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.