Mini facelift

Are you a good candidate for a mini facelift?

The selection of the patient is crucial to ensuring the success of the mini facelift. Our surgeons will carry out a comprehensive assessment during the consultation, but as a guide, the ideal profile of the candidate is:

• Women and men aged between 40 and 60 years old with sagging mild or moderate in the cheeks and the jawline
• Skin with good residual elasticity
• A slight excess of skin in the upper neck
• Weight stable (with no significant fluctuations recently)
• Non-smoker or ex-smoker
• Good general health with no medical conditions that would contraindicate surgery

When is the best time to opt for a full facelift:

• Sagging severe or excess of skin abundant
• Bands of the platysma visible or neck ‘heavy’
• Patients over the age of 60 years with significant loss of elasticity
• Sagging of the upper third of the face (forehead, eyebrows) requiring simultaneous treatment

Absolute contraindications:

• Uncontrolled coagulation disorders
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Diseases autoimmune active
• Unrealistic expectations regarding the results

If you have facial fillers containing hyaluronic acid, there are no contraindications to undergoing a mini facelift. However, if you have permanent fillers, it is important to inform your surgeon, as there is an increased risk of an a23> infection which requires additional precautions.

Techniques most commonly used in mini facelifts

MACS-Lift (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) This is the technique most widely used today for mini facelifts. It involves using sutures in a pouch of tobacco in a circular arrangement circular which suspend the tissues in a vertical direction towards the skull. The incision is very short (only in front of the lobe of the ear, without extending towards the sideburn), acts on the SMAS and produces a natural result without a ” “stretched” effect. Recovery is quick and scarring is minimal.

Short Scar Facelift / S-Lift A variant involving an “S”-shaped incision in the preauricular area. Also a short-scar procedure, it primarily targets the skin and the superficial SMAS. It is somewhat less technically complex than the MACS but yields more limited results in terms of depth. Popular in the US as a “weekend facelift” technique.

Lifting with threads for suspension permanent (Silhouette Soft surgical) Some surgeons complement the mini facelift with the placement of non-absorbable threads with cranial suspension to enhance the result. This is the technique mentioned on the very website of Pedralbes (“non-absorbable cranial suspension sutures”). They should not be confused with the non-surgical tension threads used in consultations, which are different.

Deep Plane Mini Lift A deeper version than which operates under the SMAS, releasing ligaments of retention of the face to reposition the tissues with greater freedom. It produces results that are more natural and long-lasting than superficial techniques, but requires greater surgical experience and a slightly longer operative time. It is gaining a lot of ground among the surgeons specialising a41> specialists.

Composite Lift This technique combines work on the SMAS with the orbicularis oculi muscle, thereby allowing simultaneous treatment of the mid-face and the periocular area. It is a more complex variation of the deep plane technique, producing very natural results in the direction of the cheekbone.

What is the recovery from a mini facelift like?

Recovery from a mini facelift is significantly shorter than that of a full facelift. The majority of our patients return to their social and working lives within 7–10 days. This is the most common protocol:

First 48 hours: Rest with your head elevated to minimise swelling. It is normal to experience tightness, mild discomfort and minor bruising in the area. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories will be prescribed. You will wear a soft dressing, which your surgeon will remove during your follow-up appointment the next day.

Days 3 to 7: The swelling gradually subsides. Any bruising begins to fade. You can shower gently from the second or third day onwards. It is important to avoid bending your head or straining yourself. Be gentle when washing your hair; the hair around your temples may be slightly thinner for the first few weeks.

Week 2: Stitch removal (between the 7th and 14th, depending on your surgeon). Any remaining swelling is minimal and barely noticeable. Most patients are already able to return to work and their daily activities. You can use make-up to conceal the scars.

Weeks 3 to 6: The scars begin to heal and fade. We recommend applying scar-healing creams and SPF 50+ sunscreen to the area where the operation was performed. You can resume moderate physical exercise from the third week onwards.

From the third month onwards: The final result begins to take shape. Any residual swelling has completely subsided and the final result is clearly visible and looks completely natural.

Long-term care of the scar:

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight on the scar for at least 6 months. The use ofSPF50+ facial sunscreen should be a habit for life to preserve both the results of the surgery as well as the health of the skin.

How long do the results of a mini facelift last?

One of the questions most frequently asked by our patients is how long the results of a mini facelift last. The answer honest one is that it depends on several factors, but generally speaking:

The results of the mini facelift last for between 8 and 12 years. From that point onwards, the process of natural ageing will continue its course, although from a more favourable position than if the intervention had not taken place.

The factors that influence the duration of the results are:

• The quality and elasticity initial of the skin
• Cumulative sun exposure (the main cause of skin ageing)
• Tobacco
• Lifestyle and hydration
• Genetics
• Significant changes in weight significant

To prolong and enhance the results of a mini facelift, many patients complement the surgery with regular aesthetic medicine treatments: dermal fillers to restore volume, and radiofrequency or laser treatments to improve skin quality. Our surgeons will advise you on the most suitable maintenance plan for your individual needs.

