With age, our skin loses elasticity and, as a result, develops wrinkles. While there are products you can use to prevent those fine lines, in some cases, a more drastic procedure, such as a mini facelift, might be necessary. So, what is a mini facelift?
If you have been thinking about tightening your skin on the face for a more youthful appearance, a facelift is a procedure that has probably come to your mind.
Let’s get into all the details of a mini face lift procedure, as it is the less invasive one for your skin.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Yuliia Hurzhos
About Facelift Procedure
A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that regulates skin aging signs. Such facial rejuvenation surgery aims to restore the skin’s firmness and improve the skin’s texture.
Throughout the surgical procedure, the surgeons remove excess skin from the face and the neck, tighten the muscles, and reposition the tissues.
The ultimate goal is to:
- define the jawline
- define the neck-chin angle
- elevate the cheek fat over the cheekbone.
- gain youthful appearance
- natural and noticeable result
If you undergo this surgery, you need to be in good health and adhere to certain regulations the doctor has. The procedure itself is considered a safe one, but still we have to mention what are the risks.
Below we go in details of this less invasive version of a treatment and explain what is a mini facelift?
What is a Mini Facelift?
The mini facelift is a procedure that has become increasingly popular in the last five years. This plastic surgery procedure addresses skin-related issues such as sagging and wrinkles.
When done correctly, such a procedure smoothens the skin on the face and neck and improve its texture. As the name of the procedure suggests, a mini facelift is a modified version of a traditional full facelift procedure.
This cosmetic surgical procedure may feature less cutting of the underlying tissue. As a result, it may be less invasive and cause less scarring and quicker patient recovery.
Preparing for a Mini Facelift Procedure- What to Expect
Getting a mini facelift is an individual decision and starts with an appointment with the surgeon. They consider your medical history, health, skin condition, and other necessary factors.
As you prepare for a surgery, you might be asked to refrain from certain medications temporarily. If you are a smoker, you may also need to avoid smoking for at least a couple of weeks before you go into surgery.
It may also be necessary to avoid alcohol at least a few days before the surgery. This is because certain medications and herbal supplements might interfere with the anesthesia and cause excessive bleeding.
To avoid nausea from the anesthesia, you might want to avoid eating and drinking for at least six hours before the procedure and after the procedure, proper nutrition is crucial because the choice of food intake is the contribution you need to make for your well being.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Yuliia Hurzhos
How Does The Mini Facelift Procedure Work?
The process of a facelift includes several phases. The mini face lift contains incisions in front of the ear. It then continues along the front of the ear. The incision goes around the earlobe right at the crease and extends to the hairline.
It doesn’t need to extend all the way to the posterior scalp, which is the case with the full facelift. The surgeon separates the soft skin tissue from the deep muscle layers.
He then gently pulls the skin and the tissue removes excess skin, and tightens the skin. This type of procedure lifts the skin above and below the jawline.
Hence, this cosmetic procedure not only removes saggy skin but also defines the jawline and removes jowls and sagging along it.
Compared to a full facelift procedure that lasts around three hours, the modified one requires less surgical time of two or two and a half hours.
More about the mini facelift process
As mentioned, recovery from a mini facelift could be faster than a regular facelift procedure. In fact, this procedure has a shorter recovery period.
Still, patients may expect some bruising for about seven to ten days. One of the general guidelines for sleeping after a procedure, is to sleep in an elevated position making the swelling decrease faster.
The time required for procedures on the facial area varies depending on the approach you select.
Hence, it might take about 1 or 3 weeks for the bruising and swelling to go down and for the patient to get back to normal activity levels. After the surgery, you might need to rest for at least a week and avoid exercising for at least three weeks.
The mini facelift procedure is temporary and typically lasts five to 10 years, while the full facelift usually lasts 10 years and more.
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After a mini facelift surgery
After the surgery, the surgeon may give you pain medications. You may need to make a follow-up appointment with the surgeon so they can remove your sutures. Generally, the stitches come off after 10 days of the procedure.
Once the surgery is done, it is important to follow the surgeon’s post-surgery instructions. They may provide details on dealing with bruising, dealing with swelling, and dealing with discomfort and when you can return to regular daily activities.
Mini facelift cost
The cost of a mini facelift procedure depends on several different factors. The price is based on the surgery facility, the complexity of the cosmetic procedure, the type of anesthetic you use, and other factors.
That said, after the consultation with the surgeon, they can estimate the surgery’s cost. The average cost of this cosmetic procedure is from $3,500 to $8,000. An essential thing to note is that medical insurance doesn’t cover this type of surgery.
The Benefits of a Mini Facelift
Now that you know what a mini facelift is, let’s proceed with its advantages. The main advantage of this procedure is minimal scarring and a fast recovery period.
The scars are hidden behind the natural curves of the ear and are not visible. Patients also report fewer side effects and less bruising and swelling.
The goal of the mini facelift is natural but visible results. Comparing a mini facelift to a full facelift, this approach doesn’t require you to go under general anesthesia.
That said, it might be done under local anesthesia and oral sedation. As it is less invasive, you might repeat the procedure when needed.
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Are There Any Disadvantages of a Mini Facelift?
The mini facelift addresses concerns on the lower third of the face and neck. Hence it doesn’t address skin issues in the upper part of the face, such as eye bags or forehead wrinkles.
This procedure also makes minimal changes to the neck area. Generally, the modified facelift is considered to be a safe procedure. However, mild effects are expected, such as bruising and swelling.
As with any surgical procedure, it still carries some risk. In most cases, the risk is related to the patient’s health during the procedure.
There may be a very small possibility of damage to the sensory nerve that comes up to the earlobe and the bottom of the ear.
While this is not common, it is still a possibility. Other potential complications include wound infection and additional scarring. If needed, you could combine this procedure with others to get the desired outcome.
What Causes Loose Skin and Other Signs of Aging on the Face?
After discussing the mini facelift procedure, let’s briefly talk about the causes of noticeable signs of aging. A huge role play is the patient’s age and genetics. During the aging process, the skin loses collagen and starts to sag.
That said, genetics greatly impact how quickly these changes may occur. Smoking may also be a factor that speeds up the aging process, and the same applies to exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Who can be a candidate for a mini facelift?
The ideal candidates for a facelift surgery technique are women and men with minimal sagging on the lower third of their faces.
It is usually performed on patients with stable weight, good skin laxity, and tone. It is a good option for people who need moderate skin improvements.
As a candidate, you must be healthy and don’t have any untreated medical conditions that prevent you from getting anesthesia and the surgery.
Mini Facelift Compared to Other Procedures
There are several types of facelift procedures, and the difference between them and the mini facelift is the amount of loose skin that is treated.
For instance, a skin-only facelift doesn’t include lifting the sagging tissue but only removing loose skin from the bottom of the face.
This mini facelift might also contour and lift the face more than cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and fillers.
This is a procedure you could undergo to address skin issues and retain a youthful appearance in a safe and effective manner.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Gorodenkoff
Conclusion
A mini facelift procedure may be a good option for the right candidate, as it is less invasive and lessens the recovery time. If you have been curious about what is a mini facelift, hopefully, this guide will inform you about everything you need to know.
The cosmetic procedure is less invasive than a full facelift and involves tightening the skin and reducing visible signs of aging. This procedure aims to provide natural but noticeable results involving small incisions and a faster recovery period.