All cosmetic plastic surgery comes with risk, such as health complications like infection, and bad workmanship. We've all read about botched eye jobs, nose jobs, etc. Even a good plasic surgeon can, at times, do a not so good job. So wouldn't a mini face lift be less risky than a more extensive full face lift? And wouldn't a mini-lift be more likely to look more natural?
Answer: Mini-Facelift vs Full Facelift
The first thing that all should understand is that there is no standard definition of a "mini-facelift" and a "full facelift." What each of those terms means may differ dramatically from one surgeon to the next. Below, I will briefly outline what a Mini-Facelift and a Full Facelift means to John Bitner:
Full Facelift-
incision running from the hairline on the neck, behind the ear, through the earlobe, behind the tragus and up into the temporal hair
undermining 7-8 cm out onto the cheeks
removing a strip of SMAS from in front of the ear
elevating underneath the SMAS about an inch
repositioning the SMAS up and back
sewing the SMAS back down in its new position with a permanent suture
staples and sutures used to close skin are removed at 1 week after surgery
Mini-Facelift
incision running from behind the ear, through the earlobe, behind the tragus and up into the temporal hair (the incision is just shorter and ends behind the ear)
all the rest of the steps are the same as that for a full facelift
The recovery from both these procedures is about a week when sutures are removed and makeup can be put on. Again, this depends on your definition of a recovery. For the right person, usually younger, the minilift can get all the results of a full lift. But, if a person has alot of heaviness, they need the full lift. Cutting corners will leave the person unhappy with the overall results. Find someone with lots of before-and-after pictures who does both a full lift and a minilift and they can help guide you to the best result.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Mini-Facelift vs Full Facelift
The first thing that all should understand is that there is no standard definition of a "mini-facelift" and a "full facelift." What each of those terms means may differ dramatically from one surgeon to the next. Below, I will briefly outline what a Mini-Facelift and a Full Facelift means to John Bitner:
Full Facelift-
incision running from the hairline on the neck, behind the ear, through the earlobe, behind the tragus and up into the temporal hair
undermining 7-8 cm out onto the cheeks
removing a strip of SMAS from in front of the ear
elevating underneath the SMAS about an inch
repositioning the SMAS up and back
sewing the SMAS back down in its new position with a permanent suture
staples and sutures used to close skin are removed at 1 week after surgery
Mini-Facelift
incision running from behind the ear, through the earlobe, behind the tragus and up into the temporal hair (the incision is just shorter and ends behind the ear)
all the rest of the steps are the same as that for a full facelift
The recovery from both these procedures is about a week when sutures are removed and makeup can be put on. Again, this depends on your definition of a recovery. For the right person, usually younger, the minilift can get all the results of a full lift. But, if a person has alot of heaviness, they need the full lift. Cutting corners will leave the person unhappy with the overall results. Find someone with lots of before-and-after pictures who does both a full lift and a minilift and they can help guide you to the best result.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Complication Rates for Mini vs. Full Facelift Hi and thanks for your question. Although both procedures should have very low complication rates, the mini-facelift should have even fewer possible complications then the full. The smaller procedure has less of a chance of any bleeding issues and a smaller chance of any skin healing issues. In the right patient who doesn't have a lot of extra fatty tissue in the face and neck and doesn't have an extensive degree of aging, the mini-facelift is an excellent procedure.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Complication Rates for Mini vs. Full Facelift Hi and thanks for your question. Although both procedures should have very low complication rates, the mini-facelift should have even fewer possible complications then the full. The smaller procedure has less of a chance of any bleeding issues and a smaller chance of any skin healing issues. In the right patient who doesn't have a lot of extra fatty tissue in the face and neck and doesn't have an extensive degree of aging, the mini-facelift is an excellent procedure.
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September 9, 2014
Answer: Mini or full facelift It really depends on what your definition of a mini lift is. The problem with the mini lift is that it may not give you the correction you desire. The risks, such as bleeding or infection are really about the same.
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Answer: Mini or full facelift It really depends on what your definition of a mini lift is. The problem with the mini lift is that it may not give you the correction you desire. The risks, such as bleeding or infection are really about the same.
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March 12, 2012
Answer: Risk vs. reward
You are correct in that the less surgery you have the less the risk but also the less the improvement
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Answer: Risk vs. reward
You are correct in that the less surgery you have the less the risk but also the less the improvement
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October 25, 2011
Answer: Is a full facelift more risky than a mini facelift?
In general, mini facelifts offer fewer complications than full facelifts simply because the procedure is less invasive, and performed in about half the time. Most mini facelifts can be performed in an office setting under local anesthetic making it more safe than the higher risks of general anesthesia. Risks of nerve injury and hematoma (bleeding), though rare, is higher as well. I like to combine fat transfers with my mini lifts to get the best overall result. For patients with more skin laxity and neck sag, a full facelift is often required in addition to a platysmaplasty.
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Answer: Is a full facelift more risky than a mini facelift?
In general, mini facelifts offer fewer complications than full facelifts simply because the procedure is less invasive, and performed in about half the time. Most mini facelifts can be performed in an office setting under local anesthetic making it more safe than the higher risks of general anesthesia. Risks of nerve injury and hematoma (bleeding), though rare, is higher as well. I like to combine fat transfers with my mini lifts to get the best overall result. For patients with more skin laxity and neck sag, a full facelift is often required in addition to a platysmaplasty.
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June 12, 2011
Answer: A true Mini Facelift with less extensive dissection should carry less risk but will you get bthe result you want
If by mini Facelift your surgeon means he/she will do a limited dissection under the skin around the ears then this will have less risk that a full Facelift and Neck Lift.
The most important risks of any Facelift are injury to the skin, bleeding from a blood vessel and nerve injury. The more extensive the Facelift Neck Lift dissection the more these structures are subjected to risk.
However a properly performed Facelift Neck Lift done by an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is a very safe procedure. Serious complications are unusual.
The problem with the Mini Facelift is that the results are typically minimal and recurrence of facial sagging is very common.
To significantly rejuvenate the face and neck, a proper full Facelift Neck lift is required.
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Answer: A true Mini Facelift with less extensive dissection should carry less risk but will you get bthe result you want
If by mini Facelift your surgeon means he/she will do a limited dissection under the skin around the ears then this will have less risk that a full Facelift and Neck Lift.
The most important risks of any Facelift are injury to the skin, bleeding from a blood vessel and nerve injury. The more extensive the Facelift Neck Lift dissection the more these structures are subjected to risk.
However a properly performed Facelift Neck Lift done by an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is a very safe procedure. Serious complications are unusual.
The problem with the Mini Facelift is that the results are typically minimal and recurrence of facial sagging is very common.
To significantly rejuvenate the face and neck, a proper full Facelift Neck lift is required.
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