Facelift versus Mini Facelift: Whats the Difference?

A mini facelift is a new, innovative treatment often referred to as a weekend facelift because it greatly minimizes downtime and can even be performed without general anesthesia.
By now, its clear that aging is inevitable for both men and women, and since the facial skin is so delicate, its one of the first areas of the body to show severe signs of age. Facial skin can often begin to loosen and sag, and deep lines can appear in the form of crows feet, frown lines, and laugh lines.

On top of that, gravity, sun exposure, and even smoking can contribute greatly to the appearance of aging in the skin. Fortunately, these issues can be best remedied with the use of a cosmetic procedure like a facelift or mini facelift.
What Is a Facelift?
In a standard facelift, a plastic surgeon will examine your entire facial structure, including the texture and elasticity of your skin. In some cases, the structure of your facial skeleton could contribute to the appearance of sagging in the skin, which can be corrected with such enhancements as cheek or chin implants for quick lifting and firming.
Within a facelift, an eyelid tuck, a brow lift, and a mid-facelift will be performed for total facial rejuvenation. This will immediately provide a more youthful appearance to the shape of the face by dramatically reducing sagging, loose skin.
A skilled plastic surgeon will make incisions underneath the hair line and in the natural crease in front of the ear so that scars will become virtually invisible after the skin has healed. In men, these incisions can be aligned to the natural line of beard growth for maximum camouflage.
What Is a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift can be best used for less severe cases of aging in the skin. However, for bigger jowls and more obvious sagging, it may be best to use a full facelift for optimal results.
The majority of patients will be good candidates for a mini facelift, which uses shorter and smaller incisions to lift and tone aging facial skin. A mini facelift provides a great benefit because it can be performed under local anesthesia while a patient is still awake. Mini facelift incisions will be hidden behind the curves of the ear so that scarring will not be visible.
The muscles in the face will be tightened but not surgically altered to greatly minimize swelling and bruising after the operation. A mini facelift, or a weekend facelift, is a recommended procedure for busy professionals with hectic schedules who need to minimize their recovery downtime.
Prior to either surgical procedure, patients will undergo a complete physical examination and begin a vitamin supplement and nutritional program to enhance their healing results post-surgery.
A consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon can best determine which facelift procedure is right for you. If the effects of aging in your skin are not yet severe, a mini facelift may be the best choice since it is quick, minimally invasive, and has a very short recovery time.
To schedule a consultation at our practice in Northern Virginia, call us at (703) 574-2588. Or, click here to set up a consultation.
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