Mini Facelifts vs. Traditional Facelifts: What’s the Difference?
A facelift is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed in Toronto and across North America. But did you know that there are two different kinds of facelifts?
At Elements Toronto, board-certified Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Ali Adibfar performs both traditional facelifts and mini facelifts. While both plastic surgery procedures have similarities, there are differences between the two. As a trusted Toronto plastic surgeon, Dr. Adibfar believes education and deep knowledge about plastic surgery procedures are two critical things for patients to have before making educated decisions about their body and transformation.
Let’s take a closer look at what a traditional lift and mini facelift actually consist of.
The traditional facelift
A traditional facelift is a plastic surgery procedure that is performed to rejuvenate both the face and neck. Patients who undergo traditional facelift procedures at our Toronto plastic surgery clinic are seeking to address two key areas of their body. First, traditional facelifts are designed to address issues above the jaw line. This could include the jowls, cheeks, nasolabial folds and marionette lines on the face. Second, traditional facelifts are designed to address issues below the jaw line. This includes loose skin, wrinkles and excess fat on the neck.
The main difference between traditional facelifts and mini facelifts is that mini facelifts only address issues above the jaw line. This means that recovery time is often quicker as the treated area is smaller.
What are Mini Facelifts?
A mini facelift is a facial rejuvenation procedure that is performed to improve the appearance of a patient’s face. This smaller variation of a traditional facelift is designed to address issues above the jawline such as sagging jowls, drooping checks or other cosmetic issues that a patient might not be entirely happy with.
As a trusted Toronto plastic surgeon that continues to deliver results, Dr. Adibfar utilizes this customizable procedure for people who want to address the signs of aging on their face, but do not have significant aging impacts on their neck.
The mini facelift is performed to address and target signs of aging above the jawline without rejuvenating the neck area. While there may be indirect benefits to the neck, a mini facelift procedure is not designed to address the neck directly.
In comparison to traditional facelift procedures, a mini facelift requires less surgery and less recovery time.
The Mini Facelift Procedure
As a subset of the traditional facelift, a mini facelift procedure is performed with certain similarities. Dr. Adibfar will make incisions along a patient’s natural facial curves. This is done to help conceal any potential scarring that takes place. The underlying muscle layer is then tightened. Depending on the patient’s circumstances, liposuction may be performed to remove excess fat from targeted facial regions.
How Long Does a Mini Facelift Last?
This is a common question for many patients who are considering a mini facelift procedure. It largely depends on a variety of factors. This includes age, gender, ethnicity and personal habits such as exercise, smoking and exposure to the sun. A mini facelift can deliver results that last anywhere from seven to ten years.
Which Should You Choose: A Traditional Facelift or a Mini Facelift?
The main reason people opt for a traditional facelift over a mini facelift is the areas that are of most concern to them. If you are seeking to address areas on the face AND neck, a traditional facelift is a better choice.
Mini facelifts are often the best option for patients who aren’t as concerned with or don’t have significant signs of aging on the neck.
During your comprehensive consultation with your Toronto plastic surgeon, Dr. Adibfar will review your goals and expectations. Together you will decide which procedure is right for you.