Mini Facelift: Procedure, Risks, Effectiveness, And More - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeEverything You Need to Know About a Mini Facelift

Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D., Plastic Surgery — Written by Kristeen Cherney on April 28, 2020

What is it?
Cost
How it works
Procedures
Targeted areas
Risks and side effects
What to expect
Preparation
Vs. nonsurgical procedures

A mini facelift is a modified version of a traditional facelift. In the “mini” version, a plastic surgeon uses small incisions around your hairline to help lift the lower half of your face to help correct sagging skin.

Fast facts

About

A mini facelift is a corrective cosmetic procedure that targets sagging skin.
By focusing on the lower half of the face, the overall goal of this procedure is to help correct sagging skin around the neck and jawline.

Safety

While a mini facelift uses fewer incisions compared to a traditional facelift, it’s still considered an invasive procedure.
Like all types of surgery, mild side effects are to be expected. These include bruising, pain, and swelling.
Severe side effects are rare but may include excessive bleeding and infections.

Convenience

Unlike fillers and other noninvasive anti-aging treatments, performing a mini facelift requires medical training. Only board certified plastic or dermatological surgeons may perform this procedure.
It’s important to find a certified, experienced provider for your mini facelift. This will help ensure a smoother recovery process, too.
Recovery time takes several weeks. You’ll likely need to take time off from work.

Cost

The average cost of a mini facelift ranges between $3,500 and $8,000. These costs can vary based on location and provider.
Additional costs include your hospital stay and anesthesia used. Medical insurance doesn’t cover a mini facelift.

Efficacy

Overall, a mini facelift is considered effective in correcting sagging skin in the lower half of your face.
Depending on your overall goals, you may consider additional procedures, such as an eye lift or dermal fillers.

What is a mini facelift?

A mini facelift is a slightly modified version of a traditional facelift. Both are invasive cosmetic procedures that involve the use of incisions to help remove and pull up sagging skin.

You may be a candidate for a mini version if you’re looking to achieve these goals with fewer incisions and you have less excess skin to remove.

Despite its name, a mini facelift is still a major cosmetic procedure. It’s important to weigh all the benefits versus the costs and risks before undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery.

Here’s some information to help get you started.

How much does a mini facelift cost?

The average cost of a full facelift is $7,655. A mini facelift can sometimes cost the same amount, due to the work done or added, with some estimates ranging between $3,500 and $8,000. Thus, you shouldn’t select a mini facelift just because you think it could be “cheaper” than a full facelift.

These prices cover the cost of the actual surgery only. You’ll be expected to pay for anesthesia, postoperative prescription medications, and your hospital fees separately. If any complications should arise after your surgery, you’ll need to pay for any related costs as well.

Medical insurance doesn’t cover a mini facelift or any other type of cosmetic surgery. Such procedures are considered aesthetic, and not medically necessary.

To help accommodate their patients, many cosmetic surgeons will offer payment plans and discounts to help offset the costs of these procedures.

Another consideration is your recovery time, which can take several weeks after your cosmetic procedure. If you currently work, you may need to factor in other aspects such as paid versus unpaid time off during your recovery.

How does a mini facelift work?

A mini facelift is an anti-aging surgery that focuses on sagging skin. Cosmetic surgeons address this by “lifting” your skin upwards via small incisions.

They’ll also remove excess skin during the process, which can in turn help tighten your skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Sometimes an eye lift or brow lift is also done in conjunction with a mini facelift to help maximize your results. This is because facelifts only target the lower half of your face — mainly your jawline and cheeks.

Procedures for a mini facelift

As an invasive surgery, a mini facelift requires either general or local anesthesia. Once you’re under anesthesia, your surgeon will make small incisions around your ears and hairline.

They’ll manipulate the underlying tissues in your skin by lifting and then pulling them up, while also remove excess tissue.

Once the surgery is complete, your surgeon will use sutures to close up all incisions.

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Targeted areas for a mini facelift

Unlike a traditional facelift, a mini facelift is conducted via smaller incisions. These are usually made along your hairline or above each of your ears. Your surgeon then pulls your skin tissues upward through the cheeks to help correct sagging skin.

The smaller incisions used in a mini facelift can be especially helpful if you’re prone to scarring.

Are there any risks or side effects?

The most common side effects are pain, swelling, and bruising immediately following your surgery. These symptoms will subside after several days.

when to call your doctor
You should call your doctor right away if you experience signs of an infection or excessive bleeding. These side effects may include:
increasing swelling
severe pain
oozing and bleeding from your stitches
fever and chills
loss of feeling from nerve damage

What to expect after a mini facelift

After your surgery, you’ll be sent home with dressings over your stitches, as well as possible drains. These stitches will need to stay in for up to 10 days. After this point, you will go to your surgeon for a prescheduled appointment to have them removed.

You may still experience some bruising and swelling after your surgeon takes out your stitches. Your doctor may advise against certain activities, such as high intensity workouts, as these can make your symptoms worse.

Overall, it takes several weeks to fully recover from a mini facelift. After this point, you shouldn’t need any follow-up surgeries, unless complications developed during your recovery.

While the results are considered permanent, you can talk to your surgeon about future noninvasive anti-aging options, such as dermal fillers, which can help maximize your results.

Preparing for a mini facelift

Your doctor will provide specific instructions on how to prepare for your mini facelift. Avoid wearing makeup and jewelry to your appointment, as this can slow down the process.

You’ll also need someone to drive you home from the hospital, so plan on making these arrangements ahead of time.

It’s important to disclose all medications, herbs, and supplements you take. Your surgeon may also tell you to stop taking certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications can lead to excessive bleeding.

If you smoke or use tobacco, you’ll want to notify your surgeon. They may suggest that you stop smoking or using tobacco for 4 to 6 weeks before surgery.

Mini facelift vs. nonsurgical procedures

A mini facelift doesn’t involve as many incisions as a full facelift, but it’s still an invasive procedure. Like any type of surgery, it can carry the risk of bleeding, infection, and scarring.

Depending on your overall goals and health, a nonsurgical procedure might be more appropriate. This is especially the case if you’re more concerned about overall volume and texture compared to sagginess.

Some options to consider discussing with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon include:

botulinum toxin (Botox) injections if you need more smoothing effects
dermal fillers to help add volume to the skin, which can also have a “plumping” effect on wrinkles
microdermabrasion or dermabrasion for fine lines and age spots
laser skin resurfacing for overall skin tone and texture
ultherapy, which uses ultrasound technology to help stimulate collagen in the skin

How to find a provider
A cosmetic (plastic) surgeon or a dermatological surgeon can help you determine whether a mini facelift is the best option for you based on your health and overall goals. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask them questions and see their portfolio of work.
To find a reputable surgeon in your area, contact the following organizations:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dayan WD, et al. (2019). Safety and adjuncts in face lifting.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31461045
Facelift and mini-facelift. (n.d.).https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty_areas/facial-plastic-reconstructive/cosmetic/face-lift.html
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy). (n.d.).https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/facelift/procedure
Zalesak B. (2018). Facelift: Current concept of complex facial rejuvenation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30558434

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Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D., Plastic Surgery — Written by Kristeen Cherney on April 28, 2020

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