What can I expect from mini face lift? Results, recovery, incisions?

FACIAL REJUVENATION: no two surgeries are alike

I prefer the term 'facial rejuvenation' over the more antiquated term 'facelift', as many patients that I see who seek a more youthful and refreshed facial appearance undergo a set of surgical procedures very different from what would have been considered a 'facelift' twenty-five years ago.

The word 'rejuvenation' means, literally, 'to make young again'. In each individual, different facial changes occur with age. One person may be unhappy with 'baggy eyelids', while another has 'droopy eyebrows'. One person may be troubled by 'jowls' in the lower face, while another would like an improvement in their 'floppy neck'.

Surgical treatment of facial aging changes must therefore be carefully individualized to match each patient's aesthetic needs and desires. No two 'facelifts', by necessity, are the same. In helping a patient to make decisions about plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation, I always examine and assess how each aesthetic area or 'unit' of the face contributes to an individual's overall appearance: the brows and eyelids, the cheeks or 'midface', the lower face and chin, and the neck. An individualized surgical plan is then developed which addresses each patient's specific concerns and needs.

Plastic Surgery of the Face in the 21st Century

The specialty of Plastic Surgery has been undergoing a 'paradigm shift' in the approach to surgical treatment of facial aging changes over the last two decades. This shift has consisted of a departure from older 'subtractive' techniques to newer 'restorative' techniques.

Surgery which consists mainly of removing (subtracting) skin and fat and pulling tissues tight will lead, in many instances, to a 'skeletonized' and therefore more aged (or "done") appearance. Facial soft tissues (and even the facial bones) actually lose volume and projection with age, and it is thus inevitable that surgery which focuses only on removing tissue will in some fashion 'age' the face. The contemporary approach to surgical rejuvenation of the face consists more and more of an attempt to restore facial volume and contour, in an attempt to emulate youthful facial features. My personal approach to facial rejuvenation is to first maximize repositioning and recontouring of facial aesthetic areas, and to remove only as much tissue as is necessary.

I also find that structural fat grafting, using a patient's own fat from the abdomen or hips, is an extremely effective means to help restore the facial volume associated with a youthful appearance. The importance of restoring facial volume is readily apparent when I review with a patient a number of photographs from their twenties and thirties. The meticulous addition of soft tissue volume by means of fat grafting is one of the most powerful means now available for 'turning the clock back.'

The term mini lift might mean something different to different people. Some people might describe a mini lift as lower face only, or possibly a midface lift, or even eyelid surgery. What is important is not the name of the procedure but that you and your plastic surgeon are in agreement about what your goals are and that you understand the downtime and recovery period.

Surgical or even non-surgical treatment of facial aging changes must be carefully individualized to match each patient's aesthetic needs and desires. In helping a patient to make decisions about plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation, I always examine and assess how each aesthetic area or 'unit' of the face contributes to an individual's overall appearance: the brows and eyelids, the cheeks or 'midface', the lower face and chin, and the neck. An individualized plan is then developed which addresses each patient's specific concerns and needs.

A "liquid facelift" is a procedure that is performed using temporary dermal fillers like Juvederm Restylane or Perlane. There is little to no downtime with a liquid facelift. This might be an ideal treatment for some, but the results are temporary and it does not address excess skin.

Structural fat grafting, sometimes referred to as microfat grafting can provide fullness to lips, cheeks, hollowed upper or lower eyelids and can fill lines and wrinkles on the face. Unlike the liquid facelift, the results from structural fat grafting can be permanent

Laser Skin tightening is a non-invasive treatment with little to no downtime. For individuals with early signs of aging, uneven skin tone, scarring or large pores a laser skin tightening procedure can provide dramatic results.

