How long can I expect to be bruised after a mini facelift? What is the downtime in comparison to a full facelift?

Most surgeons agree that a "mini" lift is equal to a jawline lift.  This has been known in the past as a "lunchtime lift" for some.  Certainly the recovery time for a minilift is shorter than that of a full lower face and necklift.  In our practice, we advise patients that they will look "presentable" at one week post-procedure with their hair down (ie for women with long hair).  They typically can go back to the gym at that time as well.  A lower facelift and necklift usually doubles that time frame as far as looking good and getting back to routine activity.

Thank you for your questions.  The recovery time really does depend on which technique your surgeon is using.  Also, whether you are just having skin removed or skin and muscle.  I would suggest referring to your surgeon as everyone's protocol will be different. The lower facelift I perform under a local anaesthetic we advise our patients to have 7-10 days off work.  If they are combining their procedure with liposuction or eyelid surgery then 10-14 days maybe needed.  All The Best 

Its about 10-14 days, after which you are restaurant ready- you will still have some lumps and swelling, possibly bruising, however, its easy to cover up at this point. This average is for most patients and some patients heal quicker and some slower. Full healing takes a few months before the sensitivity and swelling resolves completely. 

Our advanced mini face/neck lifts are really full face lifts but are just done under local rather than general so they are safer and you get a better result since i can sit you up and turn your head easily to fine tune the results. Bruising lasts roughly 1-2 weeks and usually you are wrapped for 2 weeks.

Hello and thanks for the question.  The swelling and bruising following mini lift can vary quite a bit from patient to patient but in general you can expect swelling and bruising for about 1 week.  Depending on the extent of a “full facelift “ those issues can last several weeks. 

currant  Mini facelift surgery is an excellent option for patients with certain criteria.   My favorite technique is the MACS short scar Mini-Facelift. Developed in Europe, it is the ideal approach for the younger patient, not ready for a full facelift, or patients who desire a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time. It addresses both the mid face area (especially the jowls) as well as the neck, if needed.  Bruising may last as long as one week, however it can easily be covered with make up as early as two or three days after surgery.  Since incisions are shorter and dissection less extensive, swelling also resolves quicker than a full facelift. Most patients can return to normal schedule, meaning being out and about, after one week. All sutures are usually removed by then.Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to explore the best options for you.  Good luck.

Hi, it all depends on how invasive the facelift procedure truly is.  I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  The reality is, there are many different ways to perform a facelift from incision length, incision placement, level of tissue dissection (skin only, SMAS, Deep Plane, Subperiosteal), different degrees of tissue undermining, how to lift and support (imbrication versus plication of the SMAS layer), how much excess skin to trim, is excess fat going to be reduced and finally will the overall shape of the face be made more feminine or masculine (while avoiding the over pulled, windswept appearance).  Price is determined by the reputation, location and experience of the Facelift Surgeon.
 In my humble opinion however, there are some basic requirements that must be met in order for a facelift to be "effective", yielding "aesthetic pleasing" and "naturally attractive" results.  These include: 
 1. Some type of incision either curved around the front (preferred) or straight in front of the ear.  This is how excess skin is removed which is not possible with an incision behind the ear alone.  If you have so little excess skin on the face that "none" needs to be removed you are not a candidate for a facelift in the first place.
2. The facelift must address correction and softening of the "jowls" using a long lasting and effective technique.  If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
3. Facial shaping must be combined to properly shape the cheeks, chin, jaw line and lips for feminizing or masculinizing the face as the case may be.
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection less bruising and swelling rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
proper SMAS Imbrication technique
no incisions within the hair no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
Hope this helps.

Some patients bruise more than others but in general the majority of patients will look pretty good in 7-14 days, sometimes with a little makeup.