As we get older, signs of aging appear on our faces, which can start erasing our youthful appearance. While there are effective nonsurgical ways to preserve your looks, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin are inevitable.
Luckily for you, there are cosmetic procedures that can minimize these imperfections and give your face a more refreshed look. More specifically, you can opt for either a mini facelift or a full one.
But what are the differences when it comes to a mini facelift vs a full facelift? We’ll describe each for you and then help differentiate between the two procedures.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift is also known as a rhytidectomy. It specifically targets sagging skin, facial furrows, and wrinkles by repositioning the skin, muscles, and underlying tissues. As a result, you’ll have a firmer and smoother-looking face, neck, and jawline.
During the procedure, your plastic surgeon will make strategic incisions to minimize visible scars. Typically, these incisions are made around the hairline, ears, and sometimes under the chin.
After lifting the skin, the surgeon will tighten the tissues and muscles underneath. They’ll also reposition the fat for a more youthful contour.
The surgeon will then trim any excess skin, drape the remaining skin back into place, and then close the incisions with sutures or staples.
What Is a Mini Face Lift?
A mini facelift is a type of facelift, and as the name suggests, it’s a less invasive version of the traditional procedure. This surgery also targets signs of aging, but more specifically, mild to moderate ones in the lower face and jawline.
The incisions made in a mini facelift procedure are shorter and smaller than the ones in a full facelift. Usually, the surgeon will place them around the hairline and ears.
Similarly, they’ll lift and tighten underlying tissues, and then reposition the skin strategically. They may trim excess skin if necessary.
Mini Facelift vs Full Facelift Differences
Both procedures may be similar on the surface level, but there are some key differences that make one better than the other for some patients. Let’s explore these things in detail below.
Scope
A full facelift targets the entire lower face, as well as the jawline and neck. Plus, it addresses significant sagging and wrinkles across those areas.
On the other hand, a mini facelift targets part of the lower face (jawline and jowls) and mild neck laxity in the upper neck. This procedure is best for mild to moderate sagging.
This means that a mini facelift can be the better option if you want to pinpoint specific areas more than have a full lift done.
Ideal Candidates
Because the full facelift addresses a large area of the face and neck, it’s best for older patients; usually, they’re between 50 and 70. It’s also ideal for patients who have more pronounced signs of aging and skin laxity.
The mini facelift is best for younger patients, such as those in their mid-30s, 40s, and 50s. You should have less skin laxity and want more subtle, natural-looking results.
Invasiveness
A full facelift involves more extensive surgery; as we’ve mentioned before, there are longer incisions. They’re made around the hairline, ears, and under the chin in some cases.
On the other hand, a mini facelift is minimally invasive. There are smaller incisions and they’re typically made along the hairline and around the ears.
In addition, there’s the difference of general anesthesia (full facelift) vs local anesthesia (mini facelift). Surgery for a full facelift will take longer too, so there’s more to recover from.
Recovery
The total recovery time for a full facelift is several months. However, you should be able to return to most normal everyday activities after 3-4 weeks.
Thanks to it being less invasive, a mini facelift has a shorter recovery period. Not only does it take only 1-2 weeks to return to most normal everyday activities, but there’s also less bruising and swelling. As a result, you’ll be able to go out and do things without your surgery being too noticeable.
Results
Since a full facelift addresses many areas on the face, as well as the neck, you can expect more dramatic results. You’ll experience comprehensive lifting and tightening.
With a mini facelift, the results are more subtle and less dramatic. This makes it ideal for early signs of aging rather than later, more significant ones.
Longevity
It’s difficult to put an exact number of years that results will last for either type of facelift. However, they can last anywhere between 5-10 years, depending on your age, lifestyle, and skin quality.
Facelift results should be long-term, but keep in mind that they most likely won’t be permanent. As you go through more natural aging, things like wrinkles and sagging skin may reappear.
Costs
The cost of a mini facelift vs a full facelift will be significant. As we mentioned earlier, you must go under general anesthesia with a full facelift, and the surgical time is much longer. These factors will drive the costs up dramatically.
Generally speaking, a facelift costs around $11,400 in the US for the surgery alone. This doesn’t include things like anesthesia or operating room facilities. As for a mini facelift, you can expect it to cost just half of a traditional facelift.
If these costs are too high for you, then consider having your surgery done in Mexico. You’ll pay just a fraction of what you would in the US, and the prices are all-inclusive as well, meaning things like anesthesia are included.
Choose Facelift Options That Are Right for You
As far as the mini facelift vs full facelift debate goes, each one can be excellent for specific patients. For instance, if you’re on the younger side and only have mild or moderate signs of aging on your face, then you might be a better candidate for a mini facelift.
Ultimately, you should discuss your desires with a reputable plastic surgeon. Together, you can figure out which type of facelift can achieve optimal results.
Contact us today if you want to book a facelift. Dr. Valdez has over 16 years of experience and is one of the few Mexican doctors who are part of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
References:
- Writer AF| F, Tuesday M 28. An uplifting experience: The ins and outs of mini facelifts. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/an-uplifting-experience-the-ins-and-outs-of-mini-facelifts
- Facelift. March 4, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/facelift
- Why Your Face Ages and What You Can Do. Harvard Health. June 13, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do