Mini Facelift
Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in Edison, Marlboro, Warren and West Orange, NJ
A mini-facelift is a simpler version of a traditional facelift suitable for patients without severe signs of aging. It’s also known as a “weekend facelift” because it involves a far shorter recovery period than the complete facelift yet provides stellar results. The procedure isn’t as dramatic as a traditional facelift, but it nevertheless takes years off your face.
Contents
Before and After Photos
What it is
A mini-facelift is a personalized facial surgery that tightens the sagging skin tissues by pulling the skin upwards and removing the excess skin tissues. This procedure doesn’t remove deep jowls and excessive sagging, but it turns back the clock by several years, giving you more time with youthful skin. The incisions used for a mini-facelift are far smaller, significantly reducing the recovery period.
Benefits
- Reverses the early signs of aging
- Relatively non-aggressive with smaller incisions
- The scars are concealed behind the ears or around the hairline
- Tightens the skin tissues and enhances facial contours
- The recovery period only lasts a week or two
- Reverses 5 to 10 years of age from your face
- No obvious signs of cosmetic manipulation
Ideal candidates
- Early signs of aging and jowls
- Mild to moderate skin laxity
- Don’t yet need or want a full facelift
- In generally good physical and mental health
- No history of blood disorders or healing problems
- Non-smoker or willing to stop smoking
- Not pregnant or nursing
Cost
National estimates suggest that the cost of a mini-facelift often ranges from $3,500 to $8,000. The specific cost of the procedure depends on various factors, including the surgeon’s skills and experience, anesthesia usage, prescription medications, hospital fees, and additional costs for the treatment of potential complications.
When it comes to a mini-facelift or any cosmetic surgeries, please avoid the impulse to consider the costs alone. Unlike mass-produced consumer goods, the results of cosmetic surgeries depend entirely on the skills, experience, and artistry of your chosen surgeon. Using inexperienced or cheaper surgeons for the procedure may leave you with a botched facelift with obvious signs of cosmetic manipulation, deep scars, or complications.
In fact, patients who opt for cheaper cosmetic surgeries often need to get a revision done by a superior surgeon to undo or fix the results of the botched facelift. Instead of focusing on cheaper surgeries, it’s far better to focus on finding flexible financing options that allow you to access the best surgical care. Associates in Plastic Surgery is glad to help you with your financing options.
Consultation
Your mini-facelift consultation is your chance to clarify all your concerns about the surgery. Your surgeon will carefully examine your facial skin, discuss your cosmetic goals, review your medical history, and present your treatment options. They’ll determine if you’re a suitable candidate for a mini-facelift or if you could benefit more from another facelift technique. And finally, they’ll answer all your questions and take you through every step of the procedure. You should walk out of the clinic knowing exactly what you must do before and after the procedure.
Procedure
The clinician delivers local anesthesia with IV sedation to ensure you’re physically and emotionally comfortable during the entire procedure. The specific details of the facelift may depend on the surgeon’s curated treatment plan, but the following is a brief overview of the steps.
- A small incision is made from the hairline to the back of the ear. Unlike a traditional facelift, the incision doesn’t go towards the forehead.
- The SMAS muscle (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) on the face is raised with the excess skin tissues.
- The excess skin tissues are trimmed away to tighten the remaining skin over your face.
- The incision is closed with sutures.
Recovery
You may experience mild pain, swelling, and bruising for a few days after the surgery. You’ll have to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first two days. Most patients can resume normal house-bound activities in two days and return to work in a week or two. However, you should avoid strenuous workouts and physical exertion for at least two weeks.
You must also avoid certain medications, alcohol, nicotine, and supplements that interfere with the recovery process. Everyone heals and recovers at their own pace — listen to your body, and contact your surgeon if something feels off.
FAQs
How can I prepare for the mini-facelift procedure?
Stop taking anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning medications about two weeks before the procedure.
Stop smoking or consuming nicotine in any form four weeks before the procedure.
Don’t drink alcoholic beverages for at least two days before the procedure.
Don’t eat or drink anything about six hours before the procedure.
Arrange to have a friend or relative drive you back from the clinic and stay with you for a day or two.
How long do the mini-facelift results last?
Mini-facelift takes 5 to 10 years off your face, but it doesn’t stop the aging process. As such, over time, the wrinkles and skin laxity will find their way back into your face, but you’ll always look 5 to 10 years younger than you would without the procedure.
Will my face look pulled?
No. The “pulled” look appears when inexperienced surgeons trim away excessive skin tissue, making your skin look overly taut. The board-certified surgical specialists at Associates in Plastic Surgery favor conservative treatments with natural results. You can go through our before-and-after pictures to be assured of the naturalness of the results for yourself.
