Mini Facelift: Turn Back The Clock in 2023
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift is a less invasive version of the traditional facelift, which can improve sagging cheeks, jowls and tighten the jaw line. The incisions are typically shorter and recovery time quicker. As the surgery is less extensive, swelling and bruising is limited, allowing you to return to work more quickly.
The aim of a mini facelift is to give you a subtle, natural, refreshed or well-rested appearance.
What Are The Advantages Of Mini Facelift?
Mini facelift can produce excellent results in selected patients. Other advantages include;
- Surgery is carried out under sedation anaesthesia, therefore patients avoid the unpleasant effects of general anaesthesia.
- Minimal scarring.
- Quicker recovery than a traditional facelift.
During your consultation, Mr Karri will examine your face and discuss your goals. A mini facelift is not suited for everyone and he will discuss the best option for you. Patients with neck bands, excess neck skin, heavy jowls and midface descent are better served with a high-SMAS facelift or a midface lift and Mr Karri will explain what these procedures involve.
Some patients may benefit from additional procedures such as facial fat grafting or laser skin resurfacing to help achieve the look they desire.
Am I Good Candidate For A Mini Facelift?
The best candidates for a mini facelift are;
- Younger patients who have mild jowls and mild sagging of the neck, and are not yet appropriate for a traditional facelift.
- Who have elastic skin and good bone structure.
- Are generally healthy and do not have a medical condition that could impede healing.
- Do not smoke.
- Have realistic expectations of the results and willing to follow all pre-op and post-op instructions.
What Will a Mini Facelift Not Do?
It is important to understand that a mini facelift cannot achieve the same dramatic results as a traditional facelift. Furthermore, mini facelift does not stop ageing and over time the signs of ageing will gradually reappear. How quickly this occurs depends on many factors, including sun exposure, skin quality, age and genetics.
Mini facelift does not rejuvenate the eyebrows, eyelids, nose or eliminate wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and chin. If you wish to improve these areas, then you must consider combining your facelift with brow lift, eyelid surgery or a skin resurfacing procedure.
A mini facelift is performed under sedation anaesthesia and this will allow you to sleep during the procedure and wake up comfortably at the end.
The incisions are typically shorter than for a traditional facelift and located along the temporal hairline, in front of the ear and for a variable length behind the earlobe. Through the incision, the deep muscular layer (known as Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System or SMAS) is tightened, the skin is tightened and the excess removed.
Tightening the SMAS is an essential component of mini facelift as it raises sagging facial tissue to create a natural well-rested look, without the windswept appearance.
While some swelling and bruising can be expected, these side effects are usually less extensive than after a traditional facelift. Most patients are able to return to work and other normal activities after about one week. Going to the gym or other vigorous activity can usually be resumed after four weeks.
Recovery From Mini Facelift
Recovery following a mini facelift is generally quicker than that of a traditional facelift. As one would expect there is some swelling and bruising but this usually resolves after 7 to 10 days. The final result however, may not be apparent for a number of weeks.
Scars / poor scarring – in some patients the scars may become red, raised or asymmetric (appear different on the right and left side of the face).
Bruising and swelling – bruising and swelling is expected but rarely, can persist for several weeks.
Bleeding and haematoma formation – it is possible, though unusual, to experience a bleeding episode during or after surgery. Should postoperative bleeding occur, emergency treatment may be necessary to drain the accumulated blood.
Infection – should an infection arise then treatment with antibiotics or further surgery may be necessary.
Delayed wound healing – delayed wound healing is possible.
Asymmetry – there is always a risk of asymmetry whenever surgery is performed on both sides of the body. It is important to understand that nearly everyone has some pre-existing asymmetry e.g. the right cheekbone may be fuller than the left etc.
Nerve injury – motor and sensory nerves may be injured during a facelift resulting in weakness or loss of facial movements.
Numbness around the ears
Skin necrosis – very rarely, blood supply to the skin may be compromised so as to result in skin necrosis. This risk is higher in smokers.
Medically reviewed by
Mr Vasu Karri
BSc(Hons), MBBS, MRCS, MSc, FRCS(Plast)
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Last updated 4th September 2023
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