Aging affects the entire body, but it’s most noticeable on exposed areas, especially the face. That’s not something most people enjoy, which why they’re always looking for ways to regain a more fresh-faced, youthful look. A facelift is one of the best ways to minimize an aged appearance, and its popularity indicates that it must be quite effective. More than 120,000 Americans get either a full or mini facelift every year, which makes it one of the most desired cosmetic procedures.
Which One is Right for You?
You’re probably wondering why you should have a full facelift if a mini can get the job done, but it’s not quite that simple. While both mini and full facelifts target loose and saggy skin, the mini only focuses on the skin along the jawline and under the chin. A full facelift tightens skin on the entire face. As far as the amount of time it takes to complete the procedure, the mini is shorter, but recovery time is not that much different between the two. Mini lifts are less complicated and less expensive than full lifts.
Choosing between facelift procedures is a decision made between the patient and doctor. If the patient has loose skin all over the face, the doctor usually gives a full facelift recommendation, but it could be a mini recommendation for someone whose problem areas are confined to the lower face. It’s all based on what the patient hopes to achieve for their appearance and which areas of the face need rejuvenation. The doctor must also consider the patient’s bone structure, skin elasticity, overall health and other factors. Sometimes a patient needs an alternate or complementary procedure to get their desired results. This can include eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, a brow lift or other procedure. Consulting a cosmetic surgeon is the best way to decide which procedure or procedures to have done, and since the goal is to look younger, you’ll want to follow the doctor’s advice to get the most satisfactory outcome.
Facelift Benefits
Have a facelift. Look younger. That’s a pretty basic assessment of the overall benefit of a facelift, but let’s be a bit more specific. With age, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) gets weak and starts sagging. The SMAS are the underlying structures of your face, and when they sag, the skin follows. During your facelift, these structures are tightened and rearranged, which means there is less tension on skin. Of course, there is the issue of the skin that already started sagging. During the facelift, the surgeon trims some of it off and repositions other skin for a more taut look.
Another benefit is improved contours. By removing and repositioning things, you can get smoother cheeks and lower eyelids and a more defined, younger looking jawline. If you go for the mini facelift, you won’t get the upper face benefits, but you probably don’t have issues in that area if you’re opting out of the full facelift. One benefit some patients experience is an increase in confidence and self-esteem.
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Ready for Surgery? Read This First
Benefits of mini and full facelifts are clear, but there are possible negatives you should know before agreeing to surgery. Your cosmetic surgeon will explain them to you. One potential minus is the degree of risk associated with anesthesia, which you would face with any type of surgery. There’s also the potential for infection, pain and scarring, as well as nerve injury or weakness in the face. For the most part, patients come through surgery just fine, and many of the post-op issues are temporary. It’s important to discuss all concerns with the surgeon well ahead of the planned facelift.
Here’s What Happens During a Facelift Procedure
Rhytidectomy is the official medical name for facelift, which takes several hours if you have a full lift and 40 to 90 minutes for a mini. Because the full facelift is a more complex procedure, patients get stronger anesthesia. With the mini, they may have a light anesthetic with sedation.
Surgeons usually make incisions on the scalp, at the hairline and around the ear. For example, for a full lift, the doctor may start the incision at the temple and follow a path around the lower earlobe, then go behind the ear and into hairline of the lower scalp. For necessary work on the lower face, an incision may be made under the chin. When the procedure is a mini face lift, the incision is also made around the ear but may be right on the hairline instead going into the scalp.
After making an incision, the surgeon separates the skin from the underlying tissue and muscles. Sometimes extra fat is removed to slim the face, and some surgeons may pin back deep muscles for a more dramatic look. Facial tissue is repositioned, which helps get rid of jowls and creates a firmer foundation. All excess skin is cut away, and the remaining skin is pulled into position on top of the rejuvenated facial tissues. The incisions are closed, bandages applied, and some patients may have a drain left in place for excess fluid so that it doesn’t accumulate and put pressure on incision sites.
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After Your Lift
Recovery is very similar for both full and mini lifts. Patients with drains get them removed after a couple of days. Sutures come out about a week-and-a-half after surgery. Recovery time varies from one patient to the next, but post-op symptoms like numbness, swelling and bruising usually fade within three to six weeks. Patients go back to work about two weeks after a lift.
Andrew S. Frankel, MD, FACS is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon located in Lasky Clinic in Beverly Hills, CA. If you want to learn more about facelift surgery, you may visit his website.
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