Aesthetic Surgery
Face & Neck Lift
The SMAS and deeper tissue repositioned to restore the cheek and jawline, with the extent chosen to match your degree of laxity.
Care you can measure
Figures from the YOUNIFY surgical programme.
01 — Planning
Assess which layer before the extent is chosen
Which layer has descended decides the operation.
Your surgeon separates whether your laxity comes from stretched skin, a descended SMAS layer, repositioned fat, or separated neck muscle — each is corrected differently.
That assessment decides how deep the lift needs to go and whether the neck has to be included, which directly determines both recovery time and how long the result holds.
Pre-operative assessment is a planning aid. It illustrates an expected direction, not a guaranteed outcome.
What is a face & neck lift?
A facelift and neck lift tighten sagging skin and the underlying SMAS muscle layer to redefine the cheeks, nasolabial folds, jowls, and jawline for a firmer, more youthful look.
Your surgeon assesses skin laxity, fat volume, and facial structure to choose the level of lift (mini, lower, full) and plan incisions hidden along the hairline and behind the ears.
Concerns it addresses
Sagging cheeks / deep folds
Cheek tissue descends, deepening the nasolabial folds and tiring the face.
Jowls / blurred jawline
Skin and fat sag along the jaw, obscuring a clean jawline.
Loose neck skin / bands
Lax neck skin or muscle bands make the neck look aged.
Midface volume loss
Cheeks and midface deflate with age, leaving a hollow, drawn look.
SMAS Plication vs Deep Plane Lift
These two approaches differ in which tissue layer is lifted and where the tension is carried. Your physician assesses the degree of laxity before recommending the extent of surgery.
| SMAS plication | Deep plane | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Tightens the SMAS layer with sutures | Repositions the cheek by lifting the deeper tissue with it |
| Method | Suture plication of the SMAS layer | The SMAS and deeper tissue are lifted as one unit |
| Strength | Less swelling, a faster recovery, and a lower risk to the facial nerve | Repositions the cheek further, looks natural and lasts longer, because the tension is not carried by the skin |
| Who it suits | Mild to moderate laxity, particularly of the cheek and jawline | Marked laxity, deep nasolabial folds, or a descended cheek |
| Recovery time | Shorter | Longer, in proportion to how deep the plane worked |
How we plan your result
Facial aging comes from deep tissue and volume descending, not skin alone. A good lift repositions the SMAS muscle layer along the right vectors to restore the youthful triangle — rather than simply pulling skin tight.
Your planning options
Who is it for
- Those with sagging facial skin and deep nasolabial folds
- Those with jowls or loose neck skin
- Those with a blurred jawline from skin laxity
- Those in good health with realistic expectations
03 — Technique
How deep the lift goes and whether the neck is included
The deeper the layer treated, the longer the result holds — and the longer the recovery.
SMAS plication
The SMAS layer is sutured back into position without extensive deep dissection.
Benefits: Less swelling, faster recovery and lower risk to the facial nerve.
Suitable for: Mild to moderate laxity, particularly of the cheek and jawline.
Deep plane
The SMAS and cheek fat are released and moved as one unit, rather than pulling skin and deep layer separately.
Benefits: Repositions the cheek further, and the result looks natural and lasts longer because the tension is not carried by the skin.
Suitable for: Clear laxity, deep nasolabial folds, or a descended midface.
Neck component
The separated platysma muscle is tightened and submental fat addressed, through a small incision under the chin alongside the incisions behind the ear.
Benefits: Corrects neck banding and an indistinct chin-neck angle, which a face-only lift cannot reach.
Suitable for: Visible neck bands, or a poorly defined angle between chin and neck.
04 — Your team
Performed by board-certified plastic surgeons
This procedure is carried out by surgeons certified by the Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Credentials below are as registered.
Dr. Phattrapohn Liangcheep
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Medical License No. 55825
View full profile →
Dr. Thanachot Kamolveerat
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Diploma of the Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
View full profile →05 — Safety
Operating room standards and monitoring
Surgery is performed in a licensed operating facility with anaesthesia care and continuous monitoring throughout.
Licensed operating facility
Procedures are performed in a registered operating room, not a treatment room.
Specialist anaesthesia care
Anaesthesia is administered and monitored by a qualified anaesthesiologist for the duration of surgery.
Continuous monitoring
Vital signs are monitored continuously during the procedure and through initial recovery.
Sterile instrument protocol
Instruments and implants are handled under a documented sterile protocol.
The treatment process
Consult & assess laxity
Evaluate skin laxity, fat volume, and facial structure, and set goals together.
Plan level & vectors
Choose the level of lift and design vectors that suit your face.
Prepare for anesthesia
Health checks to ensure you're fit for general anesthesia and surgery.
Surgery day
Performed in a standard operating theatre with one night in hospital.
Aftercare
A swelling-and-bruising program, wound care, and recovery guidance.
Follow-up
Suture removal and reviews as the contour settles.
Recovery timeline
Your surgery at YOUNIFY
From the surgeon who operates to the nurses who follow up — and a private suite to recover in.
Price list
* Indicative prices for reference only. Some items are priced per area. Final pricing depends on an individual assessment. Overseas prices are indicative market estimates for comparison only — contact our team for a personalized quote.
Your final quote follows an individual medical assessment. You receive a written quotation before any deposit.
Frequently asked questions
How long do results last?
SMAS lifting delivers long-lasting results over many years, though skin continues to age naturally.
Will scars be visible?
Incisions are hidden along the hairline and behind the ears and become hard to notice once healed.
How is it different from threads or HIFU?
A surgical lift addresses significant laxity precisely and lasts longer; non-surgical options suit early laxity.
Is recovery painful?
Tightness and swelling are expected at first and controlled with prescribed medication, improving within 1–2 weeks.
* This information is for general education. Results and treatment plans depend on an individual medical assessment.
Related procedures
Interested in a face & neck lift?
Book a consultation to assess skin laxity and plan a personalized treatment with the YOUNIFY Clinic team.
Reviewed by The YOUNIFY Clinic medical team · Last reviewed
Individual results may vary. Please consult a doctor before treatment.