How Long Does a Mini Facelift Last?
People who are contemplating facelift surgery may find themselves choosing between a mini or full facelift. Each procedure targets different facial areas and achieves unique results. This blog discusses the results of each procedure and factors that affect how long those results last.
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Facelift Surgery Results
While aging may be a difficult concept to accept, it is an inevitable part of life. As we age and our bodies slow down collagen and elastin production, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin will start to settle in. Coping with facial aging signs can be especially challenging since the face is the most visible part of one’s body. Luckily, facelift surgery offers stunning facial rejuvenation results for people looking to turn back the clock metaphorically.
Results are often a significant deciding factor for those considering facelift surgery. The procedure can improve the appearance of wrinkles, eliminate sagging skin, remove excess fat, and restore youthful-looking facial contours. Patients with facial folds, loose facial skin, or excess fat under the chin can often greatly benefit from a facelift.
Facelift procedures should be tailored to fit the individual patient’s facial structure while addressing their concerns and goals. Although results will vary on an individual basis, patients can generally expect their results to be long-lasting. The best way to get a better understanding of what your results may look like is to schedule a facelift consultation with Dr. Leslie Stevens. During this consultation, you’ll learn about your facelift options and the corresponding expected results.
Mini Facelift vs Full Facelift
Once you begin researching facelift surgery, you’ll learn that different types of facelifts are each designed to produce various results. Two of the most common options are the mini facelift and the traditional facelift.
Also known as a full, standard, or deep-plane facelift, the traditional facelift is what many people associate with facelift surgery. It targets the midface region and also benefits the neck. The procedure involves repositioning the underlying tissues, removing excess fat, trimming excess skin, and tightening the remaining skin and muscle for smooth and firm contours.
A mini facelift also addresses the midface region; however, it does not provide as extensive correction as a full facelift. This makes the mini facelift an ideal option for patients with less skin laxity who do not need as much surgical intervention to achieve their desired results.
Mini Facelift Results
The mini facelift uses a shorter incision than the traditional facelift, but it is still located in relatively the same region. This generally results in a shorter scar and less downtime after surgery. Patients can expect smoother, tighter skin in the treated areas.
Many younger patients seek mini facelifts over traditional facelift surgery, typically in their 30s to 40s. Yet, it is important to know that there is no set age requirement for this surgery. With proper aftercare, a mini facelift can last around ten years.
Full Facelift Results
The incision for a full facelift typically starts in the hairline near the temples and goes down past and around the ear, extending into the lower scalp. While this incision is longer than the one for the mini facelift, the scar can usually be easily concealed within the natural contours of the ear and in the hair. After a full facelift, patients can enjoy significant improvements to the upper midface, lower midface, and neck regions. Similar to the mini facelift, the full facelift also has long-lasting effects that may last up to ten years.
Factors Affecting How Long Results Last
Facelift surgery is an investment in yourself and your confidence. Like with any smart investment, you’ll want to ensure that the results are worth the time, money, and effort you’ll put into the entire process. While both the mini and full facelift can provide results that last a decade, it is essential to understand that several factors contribute to how long your results stay looking their best.
Age & Genetics
Younger patients may find that they can keep their results looking fresh longer than patients who get the procedure later in life. This may not be the case for every patient, but in general, older patients may experience more visible aging signs that may require their facelift results to be refreshed sooner.
Additionally, and perhaps more importantly than age, genetics will greatly affect the process. Your genetics impact how and when aging signs affect your body; therefore, they can either help your results flourish longer or make your results not last quite as long.
Skin Quality
Your skin elasticity will also affect your facelift results. Patients with good skin elasticity may experience longer facelift results than patients with naturally lax skin. Additionally, it is important to understand that maintaining a stable weight is crucial to maintaining your new youthful facial contours. Losing or gaining a significant amount of weight can create excess skin or fat that diminishes your surgical results.
Lifestyle
It is often in your best interest to eat a balanced, healthy diet and regularly exercise after surgery to ensure that your results last as long as possible. Practicing an overall healthy lifestyle helps set your results up for success. This includes recreational aspects, too, such as refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol, as these activities can be detrimental to your skin and negatively impact your facelift results.
Facelift Techniques
Mini and full facelifts each provide different levels of correction. Since the mini facelift isn’t as extensive, patients may notice aging signs in other facial areas or in the neck sooner than full facelift patients.
Skin Care
After your facelift, you’ll be provided with post-surgery instructions to care for your incision sites and long-term skin care instructions. Following your surgeon’s instructions as closely as possible will help ensure that your results thrive. Long-term skin care may involve cleansing, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen with a high SPF whenever your skin is exposed to the sun.
Which Procedure Is Right for Me?
When asking yourself if a mini or full facelift is what you need, consider the following questions:
- Where are your most prominent areas of concern?
- Do you want to remove jowls or focus more on facial lines in the midface?
- Are you ready to commit to the surgical process and recovery length of a full facelift?
Ultimately, the best way to figure out which option is right for you is to consult with a board-certified surgeon whom you trust and feel comfortable with.
Schedule Your Facelift Consultation in Beverly Hills, CA
To learn more about your facelift surgery options, contact Dr. Stevens’ office in Beverly Hills. Call (310) 556-1003 or fill out our online contact form today to get started.
