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. However, these issues should dissipate within a few weeks.
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.
The swelling may get worse before it gets better, but it will probably go away in 1 to 2 weeks. After a few days you may get some bruises on your neck and chest. This is caused by gravity, which pulls the excess blood and bruising downward. You will feel some pain for 2 to 4 days after surgery.
Because you don't have to go under general anesthesia for the mini facelift, you are able to stay awake and walk out after the procedure. An additional benefit is that since the mini facelift is done under local anesthesia, often little-to-no pre-operative testing is necessary.
Overall, a mini facelift is considered effective in correcting sagging skin in the lower half of your face. Depending on your overall goals, you may consider additional procedures, such as an eye lift or dermal fillers.
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.
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.
The results you receive from a mini facelift compared to a full facelift only vary when it lasts. Because both procedures alter tissue and skin on your face, both offer long-term results. In most cases, a mini facelift will last around ten years easily before another lift is needed.
There is an option for a slightly less invasive procedure called a mini-facelift – and it can be completed without general anesthesia!
A facelift can absolutely be performed very safely without the use of general anesthesia. I've performed thousands of procedures in an office setting using light sedation and local anesthesia.
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.
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 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.
Mini facelift scars are minimal
Traditionally, an incision is made in the hairline near the temples on each side. 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.
If you are given a sedative during your facelift, then you most likely won't remember the procedure. While it's happening, you'll likely be awake, although you'll feel very relaxed. However, because the sedative medication blocks the formation of memories, you won't remember it later.
There is usually very little actual pain following a facelift, but you may experience a deep bruised sensation as a result of the swelling, and your face may seem heavy. The bandage you will wear the first night may seem quite snug under your chin. Rather than make you feel restricted, we hope it makes you feel secure.
General Anesthesia
Throughout the procedure, you are completely asleep, and you feel no pain. This is the most common type of anesthesia Dr. Fan uses. A facelift takes considerable time, and the majority of patients, especially those who experience anxiety, are most comfortable sleeping through the procedure.
A facelift is not generally for anyone under the age of 30. In most cases, a facelift works best for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s when signs of aging begin to become prevalent.
While facelift results can be different for every patient, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that, on average, patients felt they looked about 12 years younger after their facelift surgeries.
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.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks. Keep in mind that facelift surgery cannot stop natural aging, so we encourage patients to continue to take care of their skin and make healthy lifestyle choices.
Some treatments to treat nasolabial folds include: Mini Face Lift: A mini face lift targets the lower portion of the face. Small incisions are made around the ears where the skin and underlying tissues are gently pulled and tightened, reducing the appearance of nasolabial folds.
Don't eat or drink (that includes water) from midnight on the night before your procedure until your surgery is complete. Don't Smoke! Smoking alters blood flow, and people who smoke will not heal as quickly as those who don't. You are advised to stop smoking for at least several weeks prior to your surgery.
About a week before surgery, eliminate all vitamin and herbal supplements, Omega 3 capsules, as well as ginger, green tea, flaxseed, cayenne, eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, and potatoes as these may as many may interfere with blood clotting. Also, eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners.
Numbness and Tingling Will Fade
These symptoms can persist for quite some time; a common time frame before you can expect them to fade is usually between 2 and 6 months, but it is also considered normal for them to last up to a year.