A facelift is an excellent option for people experiencing sagging skin, jowling, and facial wrinkles due to genetics or the natural aging process. However, did you know that you may not need a full facelift if you have only mild sagging? At our practice, we can offer a mini facelift, midface lift, or traditional facelift, depending on the areas you want to improve.
It’s a good idea to discuss the different facelift options with your plastic surgeon so you can achieve the best results possible.
What Is a Traditional Facelift?
A traditional facelift addresses all areas of the face and neck to achieve a more youthful appearance. This more comprehensive procedure involves incisions that begin behind your sideburns, cross in front of the ears, and curve around the earlobes back into the hairline. Your plastic surgeon can address moderate to severe signs of aging with a full facelift, improving skin laxity, weakened facial and neck muscles, as well as deep facial lines.
If you have significant signs of aging in the form of deep wrinkles, sagging jawline, jowling, and skin laxity, a full facelift is usually the best option. Just remember that a full facelift is a more invasive treatment compared to a mini or midface lift. Typical recovery time after a full facelift is around 4 to 6 weeks, although most people are ready to return to nonstrenuous work within 7 to 14 days.
What Are the Benefits of a Traditional Facelift?
A traditional facelift remains the most effective method for addressing moderate to significant sagging in the lower face, and it incorporates a neck lift to enhance the rejuvenation. It restores a more youthful look, providing the following benefits:
- Repositions and reshapes the underlying facial tissue
- Removes excess skin
- Tightens lax skin on the face and neck
- Tightens underlying muscles for improved facial structure
- Smooths the skin on the lower face and neck
What Is a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift, also called a short-scar facelift, is for people who only want to rejuvenate the lower face and are not experiencing aging signs in the neck area. This is a compromise option for patients who want a less extensive procedure and shorter downtime.
Not everyone will be a good candidate for a mini facelift, as some patients may have significant signs of aging that require a more comprehensive approach. Our surgeons will discuss your facial goals and the extent of aging signs to determine which procedure will most benefit you.
What Areas Can You Improve With a Mini Facelift?
Although individual results may vary, you can improve the following areas with a mini facelift:
- Skin laxity
- Wrinkles on the mid and lower face
- Sagging jawline
How Does a Midface Lift Technique Work?
The midface lift techniques are aimed to rejuvenate the midface spanning the area between the lower eyelids and upper lip. The goal of a midface lift is to restore volume to the areas around the cheeks, nose, and mouth by repositioning facial fat, improving areas that are challenging to address with other facial treatments. This procedure is beneficial for people experiencing moderate to severe signs of aging.
The midface lift is not often performed, as the potential risks of recurrent descent and dry eyes limit this procedure to patients who really would benefit from changes in this area. Since this procedure addresses aging only in the midface, patients often benefit from combining eyelid surgery to rejuvenate the adjacent eye area.
What Areas Does a Midface Lift Improve?
A midface lift can improve the following areas.
- Sagging cheeks
- Hollowing under the eyes
- Nasolabial folds
- Skin laxity
How Long Will My Facelift Results Last?
Your facelift results can last 10 years or longer depending on your skin health, sun exposure, genetics, the natural aging process, and a variety of other individual patient factors. While each type of facelift is effective, it can’t stop the natural aging process. As a result, most people will begin to notice gradual skin laxity and facial lines after a few years. However, you will still look younger and more vibrant than if you had not had the facelift procedure at all.
What You Can Do To Maintain Your Facelift Results
Below are some simple steps you can take to preserve your facelift results for as long as possible.
- Follow your plastic surgeon’s aftercare recommendations.
- Eat a well-balanced diet and keep processed food consumption to a minimum.
- Have a skincare routine consisting of medical-grade products.
- Focus on sun protection by wearing protective clothing and using sunscreen daily.
- Use cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX® or laser skin resurfacing to complement your facelift.
Rest assured that you won’t have to choose between a mini facelift versus a full facelift or midface lift on your own. When you consult with a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon, they will consider your facial concerns, facial structure, skin laxity, and desired results to advise you about your best rejuvenation options.
Our patients enjoy excellent and long-lasting facelift results, as you can see in this before and after gallery. However, If you are not ready for a surgical procedure to rejuvenate your face, your plastic surgeon may recommend a liquid facelift for a quick refresh with minimal downtime.
To see which facelift option will be most beneficial to you, Request a consultation or call us at (817) 442-1236 to schedule an appointment.