It’s a fact of life that many people begin to lose the elasticity in their skin as they move into middle age. This aging process has the unfortunate effect of causing a loss of muscle tone in the mid and lower face area causing jowls and saggy skin to form.

There are several methods that can be used by surgeons to tighten facial skin. However, with the advances in facial surgery techniques, the mini facelift which is sometimes also referred to as the short scar face lift, has become increasingly popular because it leaves patients having the procedure with a considerably reduced scar.

This is basically because the scar from the incision is positioned behind the ear and in the hairline so is virtually unnoticeable.
The age of patients who have the mini facelift procedure vary although as mentioned it is mostly the ‘middle aged’ who are looking for a quick and cost effective procedure to turn the clock back so that they can have a firmer younger looking appearance.

Other alternatives can be used, like for example skin microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing or botox injections to improve wrinkles, creases and age spots. However, they have little if any effect on sagging facial skin. The advantage of a mini facelift is it has the effect of reducing sagging loose skin making the face softer and younger looking.

Depending on how much work the surgeon is required to perform the mini facelift procedure does not always require a general anesthesia which has the effect of reducing the costs for patients.

In some cases patients will elect to have other facial surgery done on the forehead, neck and eyelids.
Apart from creating a fresh looking face and enhancing key facial areas the main advantage of having a mini facelift is the cost which is extremely attractive when compared to the more conventional face lift.

There are also other positives such as the quick natural looking result, avoidance of a general anesthetic, improvement in self confidence and a shorter recovery period.

However, the following are some possible risks and side effects potential patients need to be aware of -

• Infections. These are rare and most surgeons usually provide antibiotics after surgery to counteract the possibility of contracting an infection
• Bleeding. A hematoma can sometimes develop causing swelling under the skin. This will necessitate corrective surgery if it does occur
• Nerve damage. Also very rare and usually a temporary problem that corrects itself.
• Scarring. Any incision will cause this to occur but over time this will gradually fade.
• Numbness. Only a temporary discomfort that will disappear

Recovery

The recovery time from a routine mini facelift will usually be a day or two although surgeons will generally recommend patients should take it easy for the first week after having surgery. Patients will in many cases have a feeling of facial numbness and stiffness. There will also be signs of bruising for the first two or three weeks which will gradually diminish after the third week. Most patients return to work after one or two weeks of surgery but they are advised to avoid anything strenuous and have plenty of rest to help the healing process.

Benefits

The main benefits from this procedure are it is a much less invasive surgical procedure than the full face lift. Also a general anesthetic is not always required and the recovery time is shorter. The costs involved are also considerably lower than the full face lift which is very attractive to patients who may be under financial restraint.

In addition surgeons can carry out this particular procedure in combination with brow and eyelid surgery.
Although the effects of a mini facelift are less dramatic surgery can fix precise signs of aging in the face particularly for middle aged people who have skin that has lost its elasticity that give them a tired and jowly look.

Other noticeable benefits from this procedure are a shorter recovery period with quick and natural looking results. Patients also have improved self-esteem and an energized appearance as a result of a more youthful look.

The instruments are then used to remove surplus fat and to reshape the facial muscles causing problems. The procedure is monitored by the surgeon through a small camera also inserted below the skin. The non endoscopic procedure involves more incisions and the skin opened to expose the area to be treated. In both cases the mini facelift entails negligible skin cutting reducing the risk from scarring and other possible complications.

Once the surgeon has eliminated the unwanted sagging and drooping from the problem facial area the surgeon will carefully reposition the skin by suturing the incision area.

A surgeon will generally operate on one side of the face at a time, removing a narrow S-shaped piece of skin from facial area. If desired by the patient general anesthesia can be used, otherwise local anesthetic with mild sedation can be used if preferred.

Surgery time for a mini facelift can vary anywhere between one to two hours depending on the complexity of the work required to be done. The recovery time can also vary and generally takes between one and two weeks before the bruising starts to disappear although the overall recovery time depends of course on where and how much has been performed on the facial area.

Part of the mini facelift plan may also involve radiothermaplasy otherwise known as ‘thermage.’ This is a non surgical skin-tightening facial procedure that uses radio frequency that heats and tightens the skin.

Thermage technology is sometimes used to tighten the brow area of patients who may not want to have a full brow-lift. The procedure only lasts around 2 years which is much longer than popular short term fillers such as botox.

It is only natural for a person to want to know everything they can about having a mini facelift. To find out this information potential candidates will look online or seek word of mouth recommendations from people who have already had the surgery. Some candidates may alternatively be guided by their doctor’s recommendation as to who would be the best qualified surgeon to carry out the procedure and what will results they may expect to have as a result of a mini facelift.

In a nutshell, you may read everything possible you can, look at hundreds of photos of people who have had mini facelift surgery and seek the best advice in the world but it is only you who can make the final decision.

The first step to take after making up your mind that you want to have a mini facelift and after discussing with those closest to you (your decision again) is to source out an experienced surgeon who is up to speed on the latest technology and techniques on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The next step is to arrange a consultation and ascertain the during your consultation –
1. What will happen during the surgery procedure?
2. Is there anything to avoid before the surgery?
3. Where and how many incisions will be made?
4. What will I look like post surgery?
5. Are there any side effects or pain from the procedure?
6. Will pre and post surgery photos be taken of my face?
7. How long will it take before I can return to work?

The cost of the mini facelift also makes it a very attractive economical option than the usual conventional face lift surgery as it enhances patient’s facial areas such as minor sagging around the cheeks/jowls, jaw line and neck area with less risk and stress to the patient at a much lower cost.
It is however difficult to ascertain what the average cost of a mini facelift because several factors influence the cost such as the surgeon’s skill and experience, facility used along with the location of the doctor’s surgery.

In most cases a treatment plan will be provided by the surgeon and there are various options for payment including financial plans available that are designed to assist patients and reduce the financial burden for them.

Also some cosmetic surgeons provide customer friendly payment plans to allow monthly payments. There are also some medical finance companies that may offer flexible payment options and different customized plans for clients.

The question of cost is of course a big hurdle for many people and will no doubt prevent a great many from even considering having a mini facelift. So borrowing or using money that is meant for another project to pay for a mini facelift can understandably be a big decision to make for someone who desperately wants to look and feel better than they do.

The qualified cosmetic surgeon you decide to use will provide all the required information on costs in the region you live or where you prefer to have the surgery.

Face lift surgery is designed to overall improve advanced aging in the face, cheek and lower eyelid area and is popular with middle age people who have lost elasticity in the facial skin region resulting in them having a tired and drawn appearance. The resulting surgery creates a more youthful appearance and an improvement in self confidence.

The mini facelift is also sometimes referred to as the “weekend” face lift because it is performed over a very short period of time with a quick recovery period.

Who are the Best Candidates for a Mini Face lift?

The best candidate is generally a person who is just beginning to show the first signs of aging and wants to have the option of a simple and less invasive procedure to correct minor sagging from targeted areas such as the cheeks, jowls and neck region. For candidates who want to target problem areas such as the brow and forehead area, the traditional face lift procedure would probably be the better option. Some patients who may have deep wrinkles may also need a full face lift or neck lift to get the best result.

Advice regarding the merits of each procedure should be sought from a plastic surgeon.

It needs to be stressed that your face will still continue to age despite a mini facelift as time does not stand still. You will however notice that the loose skin and jowly look that you had before the procedure will be considerably reduced giving your face a softer, fresh and overall youthful look.