Full Facelift Vs Mini Facelift

A facelift is a highly effective cosmetic procedure for addressing significant signs of facial ageing, such as skin laxity and pronounced wrinkles. Various facelift techniques exist, each with differing levels of invasiveness and outcomes.

In this article, we will examine two common types of facelift procedures: the Complete Facelift and the Mini Facelift.

What is a full facelift procedure?

A full facelift is a restorative procedure, also referred to as a traditional facelift. It tackles the midface area, drooping cheeks, jowls, lower face, and jawline. It achieves a tighter and smoother facial appearance by surgically tightening loose muscles, removing excess skin, and repositioning the skin over the face and neck.

The full facelift technique involves making a surgical incision around the ears, extending into the hairline. In some cases, an incision under the chin may be necessary to address neck bands. The skin is meticulously detached from the underlying facial muscles. The muscles are then tightened to create a more youthful appearance. It can be combined with liposuction to eliminate any excess fat. The skin is then drawn up and back, with any surplus skin trimmed before suturing the incisions.

What is a mini facelift procedure?

The term mini facelift can vary among surgeons, but generally, it is a less invasive alternative to the full facelift. Primarily a preventive measure, it tightens the skin and underlying muscles to a lesser extent than a full facelift. Since it targets the face and cheeks only, a mini facelift requires fewer or smaller incisions compared to a complete facelift.

During this procedure, small incisions are made in the temple hairline and in the creases on the front of the ear alone. The dissection under the skin is less extensive, allowing for limited muscle tightening and skin removal. This enables the surgeon to achieve modest tightening of the face and jawline. But with less dramatic improvement in neck laxity.

Which one is right for me?

A full facelift is generally recommended for older patients (usually from their 50s upwards), when the neck has started to slacken and descend. Also, for those exhibiting moderate to severe sagging in the nasolabial folds, cheeks, marionette lines, jowls, and laxity in the jawline and neck area. Fat grafting can be used to replace lost subcutaneous fat and to enhance facial contours.

On the other hand, the mini facelift is well-suited for younger patients who have recently started observing a loss of cheek volume and contour in the mid-face/cheek area. Also, for those that notice tear-troughs or lower eyelid shadows and some loss of definition around the jawline. But who generally have good neck contours.

To determine which procedure is right for you, book a consultation with Mr Paul Tulley today.