Mini Facelift Procedure
If you are bothered by early signs of aging in your face, a Mini-Facelift surgery may be right for you. Dr. Thomassen performs the procedure in our Fort Lauderdale Surgical Center under local anesthesia and oral sedation. This means you do not have to go to sleep for this procedure. It makes the recovery much faster with less side-effects and a more comfortable overall experience.
Is it right for me?
Patients in their 40s or 50s typically opt for a mini-facelift. They have noticed early signs of aging and wish to have very natural results. This procedure offers little downtime. In some cases, patients in the 30’s opt for this procedure. This is because they have suffered significant weight loss. This weight loss has resulted in excess skin.
A mini facelift is also a good option for older patients that may have had prior cosmetic surgery. It’s benefit include a quicker recovery. It may not be as aggressive for the neck region, but is enough to correct most issues.
A Mini Facelift is an excellent choice if you are:
- Healthy, without any conditions that would preclude doing surgery in an outpatient office setting
- Not excessively anxious about surgical procedures and therefore being “awake” during the procedure. You are given oral sedatives which help calm you down.
Mini vs. Full Facelift
The main difference between a mini facelift and a traditional facelift is the incision placement. In a mini facelift, there is no incision below the chin. In addition, there is no dissection in the midline of the neck. This results in less scar burden and less swelling in the neck. For patients with excess neck fullness, a traditional facelift is better to correct the neck. We prefer this for significant excess neck skin and fat.
The benefits of a mini facelift
- Quicker recovery than is necessary following a traditional facelift. Also, since typically it is done under local anesthesia, it avoids the risks of general anesthesia.
- Patients can see their results almost immediately.
- A minimal recovery time, which means that patients can return to social activities within 1-2 weeks of the procedure.
- The results attained through a mini facelift provide patients with a rested and revitalized appearance.
- It is combined with a blepharoplasty, neck lipo, or temporal brow lift for a more comprehensive rejuvenation procedure
What does it correct?
- Sagging in the midface
- Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
- Fullness in the lower face
- Jowl fullness and marionette lines that are difficult to treat with only fillers
- Excess neck skin
Your Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation, Dr. Thomassen will discuss your goals for the procedure and ensure you are a good candidate.
Then, Dr. Thomassen will want to know about your medical history. He will also inquire about any medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins you take on a regular basis.
To ensure you are healthy for the procedure, we request labs and perform a thorough evaluation in our office. In some cases, we request a medical clearance from a primary care physician to ensure you have a safe experience.
What Happens During Mini Facelift Surgery?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
We give you medications for your comfort before and during a mini facelift procedure. This starts with oral sedatives we give you 5-10 minutes before the procedure. We ensure you are feeling the effects of the oral sedation before going to the operating room.
You then enter the surgical suite where we prepare and drape you for the procedure. At that point, we administer local anesthetics that numb up the area to be treated.
Step 2 – The incisions
For a mini facelift, we make incisions around the natural contours of the ear. This ensures they are optimally hidden. Once healed, they are barely visible. Every incision that Dr. Thomassen makes during a mini facelift is strategically placed. This strategic placement ensures that once the incisions heal, the remaining scars are not noticeable.
Step 3 – Repositioning the SMAS
Dr. Thomassen elevates the SMAS tissue in the deep plane. He treats the SMAS with plication, flap elevation, or excision depending on your particular situation. Addressing the SMAS layer is an important part of the facelift to add longevity to the procedure. He re-drapes the skin over the uplifted contours and trims away excess skin.
Step 4 – Closing the incisions
Dr. Thomassen closes the incisions with sutures, with care to result in a fine line closure that will heal optimally.
Step 5 – Dressings
We place a compression dressing after the procedure. This helps control postoperative swelling and reduce the risk of bleeding. Dr. Thomassen uses drains to minimize bruising and swelling. You will keep this dressing and drains on for 24 hours. The next day, Dr. Thomassen will remove them in the office.
You will have your prescriptions ready and at home you can take your pain medication and antibiotic. Typically patients only need pain medication the first night. Then they are comfortable with just a Tylenol here and there during the ensuing week.
Step 6 – Recovery
The day after surgery, Dr. Thomassen removes the dressings and the drains. At this point you will feel much more comfortable. We apply a removable Velcro compression garment for compression. You use this garment for 1 week.
You can shower now and wash your hair. Your incisions are treated with an antibiotic ointment we had prescribed previously for you.
For this first week, we ask you to rest with your head elevated. Do not use ice or cold compresses during the recovery. This can lead to poor blood flow to the skin. It may also cause complications.
We ask you to refrain from any physical activity for 1 week. This helps avoid bleeding, bruising, or other complications.
The visible improvements of appear as swelling and bruising subside over the course of this first week.
Step 7 – Your First Follow-Up Visit
Dr. Thomassen removes the sutures about 1 week after the mini facelift procedure. There may be some sutures left behind if you are not completely healed. These are all removed in the 2nd visit 2 weeks from surtery.
Step 8 – Enjoy your results
The results of a mini facelift are visible almost immediately. They will last from 5 to 10 years. Individuals who are vigilant about wearing sun protection usually enjoy the benefits of their mini facelift longer.
If you are interested in learning more about a mini facelift in Fort Lauderdale, contact us today. You can learn more about mini facelifts at the American Society of Plastic Surgery website.
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