by Dr. Steven Wallach
The facelift is a highly customizable procedure which can be personalized to suit your specific needs and aesthetic goals. Depending on your individual requirements, you can opt either for a full or a mini facelift. When you choose to undergo the mini facelift procedure, you can benefit from a shorter recovery period and avoid the scarring associated with the full facelift. Even though it is an effective procedure, the mini facelift is not for everybody and you should find out more about it before choosing it.
What is a mini facelift?
You will find that different surgeons offer variations of the mini facelift. You will benefit from shorter incisions when compared to the traditional full facelift. That is why it is also known as the ‘short scar’ facelift procedure. During the procedure, Dr. Wallach will make a small incision in the front of your ears which allows him to lift the mid-face and jowl region. You should know that it will not lift the entire facial area, but the procedure is limited to only lifting the area around your cheeks and jowls. If you have very loose neck skin, then you are better off with a full facelift.
The mini facelift procedure is an effective option to achieve subtler results than what you can get from the full facelift. When you want to reverse skin laxity ranging from mild to moderate in the neck and jowls, you will get the best results from a mini facelift. However, you will get a subtle lift to your neck and you cannot eliminate permanent jowls with this procedure.
Benefits of the mini facelift
There may be some limitations of the mini facelift procedure, but it also has several advantages which make it a popular choice. Here are some of the advantages of the procedure you must be aware of:
- You will enjoy a shorter recovery period and most of our patients return to their work within 3 to 7 days when you heal well.
- Your incisions from the procedure will be shorter and this means that the swelling and pain from the mini facelift is also significantly less.
- Your mini facelift can be performed under local anesthesia and this reduces any risks which are associated with the general anesthesia.
- The mini facelift procedure is also less expensive.
Who is a good candidate for the mini facelift?
Usually, a mini facelift candidate is below the age of 50. The reason for this is that those still in their 30s and 40s only experience mild-to-moderate sagging in their mid-face area. In addition to the skin laxity, there may be a certain amount of sagging in the SMAS as well. The mini facelift addresses all these concerns effectively.
When you are above the age of 50, there might be considerable skin laxity in the face and neck area, and you will not get the results you desire from the mini facelift procedure. However, if you have been slim most of your life, there might not be any fatty deposits in the face and neck area. This makes you a good candidate for the procedure even though you are in your 50s owing to mild sagging that can be easily addressed with the mini facelift. It is also a great option for you if you cannot take the required time off work and are happy with the subtler results.
Regardless of the surgical procedure, you choose to undergo, you must have realistic expectations. During your consultation, ensure that you look through the before and after photos of patients who are from your age group and have undergone the mini facelift. This will help you see the kind of results that can be expected.
Enhancing your results
You may or may not choose to have a combination of procedures with the mini facelift, but Dr. Wallach can help you enhance your results with certain nonsurgical treatments. You can boost your results without adding any extra time to your recovery period. The most popular of these treatments is the use of injectables like the neuromodulator Botox which reduces the frown lines, crow’s feet and enhances the contours of your cheeks. Another popular option is dermal fillers or fat grafting which help restore lost volume and you can add to the hollowed areas around your eyes and mouth. Fillers or fat injection can help augment your cheeks and lips as well. When added to your mini facelift procedure, these treatments help you achieve complete facial rejuvenation.