"How Many Years Younger?"—AI Has Produced the Answer to That Question in Numbers
faceliftyou're interested, but do you hold the question "how many years younger does a facelift make me?" There is a study that, rather than a vague "I feel younger,"facial-age analysis using AI (artificial intelligence)objectively measured the rejuvenation effect.
Based on that study's data, this article conveys the differences in rejuvenation effect by technique with concrete numbers.
What You'll Learn in This Article
- The rejuvenation effect of facelifts—results confirmed with AI analysis data
- How SMAS method plus combined fat grafting changes the rejuvenation effect
- The difference between skin-only surgery and the SMAS method
- The latest trends seen from 3,400 cases
- Points for choosing a technique that suits you
"I've started noticing sagging, but is it worth going as far as surgery?", "I'm torn overthread lifts"—for exactly such people, this information that allows comparison by numbers may be a useful reference.
What Is AI Facial-Age Analysis? Why It's Trustworthy
In the past, facelift effects were almost always measured by "patient satisfaction" or "the physician's subjective evaluation." However, this had the problem of being hard to compare objectively.
In 2021,Gibstein et al.in their published study,using AI facial-age estimation technology, quantified the "apparent age" before and after surgery. The subjects were 105 patients, and the AI was fed pre- and post-op photos to compute each estimated age.
AI age-estimation technology also has its limits, but in comparisons under the same conditions, it is more consistent than human subjective evaluation and is considered useful for comparing techniques.
References
- Gibstein A, Chen K, Nakfoor B, et al. Facelift Surgery Turns Back the Clock: Artificial Intelligence and Patient Satisfaction Quantitate Value of Procedure Type and Specific Techniques. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021 DOI
- Stein M, Shah N, Harrast J, et al. Clinical Practice Patterns in Facelift Surgery: A 15-Year Review of Continuous Certification Tracer Data from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2024 DOI
Marked Rejuvenation With the SMAS Method—Analysis Results by Technique
Gibstein et al.Let's look at the analysis results revealed in the study of.
Results of the SMAS Method
The SMAS method is a technique that lifts a tissue beneath the skin called theSMAS layer (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). Since it lifts not only the skin but the underlying structure as well, a more natural and lasting effect can be expected.
In this study, the rejuvenation effect of the SMAS method was objectively measured, and a significant difference in AI-estimated age was found before and after surgery (with individual variation).
When Fat Grafting Is Combined
In cases where fat grafting into the face was performed simultaneously in addition to the SMAS method, there was a tendency to observe a greater rejuvenation effect.
Fat grafting is a procedure that replenishes volume lost with age. It is thought that, beyond lifting sagging, by plumping up the hollows of the cheeks and temples, it leads to a more youthful impression.
The Difference From Skin-Only Surgery
The once-mainstream facelift of "pulling only the skin" is said to be unable to achieve the effect of the SMAS method. Skin-only traction is prone to early relapse, and the risk of an unnatural pulled look (the so-called "wind-blown face") has long been pointed out.
Today, techniques that manipulate the SMAS layer and deeper tissue have become standard, andStein et al.'s large-scale review also corroborates this tendency with 15 years of data.
The Latest Facelift Situation Shown by Large-Scale Data
Stein et al.'s large-scale review, published in 2023, analyzed3,400 facelift surgeriesperformed over the past 15 years.
The important points that can be read from this study are as follows.
- Techniques manipulating the SMAS layer and deeper are increasing year by year
- The combination rate of fat grafting is on an upward trend
- The age range of patients is broader than before
- The complication rate is declining as techniques advance
What the large-scale data shows is the fact that the facelift is changing from a "special surgery" into an "evidence-based standard rejuvenation treatment."
Especially noteworthy is the rise in the combination rate of fat grafting.Gibstein et al.'s study also showed the effect improvement from combined fat grafting, and considering it together with the trend data from the large-scale review, the combination of SMAS method + fat grafting is expected to become increasingly common going forward.
Considering the Value of Facelifts With Research Data
How to take the objective data from AI analysis is up to each person. However, these research results carry several meanings.
You can judge by data rather than feeling
It's not "I somehow feel younger," but a value measured by the third-party eye of AI. It becomes material to explain with evidence during pre-op consultation that "such a change may be expectable."
In fact, inGibstein et al.'s study, a correlation was found between patients' own satisfaction ratings and the AI's age-estimation results. In that objective data and subjective satisfaction tend to coincide, this measurement method can be said to be highly valuable.
It can serve as a reference for technique selection
The effect of the SMAS method alone, the effect with combined fat grafting—knowing these differences becomes material for thinking about how much change you want and which technique matches it.
For example, those mainly concerned with jawline sagging may obtain sufficient effect with the SMAS method alone. On the other hand, those with noticeable cheek hollows or temple wasting may expect greater change by combining fat grafting.
It becomes easier to consider cost-effectiveness
A facelift's effect is generally said to last 5–10 years or more (with individual variation). Compared with repeating temporary procedures, concrete research data is also helpful when weighing long-term cost-effectiveness.
The Relationship With Patient Satisfaction
It's not necessarily the case that the greater the effect, the higher the satisfaction. What matters is "whether the expected change was obtained." Setting realistic goals during pre-op consultation while referring to research data is the key to raising post-op satisfaction.
Things to Know Before Considering a Facelift
Of course, we don't recommend deciding on surgery by numbers alone. It's important to consider the following points together.
- Downtime: Swelling and bruising usually become inconspicuous in 2–3 weeks, but full settling can take several months
- Individual variation: Results vary by skin type, bone structure, and degree of aging progression. You need to understand this is the study's "average tendency"
- Risk: Every surgery has risks. It's important to receive sufficient explanation from the physician in advance about possibilities such as hematoma, infection, and nerve damage
- Adjusting expectations: A realistic expectation is not "returning to your 20s" but "looking younger than your current self"
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Summary: For a Choice That Suits You
"How many years younger does a facelift make you"—thanks to AI facial-age analysis, we've entered an era where that answer is visualized as concrete research data. The numbers for the SMAS method's effect and the effect improvement from combined fat grafting are reference data for technique selection.
However, this is ultimately the study's average tendency, and the optimal technique and approach differ by each person's condition. While referring to research data, judging after consulting a trustworthy physician is more important than anything.
If anything concerns you, please feel free to consult us first. Zetith Beauty Clinic offers consultations based on medical evidence.
About the Author
Hiromitsu Nakamura M.D.
Zetith Beauty Clinic Ginza, Osaka, Fukuoka
Has a track record of research presentations at domestic and international conferences, and is also involved in technical guidance and education across Zetith Beauty Clinic. Specializing in precise rhinoplasty based on anatomical evidence, he pursues natural results tailored to each person's bone structure and tissue.