When it comes to cosmetic surgery, a facelift or rhytidectomy is considered one of the most popular procedures of the specialty.
It is for a good reason as well.
By tightening loose skin, manipulating muscle tissue, as well as removing excessive skin and fat around the lower face and neck, the surgery “lifts” the face to fix the sagging look that can come with aging.
With the ability to decrease the visible effects of aging for almost everyone, a facelift can work wonders in helping you achieve a younger appearance.
Despite being an extensive and invasive procedure with a usual recovery time of 2-4 weeks, a facelift almost always fulfills expectations when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.
But a facelift doesn’t always have to be that extensive. With its more popular subset in the form of a mini facelift, you can garner most benefits of this sought after surgery through a less-invasive procedure.
What is a Mini Facelift?
As the name suggests, a mini facelift is a shorter surgical procedure than its original counterpart. While mini facelift results still hold up in terms of expectations, the surgery also doesn’t require as much of a recovery time as a typical facelift. It also does not cost as much.
A conventional facelift often requires extensive incisions. These incisions start from the hairline above the front of the ear, and end on the scalp area behind the earlobes. In addition to pulling the skin into shape and smoothing out wrinkles, these incisions help surgeons trim excess fat, manipulate facial tissue, and give your face a more structured look.
In addition to this, a typical facelift also requires incisions for a neck lift. During this procedure, the excess skin and fat around the neck is trimmed down. The skin and tissue is also stretched to remove wrinkles below the chin. The incisions around the face and the neck are commonly healed through skin glue or stitches, which are often dissolvable.
On the other hand, a mini facelift only requires minimal incisions. These incisions are still made close to the ear and the hairline. But they are quite smaller in size as compared to the traditional surgery. Similar to a facelift, a mini facelift also uses local or general anesthesia.
By following this approach, a mini facelift does not trim as much excess skin or fat as a conventional facelift. It also does not extensively cover the neck area. However, it still offers visible results that are just as effective as a traditional facelift.
But despite being a toned down version of the conventional rhytidectomy, a mini facelift is arguably more popular among those who want to achieve a younger look.
Why is a Mini Facelift More Popular Than Its Traditional Counterpart?
As compared to a traditional facelift, a mini facelift usually requires 1-2 weeks of recovery time. This gives you the ability to get healed faster than a typical rhytidectomy.
In most clinics, the procedure is also offered at half the price of a conventional facelift. It is important to note that this comparison does not include the cost for clinical facilities including anesthesia, which remain the same in both procedures. With that being said, it still makes for a significant difference in the overall bill.
While the overall procedure of a mini facelift is comparatively shorter and less-invasive than a typical facelift, its execution varies from surgeon to surgeon.
Some providers prefer trimming more skin and fat during the procedure, while some believe in doing more tissue manipulation. This is why, it’s important that you discuss your options with your plastic surgeon to see exactly how they are going to perform the surgery for you.
Since a mini facelift is more affordable and has almost half the recovery time than a conventional facelift, it has become more popular than traditional rhytidectomy within the last few years. This especially holds true for those who can only take limited time off of work for an elective surgery.
Who Can Benefit From a Mini Facelift?
While a mini facelift evidently has its advantages, it is not available to everyone.
For instance, the surgery cannot be performed on those who have excessively loose or hanging skin around their lower face. It is also not viable for those who have these signs of aging appearing on their neck. For such patients, a traditional facelift is more appropriate.
With that being said, depending upon your skin’s condition and appearance, only an experienced plastic surgeon can assess if you are a suitable candidate for a mini facelift. By discussing your expectations and analyzing your condition, a credible provider can easily make this distinction within your first visit.
How to Get a Mini Facelift?
Similar to a traditional facelift, a mini facelift is performed by plastic surgeons.
While many providers offer this surgery, you should only reach out to those who are board-certified and hold an extensive experience in their field. This ensures that you are able to steer clear of any potential problems while going through this elective surgery.
After getting an initial assessment and discussing your expectations, you and your plastic surgeon can determine if going for a mini facelift is the right fit for you.
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