Every facelift is designed to elevate sagging tissue layers and address volume changes, providing a more youthful look. That said, not every facelift at the Philadelphia area’s Buinewicz Plastic Surgery is the same!
The biggest variation in facelift procedures involves the “mini” option. This is a more focused surgery than its more involved counterpart, but it remains the most popular surgery devoted to facial improvement available today.
What’s different about a mini? Read on to learn more. A facelift is a procedure that targets signs of aging and the effects of gravity that develop in the face. The structural components (skin, muscle layers, and fat) intimately communicate with the layers of the neck. All facelifts require some form of neck lift, and all neck lifts require a portion of a facelift to look natural. Dr. Buinewicz treats the natural cosmetic units of the face together to achieve a natural look. Some patients have textural issues only (fine lines, sun-damaged skin) that respond best to nonsurgical treatments either combined with a facelift or in stages such as laser resurfacing, ultrasound treatments or radiofrequency microneedling treatments. Gravity always wins with time, and as the skin loses elasticity and the underlying muscles of facial expression (the SMAS) stretch, there is a need for the tissues to be lifted and repositioned and for stretched-out skin to be removed. Lastly, the volume layers in the face can change and volume can be added back to an aging face either with one’s own fat or fillers.
A mini facelift is reserved for patients who only have isolated issues of an aging face, such as mild excess skin, mild jowling, or banding on the neck muscles (the turkey gobbler lines). Incisions can be minimized to address these issues, and a mini facelift can even be performed under local anesthesia with some sedation making the recovery much easier.
A full facelift usually addresses all the issues that occur with aging: skin aging and textural changes, excess skin of the face and neck, laxity and drooping of the underlying muscle layers (a deep plane face lift), and volume issues. The more involved procedure may require general anesthesia for some patients, longer incisions, and, for some, a longer recovery before returning to a normal lifestyle.
While faces will continue to age after any surgery, facelift results (either mini or full) can typically be expected to last about 10 years. A mini facelift provides results that can last from five to 10 years—although some patients have reported enjoying their effects for even longer!
Which facelift option is best for you? Let Dr. Buinewicz and his team guide you and help you decide. Contact Buinewicz Plastic Surgery by booking an appointment online or calling (215) 647-9668 to arrange a personalized consultation.
