한국어
English
简体中文
繁體中文
日本語
Монгол
Русский
ไทย
Indonesia
Tiếng Việt
العربيةThe Mini Facelift Is Not a Fixed Surgical Method
“Mini facelift” (mini lifting) is not a medical term. Nor is there a fixed surgical method.
The length and position of the incision differ from clinic to clinic. Different surgeries can be performed under the same name.
One thing is clear, however. The incision is shorter than in a traditional full-incision facelift.
When Is a Mini Facelift Considered?
It is for cases where a full-incision facelift feels like too much, but a thread lift feels insufficient.
Age also matters. There are cases where elasticity has declined so a thread lift is unlikely to do much, but a full incision still feels like too much.
We receive many inquiries from people who want to improve their jawline because of a sagging face but want to avoid major surgery.
Which of the three methods is right is summarized in [How to Choose a Lifting Treatment](/lifting).
How Do We Perform It at Our Clinic?
At our clinic, the mini facelift is performed with an incision only inside the hairline (the boundary where the hair grows). The incision does not extend toward the ear.
A mini facelift usually removes some of the skin that remains after lifting. However, whether only the skin is pulled or the layer beneath it is pulled as well differs from clinic to clinic. At our clinic, the incision is placed inside the hairline, where it is hard to see from the outside, and the amount of skin reduced is increased while the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the facial fascia layer) beneath it is pulled together with the skin. Even so, the range is narrower than in a full-incision facelift. For this reason, we vary the way the SMAS is pulled so that the effect is maintained appropriately.
In plain terms A mini facelift trims away a little of the remaining skin. Some clinics pull only the skin, and others also pull the supporting layer beneath the skin. At our clinic, we choose to make the incision a little longer in the area hidden by hair. That way, more skin can be reduced and the supporting layer can be pulled together with it.
The surgery takes 1 hour 30 minutes. It is performed under local anesthesia or sedation, and a hospital stay is not required.
It Also Has Shortcomings Compared with a Facelift
Compared with a full facelift, the mini facelift does have shortcomings. This is because it is a surgery with a reduced range.
| Point of comparison | Thread Lift | Mini Facelift | Facelift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incision | None | Inside the hairline only | From in front of the ear to behind the ear |
| Time required | About 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes | 4–5 hours |
| Hospital stay | Not required | Not required | Usually about one day |
| Range of effect | Limited | Narrower than a facelift | Widest |
In return, it can make up for some of the shortcomings of a thread lift. The incision is not long, and the recovery period is not long either.
The recovery schedule and side effects are summarized in [Mini facelift surgery information](/lifting/mini-facelift).
I Often Perform This Surgery
Personally, I tend to favor the mini facelift.
This is because it sits in the position that can fill the gap between them when a thread lift is not enough and a facelift feels like too much.
Which is right is decided by looking at the degree of sagging and the condition of the skin. We decide together during the examination and consultation.