Important: A mini facelift does not stop ageing, but it takes you back to a point earlier in time. If you have a mini facelift at the age of 50, you will continue to age from that point onwards, but you will do so from a state of being more youthful. It is an investment in your well-being now and in the future.

Can the mini facelift be combined with other treatments?

The mini facelift offers better results when it is incorporated into a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan. At Pedralbes Clinic we can combine the mini facelift in a single surgical session with:

Blepharoplasty (eyelids): Upper or lower blepharoplasty removes excess skin and bags from the eyelids, rejuvenating the appearance of the eyes. When combined with a mini facelift, it achieves comprehensive facial rejuvenation of the upper and lower thirds in a single procedure, with an overall recovery time similar to that of each procedure performed separately.

Facial lipofilling (fat transfer): As we age, the face loses fat in the areas of the a8> cheekbones, temples and nasolabial folds. Fat transfer of fat from the patient’s own body —obtained from another area of the body by means of liposuction — fills these depressions in a natural and long-lasting manner. The combination with a mini facelift produces a rejuvenation in three dimensions: it tightens the parts that sag and the are filled in the areas that have lost volume.

Lip lift (lifting of the upper lip): For patients who also notice an a9> lengthening of the filtrum or loss of definition in the upper lip, the lip lift complements in a natural way the results of the mini facelift.

Treatments in aesthetic medicine (second phase): Following the surgery, it is common to plan a protocol for maintenance to optimise and prolong the results of the surgery.

During the consultation for assessment, we will carry out a comprehensive assessment of your facial aesthetics and we will propose the most a12> treatment most effective and tailored to your goals.

Are there any non-surgical alternatives to a mini facelift?

For patients with mild sagging skin that does not yet warrant a surgical procedure, or for those who prefer to explore a9> surgical intervention, or for those who prefer to explore options that are less invasive before making a17> make a decision, there are treatments in the field of aesthetic medicine which can offer visible improvement:

Radiofrequency microneedling (Morpheus8 / Fractora): This is the most powerful non-surgical alternative currently available. It combines the energy of radiofrequency with microneedling to stimulate the production of collagen in deep layers of the skin. It requires several sessions and its results, although visible, are more limited than those of surgery.

HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound): Acts on the deep layers of the dermis and the SMAS using ultrasonic energy, producing a retraction and tension that is visible. It is particularly useful in patients aged between 35 and 45 years of age with sagging in its early stages.

Tension threads: The insertion of threads made of polydioxanone (PDO) or PLLA produces an immediate tension in the tissues. Its results are more limited and temporary (12–18 months) than those of surgery, but they are a good option for ‘maintenance’ as a complement.

Dermal fillers: Although they do not tighten the skin, they smooth wrinkles caused by facial expressions and restore the volume that has been lost, improving the overall appearance of the lower third of the face.

If sagging is already moderate or obvious, non-surgical treatments may prove insufficient a9> and a mini facelift will be the option that offers real and long-lasting results. During the consultation for assessment, our specialists will tell you which option is suits best to your situation and your expectations.

Frequently asked questions about the mini facelift

Does a mini facelift hurt?

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic plus sedation, so that the patient does not feel any pain during the surgery. In the postoperative period, it is common to experience a sensation of tension and mild discomfort which is perfectly managed with the prescribed pain relief. The majority of patients describe the postoperative period as surprisingly comfortable.

Can you tell that you’ve had an operation?

One of the main objectives of the mini facelift is that the result is completely natural. No one should notice that you have had surgery, they will simply see that you look younger and more rested and fresher. The effect of a ‘tightened face’ or an artificial appearance is the result of an inappropriate indication or an incorrect technique.

At what age is it recommended to have a mini facelift?

The mini facelift is particularly suitable for patients aged between 40 and 60 years who show the first signs of sagging in the lower third of the face. In patients who are younger (aged 35–40) with sagging in its early stages, it may be sufficient to use treatments from aesthetic medicine. In patients over the age of 60 years with marked sagging, a full cervico-facial facelift may be more suitable.

Is it true that a mini facelift doesn’t work on the neck?

It is true that a standard mini facelift does not address the platysmal bands in the neck or significant neck sagging. In such cases, a full neck lift is required. However, if there is mild sagging in the upper neck area, a mini facelift can partially improve its appearance. Your surgeon will advise you on this during the consultation.

Can I have surgery in the summer?

Yes, it is possible to have a mini facelift in summer. The only precaution to take is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight on the scars for at least for at least 3–6 months, always using sunscreen with SPF 50+. Many patients take advantage of the holiday period to recover with greater peace of mind.

Pedralbes Clinic es una de las mejores clínicas de cirugía maxilofacial en Barcelona. Dispone de unas instalaciones de vanguardia y un experimentado equipo médico estético.

Tanto la intervención como el tratamiento pre y postoperatorio serán realizados en las propias instalaciones de la clínica situada en el Paseo de Manuel Girona, 14, en Barcelona.