While a facelift procedure can leave behind scars, they are minimal and placed to be as inconspicuous as possible. There are also ways to make scarring far less noticeable. If you're planning on getting a mini facelift but aren't sure about your results, speak with double board-certified reconstructive surgeon Dr.
Mini facelift scars are minimal
The incision goes in front of the ear, down the front of and hugging the earlobe area, then back to the lower scalp behind the ears. Unlike a full facelift, a mini facelift is performed with smaller and fewer incisions.
Scars after a facelift are visible but inconspicuous, and generally not noticeable unless examined closely. The facelift procedure scar starts at the sideburn and follows the contour of the ear, extending along the front of the ear and continuing under the earlobe and behind the ear, into the hairline.
The incision is placed at the junction of the ear and cheek skin to hide the scar. In most patients, the incision will pass behind the tragus (the projection of skin in front of the ear canal). Placing the incision here means there is no telltale scar.
Facelift incisions typically start at the bottom of the sideburns, curving down in front of the ear, and moving back behind the ear into the hairline. This incision placement allows for the incisions to be largely camouflaged by the hair. These incisions also give Dr.
Recovery time after a standard facelift, mini facelift, or neck lift is fairly quick. Most patients will be back to their day-to-day routine after one to three weeks.
Scarring. Incision scars from a face-lift are permanent but typically concealed by the hairline and natural contours of the face and ear. Rarely, incisions can result in raised, red scars. Injections of a corticosteroid medication or other treatments might be used to improve the appearance of scars.
A mini facelift involves the placement of incisions in front of the ears which extend from the hairline to the bottom of the earlobe. The surgeon will then gently pull the skin and tissues up and outward the ear. Excess skin and tissue are removed to tighten the appearance of the skin.
Generally, a ponytail lift involves incisions made high up on the face – above the front of the ear or beyond the hairline. The facial cosmetic surgeon then pulls the ligaments below the skin to adjust and reduce sagging.
Traditionally, an incision is made in the hairline near the temples. The incision goes in front of the ear, down in front of and hugging the earlobe, then back to the lower scalp behind the ears. Fat and excess skin may be removed or redistributed from the face.
A mini facelift reduces minor sagging on the lower face and neck. It is a minimal skin tightening procedure that offers shorter-lived results than a traditional facelift. The incision is smaller than the incision for a full facelift. The mini facelift has a reduced recovery when compared to a full facelift.
Because a mini facelift is less invasive than a full facelift, most patients report feeling minimal pain and discomfort following their surgery. It is common to experience some slight bruising and swelling.
In general, good candidates for mini facelifts are men and women in their mid to late 40s up to 60s or 70s. There is not a cut-off age, per se, but instead we look at one's overall health, mobility, and treatment goals.
Benefits of a mini facelift
A mini facelift is able to lift the deeper facial structures, without requiring the surgeon to go any deeper. This can reduce swelling and bruising following the procedure. Then there is the advantage of less scarring thanks to a less invasive procedure than with a traditional facelift.
When suturing, often a two-fold method is used: First, the underneath part of the incision is closed with resorbable sutures that won't have to be removed. Then the top layers of skin are either glued together or sutured with very fine suturing material to minimize scarring.
Facelift fails are most likely to occur when a surgeon doesn't have the level of training and experience required to do a good job with the procedure you want. This is why you should be sure to look for a facial plastic surgeon for any facial surgery, not simply a plastic surgeon.
Facelift recovery Week 2
During this week you'll likely still have some swelling and bruising around the affected areas. Swelling and bruising can also cause some people to experience some numbness, tingling and tightness. These are all common occurrences after a facelift and should not cause concern.
Although the mini facelift is designed primarily to tighten the lower half of the face and focuses mostly on the jawline and jowls, a slight amount of upper neck tightening can also be achieved. In a traditional facelift, the focus is mostly on lifting and smoothing the neck more dramatically.
Swelling and inflammation are normal during facelift recovery. Swelling may occur around the mouth, chin, or jawline, depending on the extent of your facelift procedure and where it was performed. Most patients can expect the majority of their swelling to dissipate after 3 – 4 weeks.
Mini facelifts are faster and safer than a full facelift, have a shorter recovery time and are usually less expensive than full facelifts. In addition, they usually do not require general anesthesia – just local numbing and the use of mild sedatives.
Don't smoke or drink alcohol for two weeks before your mini facelift and for two weeks afterward. Reduce stress as much as possible by incorporating some relaxation periods into your daily routine – listen to soothing music, do yoga, meditate, take naps – whatever helps you tone down the stress.
A mini-facelift is usually performed in an office-based setting. In appropriately chosen patients this procedure is well tolerated using only local anesthesia. Sedation or general anesthesia are other options and would be performed in an outpatient surgical facility.
Younger patients in their 30s and 40s can benefit from a mini facelift as well as older individuals. Most people who seek this procedure want to treat the mid– to lower face, including sagging skin and loss of volume. Candidates for a mini facelift procedure should have some skin elasticity to get good results.