What Is A Mini Facelift?

Understanding a mini facelift helps you to know what goes into a full facelift.

What Is A Full Facelift?

A full facelift involves incisions along the hairline, temple and around the ear. It repositions the upper, middle and lower sections of the face and removes excess fat and skin if necessary. Full facelifts can be paired with other procedures like a browlift, eyelid surgery, a necklift and more. The procedure takes longer to do and to heal from completely, depending on what else is done.

What Is A Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift involves smaller and fewer incisions than a full facelift, typically around the ear and potentially at the temple. It addresses only the areas that need help in the lower section of the face. It does not affect the eyes or forehead. Different surgeons have variations on the mini facelift so always discuss your expectations with your provider.

Who is an ideal candidate for a mini facelift?

A mini facelift might be able to address your concerns with less invasion than a full facelift if you have:

• Loose skin or jowls
• A lack of definition in the chin
• Extra fat deposits in the face

If you think you need additional procedures like eyelid surgery, it may make more sense to get a full facelift. Talk to your plastic surgeon to determine which is best for you. Mini facelifts are very common, especially for younger patients.

Benefits of A Mini Facelift

If you think you are a candidate for a mini facelift, there are many reasons to opt for it.

• Less Scarring - Because there are fewer incisions, there is less to heal. In addition, incisions are placed within the hairline or the natural lines and curves of the face to hide scars.
• Faster Recovery - Compared to a full facelift, a mini has less swelling, tenderness, and bruising to heal. Less downtime means you won’t need to go into deep hiding while you recover, if you’re concerned people will know you’ve had surgery.
• Efficiency - In many cases, mini facelifts can be completed in a few hours. They are known as the “weekend facelift” and are compared to a slightly more involved necklift.
• Less Anesthesia - While a full facelift requires general anesthesia, because it is so extensive, a mini can be done using local anesthesia. This means the patient remains conscious but does not feel pain.
• Cost Effective - As you would expect, less surgery means less money.

It is important to note that because the procedure is less invasive and does not do full repositioning of the facial skin, results can diminish as time goes on due to hormones, aging, and environmental issues. Typically mini facelifts last up to seven years before either needing to be repeated or a more thorough facelift performed. That is not to say it isn’t worthwhile; if you don’t have severe sagging you could end up looking stretched and less natural with a full facelift, whereas if you resolve the current issue of mild to moderate sagging with a mini lift, in a decade it might make more sense to get a full lift.

Contact Us

If you’re dissatisfied with signs of aging around your face, please contact us to discuss which options are most appropriate for your concerns. Call our experienced Edmonton staff at (780) 407-6691 or use our online contact form.