Mini Facelift vs Traditional Facelift: Finding the Right Refreshment for You

The natural aging process leads to wrinkles, sagging, thinning, fine lines, volume loss, jowls, nasolabial folds, excess fat, creases – and more. While these are all normal signs of aging, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel your best.

If that sounds like you, then you might be a candidate for a facelift. Facelift surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the United States today, with nearly 80,000 procedures being performed in 2023 alone. 

At Facial Cosmetic Surgery Associates, Dr. Kaniff offers traditional facelift surgery and mini facelift surgery. Both techniques can produce a beautiful, natural result that lasts for years.

Whether you’re new to the concept of different facelift techniques or are trying to determine which one is right for you, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about these two popular, safe, and effective cosmetic treatments. 

Rhytidectomy: What Is the Traditional Facelift?

The traditional facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy or a full facelift, is surgery that addresses everything from sagging skin to deep creases and loss of muscle tone in the lower two-thirds of the face and neck. It’s what most people picture when they think of a facelift – the OG of facelifts, if you will. 

During surgery, incisions are made along the hairline (starting at the temples) and around the ears, before ending in the lower scalp. Sometimes, an additional incision is made under the chin to address sagging skin and muscle the neck.

The primary goal is to lift and tighten the underlying muscles or tissues that tend to sag as we age.

Once the incisions are made, the excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is draped over the newly repositioned contours before being stitched back together with deep sutures. Most patients can return to work after two to three weeks. The results are dramatic and long-lasting, with some patients reporting that they look as much as 10 or 15 years younger.

Mini Facelift: A Less-Invasive Version of the Full Facelift

For patients who are only experiencing the early signs of aging, or whose concerns are concentrated in the lowest region of the face, a mini facelift may provide beautiful results with a less invasive procedure. This technique offers many of the benefits of a full facelift, but in half the time and half the recovery. 

A mini facelift (also known as a ‘weekend facelift’) involves making a much smaller incision, typically in front of or behind the ears. There are no incisions made in the hairline, chin, or lower scalp. 

From there, the process is similar to a traditional facelift. Your surgeon will remove the excess skin before tightening and repositioning the remaining skin for a younger, smoother, and tighter appearance. This process is usually completed in under two hours. 

The results are not as dramatic as a traditional facelift, but you’ll be able to return to work in as little as a week. 

Mini Facelift vs. Traditional Facelift: Which One Is Right for You?

Most patients already know they want a facelift by the time they walk into our office, but they usually have no idea if they’re a good candidate or not. And if they are, they probably aren’t sure which facelift is right for them. 

Here at Facial Cosmetic Surgery Associates, we take the time, energy, and effort to listen to each patient’s concerns before doing a thorough examination to determine which facelift gives them the results they’re looking for. 

These are some of the factors we consider:

Treatment Area

A traditional facelift treats the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck, while a mini facelift only treats the lower face and jawline.

Incisions

The incisions for a traditional facelift can extend from the temple, along the hairline, around the ears, and towards the lower scalp, while the incisions of a mini facelift are contained around the ears. 

Procedure Time

Most traditional facelifts will take anywhere from two to three hours from start to finish, while a mini facelift is usually completed in under two hours. Exact procedure time varies by patient. 

Recovery

The full recovery period for a traditional facelift can take several months, but most people can return to work in two to three weeks. A mini facelift takes a month to fully heal, but most patients return to work in five to seven days. 

Results

A traditional facelift produces a dramatic transformation that can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, while a mini facelift produces more subtle, natural-looking results that can last two to six years. 

Since every patient has unique needs and goals, the best way to determine which facelift is right for you is to schedule an appointment with your local, board-certified Sacramento facial plastic surgeon – that’s us! 

Facial Cosmetic Surgery: Sacramento’s Top Facelift Surgeon

Is the skin on your face starting to droop, almost as if gravity is taking over? Do you miss your youthful appearance? Are you experiencing the natural signs of aging earlier than expected? 

You’ve come to the right place. Thomas E. Kaniff, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has performed over 25,000 surgeries in the Sacramento area. He is fellowship trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has proudly served the Sacramento community for over 25 years. 

If you’d like to see if you’re a good candidate for a facelift, schedule an appointment with Facial Cosmetic Surgery Associates today!