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Home/Blog / What is the Difference Between a Facelift and a Mini-Facelift?

What is the Difference Between a Facelift and a Mini-Facelift?

Both the traditional facelift procedure and the mini-facelift are designed to reduce common signs of facial aging and create a more youthful, smoother appearance to the skin. With that in mind, there are some distinctions between these two procedures that make one more beneficial than the other for certain patients.

Patients who are experiencing prominent signs of jowls, wrinkles and fine lines, folds along the cheeks and jawline, and excess skin along the neck are often better suited to a full facelift procedure. This option can address all of those concerns with beautiful results.

A mini-facelift is a less invasive version of a full facelift and is often a good option for patients who are experiencing subtler signs of facial aging in a more specific area of the face. The terminology for “mini-facelift” can be a bit confusing because each facelift surgeon may have a different impression of what a mini-facelift can achieve. In our practice, a mini-facelift targets the lower one-third of the face without significantly altering the area under the chin or neck. This procedure is ideal for women who have started to notice a change in the shape of their face with loose or excess skin along the jawline. Incisions are expertly camouflaged in front of and behind the ears during this procedure. Even though a mini-facelift is less extensive than a full facelift, Dr. Jess Prischmann feels strongly that this procedure is best done in an operating room with anesthesia. There are many reasons why it is safer, more effective, and better than mini-facelifts done in the office under local anesthesia.

One thing to remember: a mini-facelift cannot address excess skin and wrinkles that appear along the neck. A full facelift or a standalone necklift procedure can often be the best options to give the neck a smoother, more contoured appearance.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about facelift and necklift surgery.

Dr. Prischmann customizes facelift and mini-facelift procedures based on your unique needs. This helps to maximize the potential for meeting your expectations with results that look natural. Dr. Prischmann will be happy to meet with you for an initial consultation to answer your questions and determine whether a facelift, a mini-facelift, or another option is right for your goals.