I am 55 and considering a facelift, but am a bit scared. Is there a mini-lift I can do?

If your main concer are mid and lower face issues, a mini lift may be right for you.  If you have significant neck excess skin or bands, then a procedure that also dissects into the neck would be better indicated.  This would be a full facelift at this point.  Eyelids are an additional procedure to this.  

A minilift is a type of facelift that uses a shorter incision than other facelifts. Patients frequently request a minilft; as a surgeon, I have to take into account what will benefit you and give you good results vs what will appear to be 'minimally invasive' while producing results that do not last very long. During your consultation, your doctor will examine your face, and focus on the extent of skin and muscle excess/looseness that you have and based on that a decision can be made as to the best approach for your facial rejuvenation.Pricing of these procedures vary depending on what is being done- a mini lift affects the jaw and neck line, so its considered a separate procedure than an eye lift, which addresses a different part of the face and is usually priced separately. Good luck!

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​​​​

It is normal to be concerned when considering a surgical procedure such as a facelift or mini lift. As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, safety is my #1 priority when evaluating a patient for any procedure, including a mini lift. To be sure you were a good candidate, I would look at your overall health, as well as your facial anatomy. In our interview we would also discuss your expectations to make sure that they are in line with reality so that you will be happy with your results.

A mini lift would be a good choice for you if your primary concerns are the neck and lower face. The surgery is much less invasive and requires less anesthesia. Recovery time is significantly faster than it would be with a full face lift. An eye lift would be a separate procedure. You could have it done at the same time, or schedule it later.

I hope this helps.

A person’s age is best guessed by the appearance of their face. If you feel that your face does not reflect how young you feel inside, you may be a candidate for a facelift.During your #consultation, your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. In doing so, he or she should be sure to have a full understanding of what results you expect. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives.However, if you learn that you are a candidate, this may be helpful. Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. Like the Life-Style™ facelift, this is a modified facelift that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are patients 35-60 years old with early changes of the lower face and the neck. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™.Lite Lift™ surgery is individualized for each patient. The best candidates for Lite Lift™ surgery have a face and neck line beginning to sag, but whose skin has elasticity and whose bone structure is well defined and do not smoke.

Getting a lower face/neck lift under local with a little iv sedation is such a great  procedure and is easy to undergo . It does not include eyes but they can be done as well at the same time. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD