Mini-Facelift

The unique approach to the Mini-Facelift means patients look naturally 10 to 12 years younger without changing their expression. Rather than "lifting" the skin, the problem is solved by transforming the subdermal tissues to their original places.

Mini-Lift surgery is an operation performed in a hospital environment, without the need of general anaesthesia, but instead under sedation and local anaesthesia. Mini-Lift surgery takes around 1 to 1.5 hours with incisions inside and at the back of the ear. It can be performed in conjunction with other operations, for example eye lid surgery or injectables, depending on the patient's requirements.

The whole point of the mini-lift is that it should cause minimal disruption. That are minimal scars, minimal interference with tissue, minimal risk and minimal recovery time. Yes, there will be a little bruising and a few well-hidden scars. There may be an overnight bandage, but little discomfort. 

You may work from home the next day, but it will depend on how sensitive you are to the detection of recent surgery, as to when you go out to meet people. Some will manage the next day. A few wait until sutures are removed. The point is that you will not be jeopardising the result by going out.

A Mini-Facelift gives a moderate improvement with minimal inconvenience, scars and risk.

As such it can be suitable for anyone, but a particular indication is for younger patients with relatively early signs of ageing, who find this difficult to put up with and are prepared to accept that they will need further surgery later on. Meanwhile, they will probably use lasers, peels and creams to prolong the surgery free period.

This is a change of approach. Only a short time ago, we advised patients to wait until they really could not put up with signs of ageing and then, at an older age, have a full facelift. The patient would be delighted with the dramatic improvement and would be unlikely to require any further surgery. Now patients are generally not looking for a major change, but just not to grow old.

The mini facelift is part of a maintenance programme and is often combined with fat grafting (lipofilling) to replace lost volume and stem cell treatments to improve overall tissue and skin quality. Lasers and peels all have their place.

There are many other anti-ageing solutions available, both surgical and non-surgical. Request a call from one of our patient advisors or book a consultation at the Cadogan Clinic if you would like to discuss your concerns in more detail.

The Mini-Facelift is a refined technique requiring less disturbance of the facial tissues and therefore is quicker. It takes perhaps 1-1.5 hours. There are variations of technique and sometimes extra refinements are indicated, such as fat grafting and stem cell treatments.

Some surgeons used to take well over five hours for the standard full facelift.

Historically, face-lift operations have been lengthier procedures, resulting in higher pain levels and longer healing time. Modern technology and refined techniques mean that a Mini Face-Lift operation now lasts around 1 to 1.5 hours, it is painless and healing time is much faster.

Choosing a surgeon who is an expert in their field and specializes in face-lifts will ensure you get the best results possible. At the Cadogan Clinic, we have clever innovative surgeons. You will be in excellent hands. 

Yes, a Micro-Lift may be the perfect solution for your excess neck skin, but there are other solutions.

The Micro-Lift procedure is designed to help alleviate early signs of ageing and mild loss of elasticity loss.

This procedure commences with the making of a tiny incision below each ear. The connective tissue below the skin is pulled and held back to create a subtle structural lift in your jawline and neck. The skin will become taut and contours defined again.

The Micro-Lift does not offer drastic results. This is the subtlest in facelift procedures. If you have moderate skin laxity a mini-facelift may be a better choice for you. Or, if you have a problem with severe folds or prominent jowls you may want to consider a full facelift. However, if you are in your late 30s to late 40s and are looking for a light “pick up” in your face and neck area, the Micro-Lift is probably the best solution for you.

Remember that these modern lifting procedures are often combined with fat transfer and stem cell transfer to restore volume in the right places and rejuvenate the skin.

Any extra unwanted fat or double chin is removed by liposuction.

The recovery period for a Micro-Lift is really short. Most patients are back to their regular routines after just a few days. You will experience minimal discomfort after surgery. In addition, the smallness of the facial incisions means that your skin’s healing process will be quicker as well. You have minimal chance of poor scarring.

There are many differences between a regular facelift and a stem-cell enhanced facelift.

The older face loses volume at all levels - skin, subcutaneous tissue, fat muscle and bone. The skin loses tone and droops. The skin also loses quality and becomes dry and wrinkled.

A standard facelift only tightens the drooping skin. As an operation, it is therefore useful, but only in association with other treatments such as fat transfer and stem cell enhanced fat transfer. As an isolated procedure, it is almost obsolete.

Fat contains stem cells but can be enhanced by adding more stem cells. This is used to restore volume and rejuvenate the skin. Thus, fat and stem cells are used to correct volume loss and improve skin quality as a procedure on its own.

Alternatively, it will be used in combination with a facelift. This facelift may be standard or more often mini or micro lifts. These combinations reduce the risks of a standard facelift and achieve more results with less downtime.

In truth, there are nowadays a full range of facelifts and in addition a whole range of add-ons. Plastic surgeons used to have their own adaption of a facelift, but it was the same for everyone. We at Cadogan Clinic now tailor the procedure to the individual patient’s requirements, which will include age, skin type and condition, facial morphology and above all, the patient’s expectation.

We might call the procedures full, mini or micro facelift, but they can all be broken down into certain parts.

Firstly, the length of skin excision. The longest could be across the top of the head in front of or behind the hairline, down in front of the ears, skirting the earlobe, up behind the ear and back down into the hair. The trend, however, is towards shorter and shorter scars and virtually never across the top of the head.  The shortest scar is the micro lift, which is also known as the one-stitch facelift, with a tiny scar below or above the ear.     

Secondly, the extent of undermining of the skin. We now never undermine from ear to mouth and meeting under the chin, but just enough to avoid bunching in front of and below the ear.

Thirdly, the degree of undermining and treatment of the SMAS, the muscle of the skin. The wide dissection, a source of risk, is now avoided and very often it is simply repositioned with stitches.

Fourthly, the method of suspension. Small dissolving sutures can be useful for the nuance of the result, but more permanent and strong nylon sutures can be inserted without the necessity of tissue dissection, and they last longer.

A word of warning - we are not impressed by the clever dissolving threads, which need no surgery and therefore are used by less skilled operators. They are not cost-effective and have only temporary effect with an unacceptable rate of complications.

Now, what about the add-ons?

The most frequent add-on is the restoration of lost facial volume by fat transfer. Your fat is used to augment the cheekbones, cheeks, temples, brow, chin and anywhere else it will improve facial balance. Fat contains those all-important stem cells, which also improve scars and skin quality. At Cadogan Clinic we are able to enhance the transferred fat with extra stem cells.

We might also address the long wrinkled ear lobe, the eyelids and the droopy nose.

We discuss and decide with the patient what is going to help you meet your expectations in a cost-effective way, and arrive at a suitable procedure.  Sometimes this will be a full facelift. More often it will be a mini or micro lift, quite possibly with fat grafting and stem cells.