Have you hit your 30s and decided you don’t want to undergo facial fillers every six months to retain the looks of your 20s? Consider a mini facelift. This surgical procedure targets fewer areas of the face than a traditional facelift and produces fewer and smaller scars than the traditional method, according to Dr. Joel Aronowitz.
Areas Targeted by a Mini Facelift
A mini facelift targets two of the three areas that a traditional facelift does, according to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The patient chooses what to address. A traditional facelift does three things:
• Corrects nasolabial folds and lifts the upper cheek
• Corrects lower lip crowding in the lower midface
• Removes platysmal bands and lifts and smooths the jowls and neck.
So, a mini facelift could entail addressing upper cheek problems and the neck for one patient but addressing the lower midface and upper cheeks for another individual.
Other Surgical Differences
Smaller describes everything about the mini facelift. It results in a smaller, shorter scar from a shorter operation. It also boasts a shorter recovery time, says Joel Aronowitz MD. Because of the subtly of the procedure’s scars and the fewer areas addressed, patients can return to work quicker and without seeming as if they “had work done.” Instead of a radical change, they look rested and restored. Most patients can claim that vacation did them a world of good and no one knows the wiser.
How Long Do the Results Last?
Both genders undergo these mini facelifts and the results last the same amount of time. Depending on the areas of the face operated on, the results of this procedure typically last for five to 10 years. During that time, each patient needs to adhere to a skincare routine that includes protecting their skin from the sun by using sun block with a 15 SPF, minimum, and regular cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. This process helps the skin retain its elasticity.
Making the Results Last Longer
According to Real Self, combining treatments can help the results of a mini facelift last even longer. Use noninvasive options, such as facial fat injections and laser skin treatments to lengthen the effects of a mini facelift. The longer the mini’s results last, the longer the time before a patient needs to undergo a full or traditional facelift.
Mini Facelift Costs
If you think that a mini facelift sounds like what you want, consider how you will fund the cost. As an elective surgery, health insurance does not cover this procedure, which costs between $4,100 and $18,500 in the U.S., with a national average cost of $10,123. If you maintain a flexible spending account (FSA) for healthcare costs, you can use that fund for payment. Some doctors offer financing options.
