Mini Facelift
A mini facelift can be performed very quickly and the recovery period is very short. It improves facial areas with less risk and less stress than standard facelift surgery. This type of surgery reduces minor sagging around the cheeks, jaw line, and neck.
Typical candidates for a mini facelift are people who are just beginning to experience the first signs of aging and do not want to wait to undergo more intensive surgery.
The surgery
When performing a mini facelift, the surgeon first makes an incision along the hairline or within the hair itself, and then continues all the way down to the earlobe and behind the ear if necessary. The incision has the shape of an 'S', and it is only 1/3 the length of a traditional facelift incision. Then the skin is lifted and repositioned to reduce sagging and smooth out wrinkles. The surgeon uses sutures to keep the skin in the required position and to close incisions.
The surgeon may use either an endoscopic or a non-endoscopic approach. During an endoscopic procedure the doctor is able to insert surgical instruments through three or more small cuts made around the area to be treated. These instruments are used to remove excess fat and reshape muscles in the face. The surgeon also inserts a small camera below the skin to monitor the procedure. In case of a non-endoscopic surgery, more continuous incisions are made and the skin is turned over to expose the area to be treated. Both approaches require minimal cutting of the skin reducing the risk of scarring and other potential facelift complications.
The procedure may last from 40 to 90 minutes.
Standard facelift vs. Mini facelift
Traditional facelift surgery is appropriate for patients who would like to enhance their appearance by reducing wrinkles and sagging throughout their entire face. The mini facelift, by contrast, is intended for patients who wish to reduce sagging and droopiness only in specifically targeted areas. Mini facelift procedures cannot address areas such as the forehead or brow, whereas traditional facelifts generally produce results even in these problem spots. A plastic surgeon can advise you on the merits of each procedure and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you.
Mini Facelift Techniques
Because the cosmetic problems targeted are relatively minor, the incisions made during this low-stress " weekend" approach to facelift surgery can be quite small. As a result, the mini facelift is one of the least invasive procedures in facial surgery.
Depending on the situation, an endoscopic or a non-endoscopic approach may be used. An endoscopic procedure allows the doctor to insert surgical instruments through three or more small cuts made around the area to be treated. These are used to remove excess fat and reshape muscles in the face that are causing cosmetic problems. The surgeon watches the procedure via a small camera also inserted below the skin. If the procedure is non-endoscopic, more continuous incisions will be made and the skin will be turned over to expose the area to be treated. Both approaches to the mini facelift involve minimal cutting of the skin, thereby reducing the risk of scarring and other potential facelift complications.
After the surgery
The recovery after a mini facelift is very quick; it usually lasts 5-7 days
Complications and risks
Every surgery presents some complications and risks. The most common complications include: bruising, swelling, bleeding, blood clotting, infection, scarring and negative reaction to anaesthesia.
After the surgery patients may experience numbness of the face, temporary hair loss, discoloration of the skin. However, these complications usually subside after a few weeks or a few months.
PRE-OP REQUIREMENTS:
Chest X-ray
ECG
Laboratory test
Please provide the results of Pre-OP requirements before surgery, if cannot be done in your country we can give you the opportunity to do at the Clinic but requires an additional day to the time of stay.
TIME OF STAY:
14 days
