Mini-facelift versus Full Facelift

Their is not a single asnwer that applies to every person.  There is also no real concensus on what constitutes a mini-facelift versus a full facelift.  Basically, if you just need a little skin tightening, then a smaller incision with less disruption of your tissue may be adequate.  However, in most cases, more extensive surgery is required.  A facelift is more than just pulling the skin.  A true or full facelift involves elevating the underlying tissue back on the face and then gently tightening the overlying skin.  This is what produces the most natural result (not pulled look).  If you post pictures, we may be able to give you more specific advice.  Good luck.

Hello Eileen,

This is a great question that both Physicians and Patients alike are asking and debating in offices and conferences across the country.  With the advent of increasing surgical knowledge, so much marketing and consumer friendly terminology the information available to patients has gotten very confusing.

First lets define some basic terms to help answer your question.

Mini-Face Lift: a surgical procedure where extra / sagging skin is removed and the SMAS/muscle layer may or may not be tightened, plicated or cut & sewn.  Typically indicated for early or mild signs of aging in the lower third of the face or for patients who have had a facelift in the past and need only a minor touchup as they age.  Incisions are smaller and may be limited in location.  Recovery is 5-10 days.  May be done with local anesthesia or sedation.

Full Facelift: a surgical procedure where extra / sagging skin is removed and the SMAS/muscle layer is always tightened, plicated, or cut & sewn.  Additionally deep plane lifts involve elevating the entire SMAS/muscle layers in specific areas and repositioning it.  Typically indicated for moderate to deep signs of aging in the lower third of the face or for patients undergoing a primary facelift and looking for longstanding and durable results.  Incisions are larger and usually extend from the front of the ear to the back and may even extend into the hairline.  Recovery is 10 days to 3 weeks.  Depending on the procedure may be done with local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia.

Both are good options but it is crucial that you completely and carefully assess your goals before sitting down with a Surgeon.  Once you have done this the next step is to sit down with a qualifed Surgeon and express your goals and to allow them to assess your anatomy and explain what options they are confident & experienced in performing which will help you attain your specific goals given your specific anatomy.

While cost and recovery time should be factored in, please do not allow them to be the main factors in your decision making.  Financing is widely available and by planning ahead for the required recovery time you can focus on the other factors discussed which are utlimately far more impactful on getting the results you are seeking.

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Hi!   Remember the old adage:  If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Many people can look younger with non invasive procedures.  But once these no longer work, and you need surgery, all the sagging tissues really need to be moved upward.  It's not about a little pulling on the skin.

I do a short scar facelift, so I guess the scars are "mini".  But what's done inside is not mini.  The fat, fascia, and muscle of your face need to be repositioned to where they were in your youth.  That's how you get a great result, a natural result, and a long lasting result

And there are other minimal scar options:  brow lift, mid face lift (through the mouth), neck lift.  But I wouldn't call any of them mini.

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Mini-facelifts are good for patients with minimal laxity.  A full facelift is reserved for patients with laxity that includes significant jowling, cheek fat pad descent, and significant skin laxity in the face and the neck. 

If mini-lifts are offered to patient that require a full facelift, they usually get a "mini" result.  They always are more appealing but not always satisfying for the patient after surgery if used on poor candidates.

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Mini facelifts are becoming more popular because patients are seeking improvement of the jowl  and neck area at younger ages. Typically, jowling and turkey necks start to show between the ages of 40 and 50. 

Mini facelifts are performed with smaller incisions and less dissection of skin tissue therefore making for faster recovery (5 to 7 days). Also, most minilifts can be performed under local anesthesia or mild sedation, eliminating  the risk and recovery of general anesthesia.

Patients find that if they start sooner results look more natural because the changes are not so drastic. In addition, the cosmetic improvement start sooner retarding aging effects of the face. 

In other words: 'Less is more" and the "Earlier the Better"

Full (traditional) facelifts are equally effective but require a longer recovery time ( 14 to 21 days). The procedure is performed under deeper sedation or general anesthesia which adds to the recovery. The full facelift are reserved for patients with extensive jowling and/or turkey necks or more advanced signs of aging in the upper and lower face.

The minilift procedure should include tightening of the SMAS muscle in the face and the Platysma muscle in the neck which is the cornerstone of any facelift procedure.

The decision of whether you are a good candidate for one vs. the other is made by you and your surgeon discussing the pros and cons of each.

A short video shows a minilift procedure during the tightening of the SMAS in the face.

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With a mini-lift, only the lower face-- from cheek to chin-- is lifted, which effectively elimates jowls and redefines the cheekbones.  As with a face-lift, the mini lift is often accompanied by a neck lift, which removes fat from below the chin and tightens the neck's platysma muscles, all though a tiny insision under the chin.  The best candidates for the mini-lift are those who are unhappy with the contour of their lower face and neck, and whose skin has good resiliency.  It's also and ideal procedure for a patient who is somewhat gunshy about going all the way with a major overhaul. 

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