Mini Facelift Houston 

Many of my Houston facelift patients will ask how long a facelift will last. Others interested in just a mini facelift are also questioning how long the result for their jawline and jowls will last. The answer here is that it depends on the surgeon’s extent of dissection.

Facelifts, whether a mini facelift, full facelift, or face and neck lift, can vary based on the surgeon’s level of dissection. A skin flap is always elevated to reach the SMAS which is the fascia that is suspended with a facelift. With a neck lift, the skin over the neck is also elevated and the platysma muscle (which is the extension of the SMAS in the neck) is tightened. The DEPTH of dissection of the SMAS is what is the next most important aspect. With SMAS plication, it is not elevated and sutures are simply placed to suspend it. This is the shortest lasting (2-4 years) of facelifts and will not provide much improvement for the mid face or give as impressive of a lift. With SMAS elevation, there can be more suspension and a longer lasting/tighter lift (5-7 years). Lastly is the deep plane lift which Dr. Funk typically performs. With this lift, whether as a mini facelift or full face/neck lift, the ligaments holding the SMAS down are released giving the longest lasting and most impressive lift. This facelift will typically last 10-15 years before another may be needed.

Patients who desire improvement to a sagging jawline, jowling, and marionette lines will benefit from a mini facelift. It will also address some of the skin laxity in the neck and tighten this area to a certain degree. Those patients with heavy necks will not get the result they desire from a mini facelift alone. This surgery can be combined with eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and browlifts.  

The mini facelift will predominantly address the lower face, jawline, and some of the neck. It will not elevate the brows. The deep plane verson of the mini facelift that Dr. Funk likes to perform will release the ligaments under the SMAS or muscle to get a more impressive  and longer lasting lift.  This will also create fullness to the midface and add volume for the cheeks.  

The short scar facelift or mini facelift incisions will be in the sideburn tuft of hair, extend in front of the ear, and pass just behind the earlobe. There is not a large incision under the chin and the incisions will not extend up the ear or into the hairline behind the ear as with a full facelift.  

With a mini facelift or short scar facelift, the skin in front of the ear is elevated.  Once sufficient skin elevation has been acheived, Dr. Funk enters under the SMAS, or fascia of the face, and release the ligaments in the face and the neck below the jawline. The SMAS is then suspended to provide a dramatic lift with longer lasting results.  This is the deep plane portion of this mini lift. Next, the excess skin is trimmed and redraped and the skin incision is closed.  

The recovery time for mini facelifts is generally 10-14 days. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Funk to discuss the mini facelift or weekend facelift today to determine if the procedure will yield the results you desire. 

The recovery for a mini facelift is typically 10-14 days.