A mini lift or MACSlift is our most popular mini facelift option because it is less invasive than a traditional facelift and it lifts and tightens the lower face with minimal scarring. However, a mini lift still has limitations on what exactly it can correct.
What Can be Expected with a Mini Lift
An ideal candidate for a mini facelift is someone whose primary concern is with “jowling”, loss of definition along the jawline, and mildly loose skin on the face and neck. Our mini lift offers patients a less invasive option with natural results, restoring facial features that are beginning to age.
During a mini lift our surgeons address the deeper tissues beneath the skin by cutting into the cheek area and repositioning the facial muscles back into place. Then any extra skin is removed. By addressing these deep layers of the face, it is allowing for a more natural and longer-lasting results.
When this surgery is performed, general anesthesia is not required. Instead, local anesthesia is used meaning the patient is awake, but completely numbed during the procedure. Once the area is numbed, submental liposuction of the neck and chin is performed. Liposuction to these areas will help the face appear more sculpted and will allow for excess skin in these areas to be lifted and removed. An incision is made in the temporal area and extends down in front of the ear and ends at the bottom of the ear. The mid-face and jowls are lifted which also provide subtle improvement to the neck. If a patient has excess skin and fat of the neck as well as banding, our surgeons will recommend a traditional facelift to achieve a more natural and desired improvement to the face and neck. Patients are much happier with a full facelift if their goals are also to improve the neck.
Mini Facelift Benefits:
Long lasting results
Shorter Scar
Quicker Recovery
Significant improvement in the jowls and overall mid-face.
No general anesthesia
Lower financial cost
What a Mini Facelift Cannot Do:
A mini lift has many benefits and when done on the right candidate, the results are incredible.
Unlike a traditional facelift, during a mini lift there are no incisions made behind the ears which are required to dramatically improve the appearance of the neck. Again, if someone’s main concern is with their neck our surgeons will recommend a traditional facelift. A mini lift cannot lift and tighten the neck skin like a deep plane facelift can. This is also why a facelift is much more invasive than a mini lift. A facelift must be done in an operating room under general anesthesia because more is being addressed during surgery. Also, some patients who may have heavier jowls or excess skin may not benefit from a MACSlift. A traditional facelift will offer longer lasting results and reduce the chance of someone having to do something else down the road.
It’s not that one is better than the other, they are both incredible techniques and offer great results when done on the appropriate candidate. The best thing to do is come in for a consultation with one of our dual board-certified facial plastic surgeons to discuss your concerns and goals so the right treatment recommendation is made and performed to address your specific concerns. Our providers are here to offer the best and most honest options.
You may also like 16 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting a Facelift.
Watch a MACSlift from start to finish! *Graphic images are displayed in the following video*
To schedule a mini facelift consultation in either the Draper or Layton, Utah offices please contact our office at (801)776-2220.