Full Facial rejuvenation or a full facelift may be the answer for some. Some people looking for facial rejuvenation are interested in the lower face, midface and eyes, others are interested in one area only. Surgical treatment of facial aging changes must therefore be carefully individualized to match each patient's aesthetic needs and desires. No two 'facelifts', by necessity, are the same. In helping a patient to make decisions about plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation, I always examine and assess how each aesthetic area or 'unit' of the face contributes to an individual's overall appearance: the brows and eyelids, the cheeks or 'midface', the lower face and chin, and the neck. An individualized surgical plan is then developed which addresses each patient's specific concerns and needs.

 Consult with a plastic surgeon who has experience and expertise in both surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation to determine the treatment plan that is best for you.

Mini-lifts including the Lifestyle Lift offer minimal pulling through usually traditional facelift incisions.  The downtime is slightly less than for an actual facelift.  Many patients are very disappointed to learn that their mini-lifts had the same incisions as if they had a real facelift, but half the result or less.  Because of the excessively tight closure of many minilifts (in an attempt to pull on tissues that are far away), the scars can be wide and unsightly.  The results are typically not lasting because not much pulling was done.

An expert facelift surgeon (i.e. board certified plastic surgeon) who has performed more than a thousand facelifts can perform an actual facelift with SMAS adjustment typically in about 2 hours.  Often, ancillary procedures are performed (volume restoration with LiveFill, eyelid rejuvenation, platysmaplasty procedure (i.e. Neck-Lace), brow rejuvenation, lip lifts, etc), so the time is often more in the range of 4 hours.

After "mini-lifts", especially some I have seen, many people are not fit to be be seen in public at all, with significant visible scarring and deformation of the earlobes because of tight pulling.  With a cleverly performed facelift, it should be minimally apparent that the patient has had any work done at all.  The downtime before cessation of bruising is maybe 48 hours longer with an actual facelift vs. a minilift.  Luckily, we are able to revise most LSL's and convert them to real facelifts, greatly reducing the scars around the ears and significantly tightening the deeper tissues in the process.  However, the mini-lift patients whom we revise have undergone two procedures when they could have just had one.

For patients on a budget (the usual in these economic times), it is better to save and have the procedure done properly than to pay a lower fee and be disappointed.

If you are young and are seeing early signs of facial aging, perhaps a mini facelift is adequate to treat your situation. Far too many patients, however, are tempted by the allure of a mini lift thinking it will give them the same result as a properly done facelift and that the results will last as long. This is simply not true.

The Lifestyle lift is a heavily marketed procedure trying to capture your interest with a clever name and promises that are frequently not delivered when you read multiple patient reviews. A well performed true facelift on the other hand has a 80-90% satisfaction as listed on this web site.

Usually it is best to do all you can with fillers, Botox, photorejuvination and skin care and wait until you really need a facelift and then go and find the best plastic surgeon and get a great result.

Debra,

The mini facelift is an excellent facelift for those with mini changes in their face- slight drooping of the jowls, minor loose skin around the neck line can be improved. Mini face lifts certainly have a role for the right candidate - one with mini changes. They will last as quickly as you age and will likely require 'touch up' surgery along the way.

The usual recovery time is about a week. Remember the mini lift has mini downtime, mini discomfort, and mini results compared to a full facelift.

Usually, people who are disappointed with the mini facelift are those who needed a full face lift but opted for or were 'sold' the mini. For this reason, be careful with the branded mini lifts. The concern isn't with the technique, but with the hard sell. You don't want to be offered a mini lift as your solution because all that facility performs are mini facelifts! Also, the performing surgeon should be a part of your consultation and have met with you prior to surgery to ask questions. Many of the brand name commercial outfits don't have the surgeon see you until the day of surgery. This isn't good if you are being over-promised results by your consultant that the surgeon can't provide.

Again, you can certainly have a lasting, quality result if you are the right patient. Just remember as far as facelifts go, mini facelifts equal mini changes, full facelifts equal major changes. It all depends on how much changes is in order.

A mini face lift or limited incision face lift produces a rejuvenation of the face, jowl, and cheek area.

The results are quite good and recovery takes about 10 days to 2 weeks. The incisions heal well and quickly.