Mini Facelift: What You Need to Know

A good age to have a mini facelift is usually your mid to late 40s, the point at which sagging skin in the midface and along the jawline becomes more obvious. However, an increasing number of 30-year-olds are having mini lifts, either to address early signs of aging or as a preventative measure.

Younger patients can usually address fine lines and volume loss with noninvasive facial rejuvenation treatments like a liquid facelift (a combination of Botox and dermal fillers). Early jowls can sometimes be camouflaged with strategically placed filler during a chin and jawline augmentation, while a thread lift or energy-based skin tightening treatments like SkinTyte and Sofwave can also treat very mild skin laxity. 

Patients with more advanced skin laxity are usually better candidates for a lower facelift, a cheek lift, or a full facelift.

An experienced facial plastic surgeon can evaluate your unique situation and recommend the best options.

Pros

• It lifts sagging skin on the lower face to smooth folds, eliminate jowling, and create a defined jawline. 
• This outpatient facial plastic surgery procedure can be performed with local anesthesia, which can be less risky than general anesthesia. 
• It also comes with smaller incisions and less downtime than a full facelift. Most mini facelift patients can return to work after a week of recovery time. 

Cons

• Mini facelift results generally last less than 10 years, depending on the specifics of your procedure and how well you protect your skin, while results from a full facelift last well over a decade, often for 15 years or more.
• A mini lift doesn’t address skin laxity in the midface and cheeks.
• It also doesn’t involve the neck. To avoid an obvious mismatch after surgery (i.e. a firm jawline juxtaposed with a lax neck), either your neck has to be smooth and taut, or you’ll also need a mini (or full) neck lift.
• A mini lift doesn’t correct fine lines or laxity of the upper face. To address aging eyelids, for instance, you’d need to tack on a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). To improve skin texture, laser resurfacing may be needed. All of these procedures will increase the overall cost of your surgery.
• A mini facelift carries many of the same risks as a traditional full facelift, including bleeding, infection, and nerve injury.

• Average Cost:
• $10,508

• Range:
• $4,100 - $21,000

The cost of your mini lift will depend on the extent of the procedure, the type of anesthesia used, your provider’s level of experience, and where the surgery is performed. 

This is an elective cosmetic procedure, so insurance won’t cover it.

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

See our complete guide to mini facelift costs

The mini facelift photos in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Whether you’re a good candidate for a mini lift or a full facelift will depend largely on the degree of sagging in your skin and underlying tissues, and whether that laxity is concentrated in the lower face.

“A full or ‘traditional’ facelift addresses the sagging upper and lower neck skin and platysmal vertical neck bands, jowls, lower and mid nasolabial folds, and marionette lines,” explains Dr. Larry Nichter, a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California. “It involves incisions from the temple scalp, along the front of the ear, behind the ear in the crease, then along or into the scalp hair behind the ear, toward the back of your neck, with tightening of underlying support tissues.” 

If artfully performed with proven surgical techniques, these fairly long incisions heal so that they’re barely detectable to the untrained eye. 

Dr. Nichter explains that there are a few primary differences between a traditional full facelift and a mini lift: 

• A mini facelift doesn't address the neck. 
• The mini lift also doesn't address a sagging midface, the way a deep-plane or certain versions of the SMAS facelift do.
• Mini facelift scars “are shorter—basically the same in front of the ear and temple scalp but ending at the level of the earlobe (in front or in back)—for as much as 40% less scarring.” 
• Typical recovery time is 1 week, compared to 10-14 days after a full facelift.
• Another difference is the longevity of results: less than 10 years for a mini lift and often 15 years or more for a full facelift (SMAS or deep plane). 

As previously noted, every surgeon has their own way of defining a facelift vs mini facelift. However, every facelift—regardless of its name or the size of the incisions—should address the SMAS layer as well as the skin. 

“I would strongly recommend choosing a facelift with muscle (SMAS) tightening as opposed to skin-only facelift. A facelift with muscle tightening will produce a far better result. It will also look more natural and the result will last much longer. Skin-only facelifts are rarely performed today, even as a part of a mini facelift,” notes Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich, a facial plastic surgeon in New York City.

Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina, says that mini lifts are appropriate for those "showing early signs of skin laxity," while facelifts are best for those with "heavy jowls or turkey neck."

A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon will help determine which procedure is right for you.

The specifics of your surgical procedure will depend on the type of mini lift you’re getting, so have a detailed conversation with your surgeon during your consultation. 

You’ll have either general anesthesia (so you’ll be unconscious throughout the surgery) or sedation with local anesthesia (where you’ll remain awake but relaxed and numb). 

Here’s what typically happens during the procedure:

• Your surgeon will make small incisions (one on each side) that begin right by the hairline at the top of your ear, running down the natural crease and either behind or in front of the small rectangular structure in the ear called the tragus, before continuing around the earlobe. 
• They will then lift the tissue, tighten/tailor the SMAS, and remove excess skin.
• Finally, they’ll redrape and secure the remaining skin with tiny dissolvable sutures. 
• After you've recovered from the anesthesia, you’ll be able to go home. You’ll be groggy, so make sure you have someone you trust there to make sure you get home safely.

A mini facelift has many of the same risks and side effects as a full facelift. 

• Swelling, soreness/tightness, and bruising are standard for at least the first few days after surgery. 
• Less common risks include anesthesia complications, bleeding, infection, hematoma (blood pooling under the skin), nerve injury (usually temporary), persistent numbness , delayed healing, poor scarring, and dissatisfaction with the cosmetic outcome.

According to Fort Myers, Florida, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Prendiville, “The nature of complications and the relative rates of these complications is very similar for mini lift and facelift. The only exception is that [the] facelift carries a slightly higher risk of hematoma. However, a mini lift, when performed on a patient that required a more extensive procedure is more likely to lead to a sense of dissatisfaction.” 

He goes on to caution patients that “recent mass marketing has promoted the idea that a quickly performed, one-hour procedure under local anesthesia is somehow less risky than a conventional facelift. There is absolutely no data to support this assertion and there are (unfortunately) many patients who now regret that they believed the marketing. Make your decision based on the aging changes that bother you and the advice of your chosen surgeon.”

Mini facelift recovery time is typically 1 week—much less disruptive than the two weeks of downtime typically needed after a traditional facelift.

Here’s what to expect during that time:

• It’s common to have some discomfort. Your provider may prescribe pain medication for the first few days following your procedure. After that, over-the-counter pain medication is usually enough.
• You can also expect minor side effects, including redness, swelling, and bruising around the incisions.
• You may have surgical dressings, small drains, or both. 
• To optimize your healing and ensure a smooth recovery, follow all of your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, including gently cleaning and disinfecting your incisions and regularly changing the dressings. This will help minimize the risk of complications like infection. 

If nondissolvable sutures were used, your surgeon will remove them at a follow-up visit about a week after your procedure.

Results from a mini facelift typically last 5 to 10 years, depending on the specifics of your procedure and how well you protect your skin from sun damage (which can increase skin laxity). 

You'll still age at the same rate post-procedure, so it's vital to partake in a dedicated, anti-aging skin care routine to ensure your skin will continue to look youthful long after your procedure. 

Noninvasive treatments, like injectables and laser skin treatments, may also be recommended.

Your plastic surgeon will give you thorough and specific instructions on how they want you to prepare for surgery and your mini facelift recovery, but these are some general guidelines:

• Obtain necessary lab work and/or medical clearance
• Pick up pre- and post-op prescriptions and recommended supplements at the pharmacy
• Start taking bromelain (as directed by your surgeon) and weaning off any contraindicated medications, including aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and supplements like fish oil that can increase bleeding and bruising during and after surgery
• Abstain from drinking alcohol for at least two weeks before surgery
• Avoid all forms of nicotine and marijuana for at least six weeks pre-op
• Arrange for a ride home from the hospital or surgery center, and ask someone to stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery
• Plan for several days of child- and pet care
• Stock the fridge and cupboards with healthy, ready-to-eat, easy-to-chew snacks, smoothies, and meals
• Change your sheets and clean the house so your recovery space is comfortable (and you’re not tempted to do chores sooner than you should)
• The day of surgery, leave all jewelry at home and wear a button-down or zip-up top that doesn’t need to be pulled over your head as you’re preparing to go home