Are Dermatologists Qualified to Perform Mini Lifts?

Question

I am considering a Facelift. I am fearful of a full Facelift, general surgery, recovery, costs and am finding it difficult to find one I feel comfortable with. My dermatologist, is starting to perform Mini facelifts.  I would like him to perform it, but doubt it would produce best results. Can you get the Mini Facelift and have them performed more often for desired results?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

The more experienced your doc is in mini facelifts then the better judgement he/she can offer you in what you may need. Derm Surgeons can and do give great results with minilifts because of their expertise in surgery and their unparalled knowledge of the skin and its movement dynamics. Derm Surgeons are also the top experts with all the adjunctive procedures such as fillers, botox, lasers, chem peels, scar treatments etc... that usually need to accompliment the mini lifts to help give the best results. Mini lifts run $6-8500 and are done safely under local anesthesia. If you trust your doc and they have experience with great before and after photos etc.. then strongly consider them. As always, several consultations with different docs are always recommended. Sincerely,

	David Hansen,MD

Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Unless your dermatologist is a board certified plastic surgeon, you should not undergo a mini facelift with him. Perhaps your dermatologist is performing a liquid facelift, but calling it a mini lift? A non-surgical facelift using injectables like Sculptra, Restylane, Botox, etc. can provide great results and can be performed by either a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

	If you are truly seeking a mini facelift, you should see a qualified and experienced facial plastic surgeon for a second opintion.

John M. Hilinski, MD · Answer

The answer is - no. Dermatologists are not considered specialists normally associated with performing surgical procedures like a mini facelift. You will be much better off in the end having your procedure done by someone board certified by either the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

Would you let your 747 pilot "give it a try" now that he has partially trained on a bush plane?  Probably not.  You should start your search with board certified plastic surgeons.
It takes 1000's of cases for an expert facelift surgeon to hone their technique and create natural spectacular results. 
The most disfiguring facelifts are inexpertly done minilifts.
Remember, this is your face!

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a good question.  Many patients psychologically think that, if a procedure is performed by a medical specialist, such as a dermatologist, rather than a surgeon, it isnt' as intimidating.  However, I would not recommend having surgery with anyone who is just starting to perform a procedure---probably after watching some videos or taking a weekend course.  Board certified plastic surgeons usually train for a minimum of seven years before becoming board eligible and going into practice.  Your area of the country has plenty of well trained, board certified plastic surgeons.   See someone who has the appropriate credentials and experience--and who can know when NOT to perform a surgery.  If a dermatologist doesn't know how to perform the full facelift, you are much more likely to be deemed a candidate for a mini-lift, which may not be the right operation for you.  Also, does your dermatologist have an accredited facility?  Can he or she offer you a board certified anesthesiologist?  Does he or she have admitting privileges at a local hospital in case you have a complication?  These are all serious questions which must be asked and answered to your satisfaction.

Sreekant Cherukuri, MD · Answer

Especially since he is just 'starting to do minilifts'.  This implies less experience.  I would agree with the other posters that the MINILIFT is one of the hardest procedures to do properly since there is a shorter incision and less exposure. 
	
	Go to a Facial Plastic Surgeon that has a lot of experience with MiniLifts.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I have to say I do not think a dermatologist is a qualified doctor  to do face lift surgical procedures.   I would reserve that for a plastic surgeon of a facial plastic surgeon.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

NO, Dermatologists are not trained surgeons.
Plastic surgeons are trained in general surgery and Plastic surgery, a total of seven years of surgical training. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only recognized specialty in COSMETIC SURGERY by the AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES.
Do your research before you commit.

Shepherd G. Pryor, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Respectfully, I would provide you the answer of a resounding NO. Dermatologists have no formal surgical training unless they've completed a Mohs microsurgical fellowship. But during this 1 year program, there is 0 exposure to cosmetic facial surgery as occurs in face lifting. Both Board certified Facial Plastic Surgeons and General Plastic Surgeons have over 6-7 years of surgical training and in the setting of Facial Plastic Surgeons all of that is operating only in the face and neck. You want to find a Board Certified Facial Plastic or Plastic Surgeon and get their expert opinion on treatment options. This is one of the most important decisions you can make. Your face is a commodity that should not be tinkered with by someone who has taken a weekend course in a procedure. Hope that helps and be safe!

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Physicians and Surgeons can be trained to do cosmetic procedures. This training either comes from formal fellowship training or post-graduate training. All physicians and surgeons are required to have post- graduate training in the form of conferences and/or hands on experience. This is because cosmetic medicine and surgery is a constantly evolving field. So even plastic surgeons that may have had formal fellowship training 10 to 20 years ago must learn new techniques all the time, otherwise they fall behind the times.
Also repeating a procedure a million times does not garuantee good results. For example, rhinoplasties in the 80's had a scooped out , pinched nose look. This procedure was performed by some of the best known rhinoplasty surgeons in the 80's. Now we know that rhinoplasty surgery of the 80's are passez.
A good way to evaluate whether your physician or surgeon can give you good results is to talk to a few  recent patients that had the procedure you are interested in and look at the before and afters of that doctor. This will give you a good idea of the doctors skill in that particular procedure.
Training, degrees and board certification are important but not the be all for choosing a cosmetic phycisian.
Best of Luck!

Are Dermatologists Qualified to Perform Mini Lifts?

Answers (10)

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