Mini Facelift at 41, a Good Idea?

The fullness of the jowls/jawline does great with just liposuction alone for $2500 on special. But if there is sagging as well, then a minilift with liposuction is a great procedure with dramatic results for $6,000-8500 and can all be done safely and easily under local anesthesia. Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

A mini Facelift in your forties is a good idea for patients who have lower facial problematic areas such as a  droopy jowl. The procedure corrects sagging skin and tissue due to the effects of gravity.  As long as the neck area is not to heavy a mini Facelift would be an ideal procedure.   It is an easy procedure to go through and can be done under a local anesthetic.   Your surgeon will let you know if you would be a good candidate for this procedure.

FaceTite can internally tighten the skin in the lower face and neck. After all the skin has been heated and contracted, we shape the neck with liposuction to give definition and remove stubborn pockets of fat. In one quick treatment, we can tighten skin, remove fat, and contour the lower face, jawline, and jowls with only a weekend of downtime.​ Keep in mind that combination approaches will give you a more significant improvement as opposed to a single procedure. I recommend getting a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

As a board-certified plastic surgeon focusing on facial aesthetics, I hear concerns like yours daily. It is very common as we age to lose fat in our face, and for the skin to become loose, resulting in a less-defined jawline. What you describe, however, is that your face has become fuller in the lower third, which (upon looking at your photos) I believe your prior “filling sessions” have not helped. You have almost no nasolabial folds, which is not a very natural look. I fear that if you have more filler injected in your cheekbone area to create a “lift,” you will only look more overfilled – and there is nothing like overfilling to make someone look older! The face, and the angles that combine to create what we think of as “beauty” in this culture, involves complex aesthetics. With just one photos, I could not give you my best thoughts, as a more dimensional representation of you would be necessary. Ideally, because this is a very big decision in your life, I would do extensive research and find three very experienced board certified plastic surgeons with whom to meet. You have probably already gotten a taste of the varied opinions that different surgeons can have just in your RealSelf posting, so do expect to receive differing opinions from the surgeons with whom you meet! I would focus on their before-and-after photos, and on whether you and the surgeon “click” and share a similar aesthetic philosophy.

A mini lift is a term that should be defined by each surgeon specific to each patient. It is really a marketing term that as the name implies, is a less involved procedure than the regular or full face lift.  Certainly a less involved customized procedure that addresses the  areas of concern can often yield good results especially in a younger healthy patient. In the early aging process, there also  non- surgical options like injectable fillers to help provide support in areas of volume loss. The choice of filler, the amount, the placement and technique are all important for good results.  Facelifts may not address certain areas of volume loss well.  Based on your photos, you are showing some volume loss around your chin area as well as some heaviness in the lower cheeks.  Judicious liposuction of the jowl area combined with conservative tightening/lifting and repositioning of the facial tissues (a mini lift if indicated by apparent tissue laxity) and some added volume around the chin should help create a more youthful and balanced appearance. It really comes down to the risk to benefit ratio, the cost and your motivation.  Mini lifts also imply less risk but that does not mean no risk. Risks should always be discussed in the context of your surgeons experience. Remember, even non-surgical treatments are not without some risk.
My best to you,
Dr. Fink

A facelift will improve your neck and jowls but you don’t show them In your photo. 41 is quite young to undergo a facelift. I’ve done only a few in my career.

Thank you for your question and for your photos. Based on your photos provided, it is rather difficult to tell. I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination to discuss all possible treatment options and what your expectations are. 

 

A Mini Facelift can usually be an option on most realistic patients anytime after the age of 35-40. It really depends on your anatomy and genetics. It is best to talk to your surgeon because everybody has different techniques and recovery time is usually based on a number of factors. If we are just talking about a short scar facelift, this can typically be done in the office under local anesthesia. Usually there are no drains, no outside stitches, and patients can go out in public the same day, although I usually recommend they low for the first couple days. Most of the initial swelling is from the numbing medicine and your body absorbs it within the first 4-6 hours. Obviously the body heals with swelling and inflammation and usually that maxes out at two days and then starts getting better. Most of these patients take no pain medicine and usually feel very comfortable going out in public within a few days.  I usually call my patients the night of surgery and check on them the next day. If everything is fine the next day, I then let them shower and they do not need a dressing over their incisions. They can usually start using make up after a few days.  At the two week check up, I usually have people start working out and then after six weeks they can do whatever they want. I routinely tell people to take a few days to a week off work and to hide out but some people are very nervous especially celebrities and I usually tell them to hide out for two weeks. As with any scar on the human body, initially scars are red, hard and raised and it typically takes six months to a year for them to become a soft thin white line. Additionally with recovery, there're many things we do to expedite healing such as nerve blocks during surgery, oral supplements, skin care and scar therapy recommendations, lymphatic massage sessions that are included in our pricing.I strongly feel that it's very important to have an honest conversation with your surgeon about your particular situation, lifestyle, work environment and specifically which procedures you're having done so that you both have the most honest answer about your recovery and are realistic with expectations and results.Surgery is not for everyone. In today's day and age, there are many nonsurgical options to consider although surgery usually gets the most improvement specifically of the jowls.I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of facelifts but also offers all the nonsurgical options such as injectables and laser treatments. Go over your concerns with them and make sure above all, you walk out of there with several options and an idea of the pros and cons to each of them as well as realistic expectations. I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.  

If your neck doesn't have too much laxity, a mini lift could help give your jaw line some additional definition.  Filler in the cheeks will not help give you a more defined jaw.  Best wishes.

When a person has a minifacelift has more to do with their genetics, environment, and type of aging then their biological age.  Having said that, most individuals come into our office around 44-48 for the first time looking for a minifacelift.  Many of these individuals, which is also the case for you, can do well with the addition of volume to their cheeks and the area in front of their ear.  We try to avoid filler in the laugh lines or nasolabial folds now unless you have the midface well suspended via filler or surgery.You have smaller cheeks so volume in this area would lift your jawline.  It also seems you may have some fuller buccal fat pads (fat pads about half an inch from the corners of your mouth) that could be reduced to reduce the fullness in the lower face.  

Thank you for attaching your photo. I can not make comment on you neck and forehead, eyebrow and upper lids as I can not see. It would be better to have a full face photo with both  profile face photos. I might change my comment after I review your full face photos and at the moment I assume they are fine. Your cheek and jowl seems need to be corrected. A SMAS lift focused on cheek lift and jowl to restore your chin V line and restore your cheek volume seems one of the the best option to chose. This will make your face more heart shaped rather than square.  
You are young but based on your expectation this could be an option or you might reconsider to wait till you are 45 years old.
I hope this helps
Best wishes