The traditional facelift can provide dramatic results, but it also involves considerable downtime and an extended recovery time. But if you only have mild to moderate signs of aging and lax jowls, a mini facelift in Houston might be just what you need.
Mini Facelift
Houston
Refresh Yourself Over the Weekend
Undergoing a facelift is a serious commitment. Patients who approach Dr. Erickson for a facelift are unanimously thrilled with the results, but there’s no denying that it can interrupt your life for a few weeks. What if you want to reverse the signs of aging, restore your youthful looks, and refresh your appearance without taking weeks off work and daily activities? That’s where the less-invasive mini facelift or “weekend facelift” comes into the picture.
What is a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift, also known as a weekend facelift, is a less invasive form of a traditional facelift. This procedure involves making small incisions behind the earlobes and along the hairline, through which the surgeon pulls the skin slightly. This procedure also tightens your facial skin and reduces facial wrinkles, but it only affects the exterior layer of the skin. Since a mini facelift doesn’t address the underlying muscles or SMAS layer, it involves minimal downtime.
A mini facelift helps you achieve a refreshed and more attractive appearance. It can correct mild facial wrinkles, mild to moderate facial sagging, and a drooping jawline, making you look more youthful. This is the appropriate facelift technique for patients in their 40s or early 50s. However, a mini facelift also produces minimal swelling and bruising, involves minimal recovery time of a few days, and the incisions are more easily hidden.
Goals of a Mini Facelift:
- Tightening loose or excess skin
- Correcting mild to moderate facial sagging
- Correcting moderate skin laxity and jowls
- Correcting deep facial creases and wrinkles
- Correcting nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Reducing the prominence of a double chin
- Improving overall facial contours
Dr. Erickson’s Mini Facelift Technique
Dr. Erickson performs a highly personalized mini facelift in Houston after a thorough consultation. During your initial consultation, he examines your facial skin, discusses your goals and concerns, reviews your medical history, measures the degree of skin laxity, and determines which type of facelift you should undergo. If you’re a good candidate for a mini facelift, he curates a personalized surgical plan and walks you through the details.
Your mini facelift is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia at our accredited surgical facility. Dr. Erickson selects the appropriate locations for the incisions — along the hairline at the temples, in front of and behind the ears, and around the earlobes. The incisions for a mini facelift are usually smaller than those for a standard facelift. Dr. Erickson trims away excess skin and re-drapes your skin along the new facial contours.
Since the incisions are small and hidden along the natural creases of your skin, they are virtually invisible after the healing process.
Candidates for a Mini Facelift:
- Have mild to moderate skin laxity and wrinkles
- Have mild to moderate jowls and facial creases
- Have mild to moderate nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Want subtle enhancements to their facial appearance
- Don’t yet need a comprehensive or standard facelift
- Want to reverse the signs of aging on the lower face
- Have good skin elasticity
- Are in their 40s or 50s
- Have good overall health
- Don’t have underlying medical conditions that preclude surgery
- Are nonsmokers or willing to stop smoking before and after surgery
- Have realistic expectations from a mini facelift
Mini Facelift FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions about the mini facelift procedure:
How is a mini facelift different from a traditional facelift?
A mini facelift is a less invasive procedure compared to a traditional facelift. It involves smaller incisions, focuses on the lower face, and generally has a shorter recovery time.
What are the specific areas targeted by a mini facelift?
A mini facelift primarily targets the lower face and neck region. It can address sagging skin, jowls, and mild to moderate signs of aging in these areas to provide a youthful appearance.
What is the best age for a mini facelift?
The best age for a mini facelift varies from person to person. Generally, individuals in their 40s with early signs of facial aging, such as mild sagging, can benefit from this procedure.
Are there any risks or potential complications associated with a mini facelift?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with a mini facelift. These can include infection, bleeding, scarring, nerve injury, and temporary numbness. However, serious complications are rare when performed by a skilled surgeon like Dr. Erickson.
How long does it typically take to recover from a mini facelift?
The recovery time for a mini facelift is usually shorter compared to a traditional facelift. Most patients can resume normal activities within a few days, although swelling and bruising may persist for a few weeks.
Will there be noticeable scarring after a mini facelift?
Mini facelift incisions are typically smaller and well-hidden within the natural creases of the face, usually under the chin, behind the ears, and along the hairline. While minimal scarring may occur, it is usually discreet and fades over time.
Consult Dr. Erickson
Dr. Erickson is a nationally-recognized facial plastic surgeon with hundreds of facial surgeries under his belt. He has trained with internationally-renowned plastic surgeons and completed one of the most prestigious residency programs in the country — UTSW in Dallas. He takes a personalized approach to facial plastic surgeries, ensuring you feel supported throughout the process. Schedule an appointment for your mini facelift in Houston today!
