What is a mini face lift?

Facelifts have long been associated with prominent, tell tale scars, and "wind tunnel" look faces. However the techniques used have advanced so much over the years that scars are often unnoticeable and the wind tunnel look is a thing of the past. Rather than having to undergo a full facelift, people can now opt to have a mini face lift focussing on the areas that need the most attention.

Depending on the area of your face you would like to be made look younger, there are many different techniques that can be used to get the desired effect. Mini face lifts are great for those that want the amazing results face lifts can give without having to undergo the entire procedure.

The Extended SMAS facelift or deep plane facelift focuses on improving the appearance of the cheeks and the nose-to-mouth lines that so many people hate and also improving the appearance of jowls. This is often combined with other procedures, depending on what you want to achieve. This tends to give the best results in facelifting with subtle scars and a quick recover time, however not all surgeons are able to carry out this procedure.

The subperiosteal facelift is also known as the mask lift. It is performed through incisions in the scalp and mouth so leaves no visible scars. This lift works on the forehead and midface, moving the deepest layers of the face upwards. This is great for younger people who have mid-face aging problems, it produces a great change in appearance and is very effective as an eye lift, and for removing laughter lines and nose-to-mouth lines.

Any kind of face lift is going to have a fairly long recovery period. In the initial hours following surgery your best option is to sleep as the first 12 hours are the most critical to successful recovery. You will be given strict aftercare instructions and it is in your interests to follow them to the letter to make sure you get the best results. You will most probably have to sleep sitting upright for a few days to help ease the swelling, but this will of course be a temporary inconvenience.

Before considering a facelift, think about what you want to acheive, and whether it can be done with non-surgical procedures. If not then choosing a mini face lift that can focus on your problem areas is going to be your next best option.