Phoenix Residents Want to Know—What’s the difference between a facelift and a mini-facelift?

by DLM Admin | Aug 15, 2019 | Blog

If you are considering a facelift procedure, you’ve probably come across the terms “full facelift” and “mini facelift.”  In this article, I’ll discuss who is the best candidate for a facelift, what those terms generally mean, and how to decide which procedure is right for you.

As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of muscle movement (wrinkles), volume loss (sagging and hollow skin), and blemishes (age spots and discoloration).  A facelift procedure is designed to address sagging skin and wrinkles to give you a more youthful appearance.

With a traditional facelift, surgeons create a long incision around the ear and into the hairline.  This allows them to “tunnel” deep into the face to pull the muscle, the SMAS layer, and the skin to an ideal position.  Then everything is sutured in to place.  The surgeon will also create a small incision under the chin to address laxity in the neck so that the final result is a youthful neck, and a tighter lower and midface.

While this procedure delivered great results, it took several hours to complete, and the healing process was often lengthy with patients being out-of-commission for two to four weeks while they recovered.  It was also a procedure that was most appropriate for people with medium to severe laxity, meaning usually in their 60s to 70s.  Physicians started looking for a new option and the mini-facelift was born!

The mini facelift uses a shorter incision around the ear and takes less time to complete than a traditional facelift.  The physician generally does not go as deep into the face, and often will only change the position of the muscles and the skin without addressing the SMAS layer.  Neck tightening is usually not included with a mini-facelift.

The mini-facelift is a great procedure for women and men in their 50s who want to improve their appearance without too much downtime, but who don’t want to use fillers or non-invasive technologies like skin tightening.

Dr. Farhan Taghizadeh generally does not distinguish between the mini and traditional facelift.  As an experienced facial plastic surgeon who has completed over 3,500 facelifts, Dr. Taghizadeh is committed to providing the best result for each patient.  A patient with mild to moderate laxity will need a different solution than a patient in their 70s with severe skin laxity and volume loss.  Because of his extensive experience, he is able to deliver a comprehensive result to each patient.

His average facelift procedure takes about 4 hours and includes advanced suture technology, a short-incision for minimal scarring, and regenerative therapies for rapid healing.  Most of his patients have their sutures removed at 7 days post-procedure and are able to resume most of their normal activities.

A facelift can be a wonderful investment in yourself because it will boost your self-confidence and make you look as young and vibrant as you feel.