoring the youthful appearance of facial fullness (volume) and neck tightening. This approach is possible by the use of loops of absorbable suture that are placed within the facial tissues to lift and tighten. This should not be confused with “thread lifts” (barbed sutures, also known as the “lunchtime” facelift) that do not last very long. Patient outcomes from the MACS lift have excellent longevity. This procedure can be performed in both primary and secondary situations of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Dr. Jewell’s academic interest in the MACS lift rapidly went beyond his initial learning about this technique that was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (www.plasreconsurg.com) in 2002, to a trip to visit Drs. Tonnard and Verpaele, the originators of the MACS lift at their clinic in Ghent, Belgium to learn firsthand about this new form of facial rejuvenation. From that point, he rapidly adopted this technique into his practice.

Dr. Jewell was invited by Drs. Tonnard and Verpaele to publish a chapter in their second textbook on the Short Scar Facelift- Operative Strategies and Techniques (Quality Medical Publishing, www.qmp.com) that was released in July 2007. He also teaches the MACS lift with his two Belgian Colleagues at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic plastic Surgery (ASAPS), as an international lecturer, and as a Traveling Professor for ASAPS. Biomechanical engineering concepts that are associated with the MACS lift were presented by Dr. Jewell at the Second CATFAS meeting (Controversies, Art, Technology in Facial Aesthetic Surgery) (www.catfas.be), September 2007 in Ghent Belgium.

According to Dr. Jewell, advancements in facial rejuvenation, such as the MACS lift, along with other complimentary procedures that include medical skin care, fillers, BOTOX®, and light-based skin treatments offer patients a comprehensive range of effective, safe solutions to improve facial features and retard the effects of sun damage and aging.

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