THEifting and mini facelift they are the most requested treatments in cosmetic surgery. But what differences are there? And how to choose the right procedure? When it comes to facelift and mini facelift it can often get confusing. In both cases, it’s about more or less invasive surgical interventions, to correct sagging skin. Word to the expert.
Facelift and mini facelift: what are the differences?
«The face lift is a plastic surgery procedure that aims to correct muscle relaxation as well as skin relaxation of the face and neck. It acts in depth, remodeling and repositioning the underlying tissues, in particular the skin and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system to restore tone and harmony to the contours of the face” explains Dr. Sara Crosetto, Aesthetic Doctor also available on MioDottore.
“The mini-facelift, on the other hand, is a less invasive variant of the procedure which involves smaller incisions and limited dissection. It acts above all on the skin and on more superficial portions, correcting the first signs of failureparticularly in the middle and lower third of the face. In other words, the mini-facelift is not a “reduced” facelift but a surgical procedure with specific objectives and techniques, indicated for mild or localized laxity.”
Sowhile the facelift works in depth also involving skin and deep tissues of the face and neck, iThe mini facelift is a more targeted and specific intervention, with a more natural result but also less stable over time. This is why it also has different recovery times.
How to choose between facelift and mini facelift?
As the expert explains, the traditional facelift is indicated after the age of 50, and can be evaluated if there is marked sagging of the skin and tissues, both on the neck and face. The result lasts up to 10 years.
However, if the age is lower, between the ages of 40 and 55, a mini facelift can be usedalso recommended in cases of “moderate or mild laxity, or if you want natural improvement and fast recovery”.
«In addition to the age factor, a personalized assessment of degree of laxity, skin quality, anatomical structure and patient expectations».
Pros and cons of the two treatments
What are the pros and cons of both treatments? “The Complete surgical facelift allows for global correction of the face and neckwith stable and natural results and a significant improvement in the mandibular profile. However, it requires general anesthesia, a recovery time of 2-4 weeks and a short post-operative hospital stay” continues the doctor.
The mini-facelift, on the other hand, «is performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, lasts approximately 90 minutes and allows recovery in 7-10 days. The scars are minimal and well hidden, but the duration of the result is shorter, on average 3-5 years, and the correction is more limited. » explains the expert.
Post surgery, what to expect
«After a traditional facelift, the patient generally remains hospitalized for one night. In the first few weeks it is normal to feel swelling, bruising and a feeling of tension, which resolve within 3-4 weeks. The stitches are removed after 7-10 days and the results stabilize after about a month.”
As for the minilifting, on the other hand, «discharges are daily and recovery is faster and you return to normal activity in about a week. In both cases the scars are minimal and it is essential to respect the post-operative instructions in order to optimize healing and the quality of the result.”
Non-surgical alternatives
They exist as anticipated, interventions that do not require the scalpel. Mainly they are the absorbable threads, fillers or botulinum toxinall suitable if you don’t want to intervene with the scalpel.
What results do they offer? «SThey are recommended when the laxity is not marked and the results are visible but last from 6 to 18 months. They are often proposed as preventive facelift treatments, for those who preferTargeted, less invasive interventions that respect the expressiveness of the face and guarantee harmonious results.”