Mini Facelift Vs. Full Facelift: Which is Best?

There are lots of names for different lifting procedures, but the most important common denominator in all good lifts is that the SMAS layer is addressed. The SMAS is a fibrous muscular layer under the skin where the surgeon finds the strength and support he or she needs to establish a natural and long-lasting result.
The word "mini" probably refers to a limited dissection and undermining of the skin, which of course is different in each individual, just as the incision length can be different for each individual (whether a "short scar" or a more extended scar is used), depending on the amount and laxity of the skin. What is necessary is a detailed examination of the skin and soft tissues of the face and neck, preferably by a surgeon who performs these procedures regularly and has many before and after photographs of different patients at different stages of aging.

One shoe does not fit all feet, and the same can be said of face lifting procedures. If you have maintained a good, stable weight and are in your late 30's or early 40's almost anything done will be a success. If your are 50 to 70 years old and have let your weight vary significantly over the years and have considerable negative changes in the neck, you will need a more expansive procedure to correct these problems. I have devised a procedure which is more than a mini-lift but moves tissue in a verticle direction which eliminates the need for about half of the usual dissection. This usually is done comfortably and safely with local anesthesia.

The key to getting the correct procedure to rejuvenate your face is to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who offers the full spectrum of facial procedures including Facelift, mini-lifts, fat grafting, Botox Cosmetic, Hyaluronic acid fillers and Sculptra.
If you see a dermatologist who does only injections, guess what your are going to get for your facial rejuvenation. In some cases Sculptra is very appropriate, but in many patients a combination of procedures works much better.
With the latest benefits offered by fat grafting to add back needed volume and provide stem cells this procedure can really enhance the final result from a Facelift. This is something Sculptra can't do.
So, there is nothing wrong with a mini-lift if you are a good candidate. To find out take the time and yes even spend the money to see a plastic surgeon who offers it all and doesn't have a vested interest into talking you into a "string lift" or fillers because that is all they do.

In our practice, we perform a non-surgical face lift / skin resurfacing treatment using Renuvion Helium Plasma Radiofrequency. ​To get the most improvement with skin tightening, we combine Renuvion (formerly J-Plasma) with lasers (Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant, CO2), microneedling/PRP, Ultherapy and InMode FaceTite. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer​​​​

Hi, this is a great question! Unfortunately, there is a lot of variation in facelift terminology. This is very confusing for patients. It is also confusing for surgeons, as we are not entirely consistent as a specialty in when we refer to facelift procedures. The facelift procedure is the definitive procedure in facial rejuvenation. It usually involves some degree of elevation of the skin in front of and behind the ear and some form of tightening of the underlying support layer, the SMAS. There are also more limited incision facelifts of various types, commonly referred to as “mini-lifts”. Theoretically, these procedures may require less recovery as less tissue is manipulated. The downside is that they can leave your face looking “unfinished”. If you require a neck lift, you also have aging changes in your mid-face that may benefit from surgery to achieve balance. I any case, I don’t think that the recovery is necessarily significantly better than with a full face. It is possible to be out and about in public in a week or so after a facelift. I would consult with an experienced facelift surgeon to go over the options.

This is a very common question we get asked, and the answer is it depends on each individual situation.  Usually a mini-lift is most effective in a younger patient with mild jowling and minimal neck laxity.  On the other hand, if there is substantial neck laxity and more significant jowling, a full facelift may be the best choice.  As always, the best way to get answers to this type of question is to schedule an in-person consultation.  Best wishes.

Here's the simple answer to your question. A mini lift treats the jowls whereas a facelift treats the jowls and neck. A facelift is a lower face and neck lift, a very poorly named procedure since it is not a "full" facelift.

Everybody wants results as easy as possible.  Fad facial procedures come and go just like trendy diets.  It’s easy to understand the appeal of alternatives to a facelift like a mini facelift.   After all, a facelift is a surgery that requires a big investment in time and money.  There are many products, treatments, and surgeries that misleadingly claim to be alternatives to a facelift.   In my opinion, products and procedures that claim to offer facelift-like results don’t measure up to the real thing.

Several nonsurgical facial procedures can give moderate results for the right patients.  Some of the treatments are erroneously marketed as an alternative to a face lift or called a “lunch time face lift.”  Because every person is different, every cosmetic procedure will be slightly different.  Similarly, some patients have skin laxity that is too severe to have anything less than a facelift.  If they have a mini-lift or anything else, they will unlikely be happy with their results.  It’s your plastic surgeon's job to exam you carefully and give his or her professional recommendation.  Most patients over 50 with facial sagging and will not be happy with anything less than a traditional facelift.  When it comes to facial rejuvenation, there is no laser or cream that can compete with a facelift surgery.

Both a mini lift and a facelift should always involve tightening the SMAS (Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System) layer.  Resuspension and securing this layer leads to rejuvenation of the face, by counteracting aging and gravity caused laxity.  Mini facelifts tighten the wrinkles and sagging skin on the lower third of the face.  The procedure uses incisions around the ears and pulls the skin tighter.  Mini lifts are popular popular because they’re less expensive, take less time, and have less downtime than a regular face lift.  However, mini lifts have several disadvantages.  Mini lifts don’t last as long and don’t treat as many parts of the face as a regular face lift.  The goal of doing any type of facial surgery is to give people an improvement in their appearance.  A person is happiest with her results when she has a more youthful and tighter appearance in her face.  For these reasons, I only recommend a regular facelift to most patients.

Best of luck to you and your journey!

There are many different takes on facelift. The mini Lift is limiting the amount of muscle and soft tissue work that is done. Many surgeons are against the terminology. I am fine with it. For the right patient it can be good. I still prefer a full facelift because I feel the results are longer lasting and more dramatic, but if your only problem is a small amount of skin and some jowls it may be the right procedure for you. The recovering is quicker and it can often be done in a surgisuite without general anesthesia. Hope this helps.Best of luck,DrC 

Every surgeon may define what they consider a mini lift vs a full facelift a little bit differently. 
For me, a mini lift uses a shorter incision than the full facelift and only addresses the jowls, jawline, and some of the neck line. This procedure will give a great result for most patients in their 40s and 50s. It has a 1 week downtime and may be performed in the office with local anesthesia alone. In general, the goal is to bring you back in time 5-7 years.
A full facelift, with its longer incisions, allows a more vertical vector of pull and helps to also restore the upper cheek and advanced neck laxity. The downtime is about 2 weeks and is performed in a surgery center under intravenous or general anesthesia. The goal here is to bring you back 7-10 years.