Pull back the curtain on the Wizard of OZ

 Hi Janice,

You have gotten great advice here. My advice would be to keep doing research and then sit down with the your Surgeon and have a very informed discussion with them about what specific type of facelift they are proposing and why they feel it would be the best thing for your anatomy.

Also best to speak with Surgeons who offer the whole range of facelifts currently available to today's patient - you don't want to find yourself pigeon holed into the only procedure they offer or are able to offer.

Two last things:

1. I am not sure any Surgeon worth their salt would do a "skin only" facelift unless it was a secondary or revision lift to remove excess skin. Check with your Surgeon but I doubt that's their game plan.

2. Facelift lasting 15 years?   hmmmmm..... maybe with a deep plane facelift and really good anatomy and blessed genetics.... That's a fair amount of time wherein the vast majority of patients are probably going to show some signs of the natural progression of aging and require some procedure along the way to "maintain" their initial results.

Take Care and Good Luck!

Dr. Kamran Jafri

I know my answer is confusing. Basically, what one surgeon calls a mini-lift another calls a modified lift etc. The key to a facelift is to elevate the skin off the underlying muscle called the SMAS. Then this SMAS layer is lifted upward to give a longer lasting result. I agree that a skin only facelift doesn't last. However, my personal interpretation of a mini-lift still involves lifting the SMAS, only not as far or aggressively as I would for someone who needs more lifting. For patients who have a very saggy neck and hanging jowls, they need more than a "mini-lift" which may be an extended SMAS lift or a deep-plane facelift.

What you want to see is a doctor who understands the operation and is an expert in facial surgery. Don't go for hype, marketing or flash. Find someone who you feel really understands the operation and is doing the right thing for you.

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There are many names for facelift operations that are less aggressive or  less dramatic than the standard SMAS lift or the deep plane lift. Terminology such as mini lift or modified lift is non scientific and can be misleading. The only way to know what the procedure involves, is to ask the person performing it.

In general, when only the skin is pulled, the results are short lasting. When the underlying muscle or fascia layer is tightened, facelift results are longer lasting. The extent of the incisions can vary as well. Short scar facelifts extend from the front of ear and around the ear lobe. More standard facelift incisions extend behind the ear and into the hairline. Short scar facelifts work well for patients who have jowl formation without significant neck laxity.

Discuss these facts with your surgeon and review some of their results before scheduling surgery.

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Hi,

It is true that different surgeons have different meanings for the same word.

Any facelift procedure, whether a mini, modified or full facelift should involve tightening of the SMAS or platysma muscle. This ensures some longevity of the procedure. No facelifts should be done as "skin  only" -- this will leave stretch marks at the incision site and not last long at all.

Also, the surgeon should have patient examples to show you of  the different procedures. You should also talk to other patients that have had the same procedure.

The minifacelift that I perform, involves tightening of the SMAS and platysma muscle through a small incision in front and in the back of the ear. In addition there is trimming of skin.

Lastly, there are other factors that contribute to facelift longevity including, sun exposure, dietary and lifestyle habits and genetic influence. In general most facelift procedures last from 5 to 10 years.

Hope his helps.

Dr.S.

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Janice,

A mini facelift is a modification of a full facelift.  There are many techniques and forms of facelift surgery, some of which involve skin only, some of which involve the skin and muscle layer and some of which involve the skin, muscle and deeper tissues.  There is no standard terminology classifying any of these different techniques, so a modified facelift may be a mini facelift and a mini facelift may be a modified facelift.  It really depends on your surgeons use of the terminology.  Good luck!

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