Is a Mini Facelift Right For You?

When it comes to anti-ageing procedures, no doubt, the facelift would have crossed your mind. But have you ever considered a mini facelift? The procedure can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, tighten your skin, and remove excess skin. Let’s dive in. 

What is a Mini Facelift?

As you age, your skin loses its elasticity, fat decreases, and things like lower eye bags and jowls can start to form. A mini facelift mainly addresses issues like wrinkles, sagging cheeks, and loose facial skin from the face, neck, and jaw. 

The procedure takes up to one and a half hours to perform. During the operation, your surgeon will make an incision behind the ears or in the hairline to conceal any scarring. Next, a layer of skin is lifted so your surgeon can access a deeper layer. It’s this deep layer under the skin that is tightened. The layer is tightened and stitched over the cheek towards the ears. This process leaves a scar behind the ear, but no scar on the hairline which you would have with a traditional facelift. 

Generally, a mini facelift focuses on the bottom section of the face, including the chin, jaw, jowls, and neck. These areas of the body are often the first to show tell-tale signs of ageing. 

What is the Difference Between a Mini and Traditional Facelift?

The mini facelift is a modified version of the traditional facelift. The mini facelift is less invasive and uses smaller and fewer incisions. There are several techniques that you can use in a facelift, but in general, your surgeon will make two incisions by the ears. 

A mini facelift creates more subtle results, so it’s more suitable for mild to moderate skin laxity of the jowl and neck. It won’t treat the neck area significantly but will offer a gentle lift. While the mini facelift does have some limitations, it offers huge advantages, including: 

  • Shorter recovery time 
  • Heal and return to work faster 
  • More affordable than a traditional facelift 
  • Less pain and swelling during recovery  

In comparison, a full facelift can include the mid-face and the neck. Results tend to last much longer and have a greater impact. A full facelift tends to start at the hairline and then go around the ears and end up at the scalp. That way, your surgeon can target several areas of the face during the procedure. 

Anti-ageing treatments: before and after a neck and lower facelift at The Harley Clinic

How Long Does it Take to Recover from a Mini Facelift?

The recovery time for a mini facelift is shorter than a full facelift but still requires some rest and time off. You can expect some bruising during your facelift recovery as swelling will continue to subside. Most patients return to normal activities in about 1 week. For a full facelift, you would be looking at about 2-4 weeks. Even though you continue to heal after your initial recovery, you can continue your day-to-day activities. One thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your face away from direct sun exposure and massage your scars until they are supple. If you expose newly formed scars to the sun or on a tanning bed, it can darken scars permanently. 

When is the Best Age for a Mini Facelift?

Because a mini facelift targets the early tell-tale signs of ageing, it’s ideal for those in their 40s and 50s. A good mini facelift can easily turn back the clock by 10 years. The result is a younger but natural-looking result. 

If you have started noticing the early signs of ageing, a mini facelift is a great alternative to a full facelift. For those who don’t want the lengthy recovery of a full facelift and would prefer the smaller incisions and minimal scarring. 

During a mini facelift, you typically don’t need to be under a general anaesthetic. This is one of the reasons that the recovery time is shorter. Thanks to less invasive surgery, there is less scarring present. Overall, you can expect results to last between 5 to 10 years. 

Who is a Suitable Candidate for a Mini Facelift?

When it comes to facelifts, you will hear your surgeon talk about skin laxity. Loose or sagging skin is known as skin laxity. The two main components that affect your skin’s structure are elastin and collagen. As you age, both your elastic and collagen levels begin to drop. If you have moderate skin laxity, with some jowls then you may be a suitable candidate for a mini facelift. However, if you have significant skin laxity, you may need a full facelift to target this, especially severe cheek sagging. 

Can You Combine a Mini Facelift With Other Cosmetic Procedures?

It’s normal to combine cosmetic procedures to maximise your surgery and recovery time. As long as you are in good health and it’s safe to do, your plastic surgeon will advise you on your options. You can combine a mini facelift with cosmetic procedures such as: 

You can also combine a mini facelift with non-surgical treatments like filler to add volume. After you’re healed from the mini facelift, you can also choose to maintain your ongoing youthful look with treatments like chemical peels. 

How to Preserve Your Mini Facelift Results 

Both a full and mini facelift can give you a younger, natural look by tightening the skin and reducing sagging. To preserve your mini facelift results, it’s important that you make healthy lifestyle choices. Protect your skin with SPF and follow a healthy diet to extend your results. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated to boost your skin’s health. Smoking and sun exposure are two of the top leading causes of wrinkles and premature signs of ageing.

Maintain mini facelift results with healthy lifestyle choices

To turn back the clock and maintain a youthful look, a mini facelift can help you create a natural and restorative result. 

If you’re considering a mini facelift, contact the team at the Harley Clinic to book a consultation today. We can talk you through your options and answer any questions you may have. 

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