Are you having difficulty choosing between a mini or full facelift? Both procedures are meant to make you look more youthful and refreshed, addressing signs of aging in your face, such as skin laxity and jowling in the lower face.
However, these two procedures use different surgical techniques, have different recovery times, and improve specific areas of the face. In this blog post, we’ll compare the procedures, reviewing how they work and outlining the benefits and results of each.
How Does a Full Facelift Work?
During a full facelift, I create an incision around your ears and hairline. I will then reposition facial tissue and remove excess skin and fat to contour and sculpt your face. My patients prefer natural-looking results to the typical artificial and “windblown” look. To achieve this goal, I focus on repositioning deep plane muscles and strengthening underlying tissue to improve the facial structure.
Additionally, I tighten and redrape the skin to improve fine lines and wrinkles without making the skin too taut.
What Can a Full Facelift Improve?
A full facelift addresses concerns on the lower two-thirds of your face, such as:
- Fine lines and deep wrinkles
- Moderate to severe skin laxity
- Lax facial muscles
- Jowls
A neck lift is often performed with a facelift to smooth wrinkles and diminish the signs of aging below the face. You can see how well a full facelift (and often a neck lift and other procedures) rejuvenates our patients’ faces in their before and after photos below.
How Does a Mini Facelift Work?
A mini facelift also rejuvenates the lower face but is better suited to those with early signs of aging. I will use a shorter incision for a mini facelift than a full one. A mini facelift also has a shorter recovery period, which can benefit busy individuals who don’t have much time to spare.
Take a look at some of our patients’ mini facelift results featured below.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Between a Full and Mini Facelift
Ultimately, I will be your best guide when choosing between the two procedures. Here are some things to consider when making your choice.
The Extent of Skin Aging
Consider the severity of the aging signs you want to improve when choosing a full or mini facelift. If you have moderate to severe skin laxity and deep wrinkles, a full facelift can address those concerns better than a mini facelift. However, a mini facelift can give you effective results if you have mild age-related changes in your lower face and neck.
Cost
Although this won’t be the primary consideration in determining whether you are best served by a full or mini facelift, the cost is an important factor. A full facelift typically costs more than a mini facelift because it is more extensive. We offer financing options for those who want to spread their costs over time.
Desired Results
Most patients prefer a procedure that transforms their face rather than one that only creates subtle changes. If you want impactful, long-lasting results, a full facelift might be a better option. Although both types of facelifts usually last a decade or more, a mini facelift corrects less significant aging, so the results are not as dramatic.
Read about what you can do to maintain your facelift results in this previous blog.
Scarring
Concern about potential scarring is a common worry for patients, regardless of whether they want a full or mini facelift. Although it’s unrealistic to expect zero scarring after a surgical procedure, I use advanced surgical techniques for both facelift and mini facelift surgery to keep scarring to a minimum. Some of the techniques I use include strategic placement of the incision to hide scars and suturing the incisions with plastics closure precision.
Your full facelift incision will be longer than a mini facelift incision, although they are hidden in the natural curves and indentations of the face and hairline. Other factors may also determine the appearance of your scar, including the healing process and your skin health.
Can You Combine Other Procedures With a Facelift or Mini Facelift?
Yes, combining eyelid surgery, a neck lift, or a brow lift with a facelift (of any kind) is a popular choice for those who want comprehensive rejuvenation. Since a facelift can’t address sagging eyelids or a heavy brow line, adding these procedures can enhance your facelift results. Additionally, you can combine nonsurgical facial treatments, such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers, laser treatments, and chemical peels, with your facelift for added revitalization.
I can discuss and advise you on the best procedure combination based on your concerns and desired results.
A full and mini facelift can give you excellent and long-lasting results, but you’ll need to consider your facial goals and needs. Patients who come to my practice for a facelift are amazed at their transformations; you can see why in their before and after photos. If you are ready to achieve facial rejuvenation with a full or mini facelift, request a consultation or call us at (407) 333-3040 to schedule an appointment.
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