Have you considered a facelift to address signs of aging on your face, such as drooping or sagging skin, deep wrinkles, or hooded eyes? Have you wondered if there are less involved surgeries that could produce the results you want? If so, you may want to take a mini facelift into consideration. The mini facelift is similar to a full facelift, but, as the name suggests, it is a less extensive procedure that can be used to either prolong a full facelift or replace it altogether. Wonder if you’re a candidate for a mini facelift or if you’d be better off getting a full facelift? This information will help you make a decision.
What is Involved in a Full Facelift?
A full facelift is often recommended for those who have advanced signs of aging on the upper as well as the lower parts of their face. This can include deep wrinkles or folds in the skin, drooping skin, excess fat or skin in the chin or jowl area, and hooded or sagging eyelids that can result from lax tissues in the forehead area. During a full facelift, incisions are made behind the ears and up into the hairline so the surgeon has access to the deeper tissues and muscles in the face. Using a variety of techniques depending on the results desired by the patient, he will lift tissues and reattach them higher on the face, remove excess skin, and redrape the skin before closing incisions.
What is Involved in a Mini Facelift?
The mini facelift is isolated to the mid and lower portions of the face and does not address upper face issues or significant jowls. With a mini facelift, smaller incisions are made so the surgeon can work with underlying tissues in the mid-face region around the cheeks before redraping and closing incisions. The mini facelift is sometimes referred to as a short-scar facelift because shorter incisions are made and the scarring is minimized.
Which is the Better Choice for You?
There are a variety of considerations when deciding whether a mini or full facelift is right for you. They include:
The Results You Want
Much of your decision will probably be based on the extent of the results you want to see from your facelift. If you would be happy with subtle results centering on your mid-face region, you might want to opt for the mini facelift. If, however, you have significant jowls, folds or sagging in the neck, drooping of the eyelids, or wrinkles on the forehead, you probably will not be happy with the mini facelift results and should consider the full facelift surgery. You should also consider the future. A mini facelift tends to last about five to ten years before results are erased by the natural progression of aging while a full facelift is considered ‘permanent’.
The Amount of Downtime You Can Schedule
Because it is a more involved and invasive procedure, a full facelift requires more recovery and downtime than the mini version. Those who have a full facelift should expect to take approximately two weeks off work and be prepared to rest during the majority of that time. Those who have a mini facelift, on the other hand, usually return to work within five to seven days after their procedure. Also, those recovering from a full facelift will have to avoid smoking, aspirin and blood thinners before and after their surgery while those who have the mini variety do not face such restrictions.
Budget
Due to the difference in anesthesia (full facelifts use general anesthesia and mini-facelifts use local anesthesia and sedation) and the reduced time and technique that go into mini facelifts, they are usually about half the cost of full facelifts. If budget is a consideration and you would be happy with the results achieved with the mini facelift, this might be the better option for you.
Your Facelift Consultation with Dr. Pugash
To find out which procedure is the best option for you, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Pugash. He can explain in detail the differences between the two procedures. During the consultation, he will also examine you, ask about your desired results, and find out more about your health and other considerations that could affect your surgery or recovery before recommending one procedure over the other. Schedule your consultation today to learn more!