The question of how long a mini facelift lasts is the single most common question that I get asked by my facelift patients. What they really want to know is when they might need to repeat the procedure. To answer the question, we need to first look at the difference between a standard facelift, or deep plane facelift, which is my preference, and a mini facelift.
A mini facelift is performed with slightly shorter incisions, slightly less dissection and slightly less structural work. Because everything that’s done is less than a standard facelift, it lasts less time as well. A great example is if we inflate two balloons, but one balloon is inflated a little more. That balloon is going to take longer to deflate. In the balloon comparison, the mini facelift is the balloon that is inflated less.
Patients always like the sexiness of the word “mini,” but they never like mini results. Instead, they want big results that don’t look overdone. In the case of a facelift, patients are afraid of being over-lifted and looking unnatural, causing them to think that the mini facelift is a better choice. Irrespective of how old they are, they request a mini facelift because that’s the thing that they hear about and that’s what they think will result in a more natural look.
What they don’t realize is that mini means mini, and the results they get depends more on their age and skin condition. If I do a first facelift on a 67 year old patient, a mini facelift will give less dramatic results than a standard facelift, but it’s also likely they won’t have another one. On the other hand, if I do a mini facelift on a 40 year old patient, most likely they’ll want another one in their lifetime. It isn’t about how much skin we take out, it’s how we structure the deep stuff, and for that reason, I feel that a deep plane facelift does that the best.
How long does does a mini facelift last?
It’s hard to quantify because of so many variables, but on the right candidate it can last up to 10 years.
How much does a mini facelift cost?
My charge for a Mini Facelift is $20,000 in my Beverly Hills office. That cost is not a lot less than a standard facelift because it’s just about as much work for me.
Is a mini facelift worth it?
A mini facelift is worth it for patients who don’t have lots of laxity and excess skin. It really depends on what the patient wants to achieve combined with the condition of their skin going into surgery. When we perform a mini facelift on the right candidate it’s definitely worth it.
Of course, there are always some patients, like any other consumer in life, that have buyer’s remorse. The truth is that even my patients who report that they don’t think it was worth it, still look more rejuvenated and more youthful. Their jawline looks better and their necks look tighter. So, whether it’s worth it or not is in the eyes and mind of the beholder
If you have questions, I’d love to answer them for you. You can email me. You can call me. I’m an available guy. I’ve done this for 35 years. I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you in my office because that’s really where the rubber meets the road.
About Dr. Jonathan Sykes
Dr. Jonathan Sykes is a world-famous expert plastic surgeon who performs all cosmetic and functional plastic surgery procedures on the face and neck. He is a past president of The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and served on their Board of Directors for over 10 years. He is also a Professor Emeritus in Facial Plastic Surgery from UC Davis Medical Center, and the former Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at that institution.
He is known as the expert’s expert, and is often called to consult and advise other plastic surgeons in both Northern California and Beverly Hills. He has a special interest in eyelid and browlift surgery, facial rejuvenation surgery including facelifts, and rhinoplasty. He also has a particular interest in facial feminization surgery. Have questions? Email Dr.Sykes at: [email protected]