A: The incision used for a facelift is considered short-incision usually if it does not extend behind the ear into the hairline. Less access means less dramatic results and usually less longevity but other factors such as weight and age can be factors. The incision is not the only thing that is important to the longevity and results but usually a short-incision facelift involves much less dissection, fever sutures, and one would expect less longevity. In general, these patient usually end up with a more extensive facelift down the road and usually much sooner than one that has had a full facelift.
A: PDO threads are most useful for subtle correction of sagging or loose skin and multiple sutures will reposition tissues temporarily but they are not permanent. In your photos I see that you have quite a bit of excess skin in the area under the chin. The gold standard for treating that degree of excess tissue in that location is a facelift. Although invasive, it will offer you the most rewarding and longer-lasting results. The extra skin has to go somewhere, and facelift removes it, whereas PDO cannot do the job. I would suggest making the investment in a facelift.
A: A purely cosmetic rhinoplasty does not always include a septoplasty but it is very common to see surgeons use grafts from the septum to use in the rhinoplasty. For functional rhinoplasty to also help with breathing, the septum is often modified and it is called a septorhioplasty, often billable to insurance as this is no a purely cosmetic procedure. It really depends on what type of rhinoplasty you are having as to whether the charge is typically all-inclusive or whether septoplasty is broken out as an additional charge.
A: The timing of facelift is a personal choice and you should not only look at your appearance but look at your reasons for doing a facelift now, your goals, and your budget. 40s is a good age to start considering a facelift to treat the jowl are and neck. You have a good chin/jaw profile and would be a great candidate for a facelift at this point from an anatomy standpoint. The facelift will not address your hooded eyes however and this would require a browlift to treat the hooding of the lateral eyelid and a blepharoplasty to treat excess eyelid skin.
A: You are doing the right thing by researching a surgeon and not just picking the closest in your area. My advice is to consider your budget and downtime as well as your desired results. You want a surgeon who will be honest and deliver the best results with the least recovery at the right price. You should have a consult with the surgeon and ask how he will deliver your results and at what price in terms of recovery time and expense. But don't let a surgeon talk you into a smaller procedure if you need a more aggressive one to deliver the results you want. The in-office mini-lift with quick recovery is not for everyone and you could end up with subpar results that don't last long. Of course, experience and board-certification should be a starting point.