Facelift vs. Mini Facelift

Differences between a facelift and mini facelift

Attributes and Highlights of a Full or Complete Facelift

A complete, or full, facelift is a long-lasting surgical cosmetic surgical procedure that focuses on the lower 2/3rds of the face and vertically repositions sagging cheeks. It eliminates loose skin on the neck and cheeks, fills the midface areas that are so prone to loss of volume in the fascia, and restores definition to the jawline.

As with a mini facelift, curvilinear incisions are made to blend in best with the surrounding tissue, such as behind the ears and immediately behind or within the hairline. The placement of these incisions allow for the best camouflaging and natural blending of scar tissue.

Attributes and Highlights of a Mini Facelift

The mini facelift, also known as a short-scar facelift of SMAS lift, is typically done on younger patients that require less work to bring about facial rejuvenation and youthfulness. Like the facelift, it also reduces sagging of the lower face and neck, but not quite as pronouncedly as a facelift. Its results also tend to have a shorter lifespan; much longer than dermal fillers that last several months, yet shorter than a full facelift. Its other advantages include smaller incision requirements and a shorter recovery time.

Woman smiling in front of a blurry background

It’s also important to understand that while these procedures are quite effective in restoring life, youth and vibrancy to the face, neither of them address the eyebrows and forehead, but these areas are treatable in other procedures and are often the last to be affected by age-related changes, volume loss, hollowing and are by the accumulation of fatty tissues, sagging and jowls.

Candidates for full Facelift and Mini Facelift

Every procedure, full or mini, is tailored to each individual patient. Just as no two anatomies are identical, so too are no two facelifts identical. This provides the surgeon some operational leeway in either procedure, although before your procedure it will be clearly stated which procedure is best suited to your needs.

A full or traditional facelift is ideally suited to patients with moderate to significant wrinkles, creases and sagging skin. These patients will also have sagging skin and jowls in the lower face, and a noticeable loss or volume or hollows in the midface.

A mini facelift on the other hand, is ideally suited for patients that present with less severe or less advanced skin sagging, volume loss of the midface and, often, no visible jowls at all.

Patients who get a mini facelift are typically also years younger than patients undergoing a complete facelift, as they have yet to be as affected by the natural process of aging and the loss of skin elasticity.

Which procedure is best for me?

Both full facelifts and mini facelifts are effective procedures for the patients they are suited to. During your private consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Repta, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss all of your concerns and your goals for your facelift procedure, and will be given a better understanding and idea of the expectations for either procedure as it applies to you.