Normal Facelift vs Mini Facelift: Know the Difference

Facelift surgeries are common among adults, as they fight against the signs of aging and help you get a more youthful facial appearance. Accounting for almost 49% of all surgeries, people mostly aged between 40 to 54 years opt to undergo this surgery,

Among the Facelift procedures normal and Mini Facelift are the widely embraced ones. They cater to different preferences and needs. Therefore, if you wish to go for any of these surgeries, you should know how they differ to choose the right surgery.

What is a Normal Facelift?

A normal or full Facelift is a surgical procedure that rejuvenates your neck, face, and jawline. The surgeon makes incisions along the hairlines, under the chin, and around the ears. It helps the surgeon access the deeper layer of tissue.

They do the incision to remove excessive skin, tightening the underlying muscle and redistributing fat deposits. So, this specific surgery works on wrinkles, sagging skin, and other signs of aging. It can address severe to moderate facial aging problems.

An Overview of Mini Facelift

Unlike the full or normal surgery, the Mini Facelift is a less extensive surgical procedure. It targets specific facial areas like the jawline and lower face. Therefore, it is also popular as "S-lift" or "weekend Facelift".

In this procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions around the ears but never extends behind the ear or around the hairline. You can go for this surgery to tighten your underlying muscles and skin. However, this surgery offers better results on Minimal scarring.

With time, older and younger people lean towards cosmetic surgeries to improve their facial and body structure.

• The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) revealed some interesting facts about Facelifts in its 2023 member survey outcomes:
• Since 2019, after the pandemic, there has been a remarkable 90% rise in the number of Facelifts every year
• In 2023 alone, surgeons performed 48 Facelift and partial Facelift surgeries. This is a staggering 60% increase since 2017.
• Most patients opting for Facelifts are in the age group of 35-55 years, which indicates an increasing number of younger patients.

You can sense the growing importance of Facelifts with this data. This is however only about the Facelift procedures in the United States.

Some other top destinations for this surgery worldwide include South Korea, Brazil, Thailand, Spain, Mexico, India, Turkey, Italy, and Australia. Surgeons in these countries are more likely to help you get natural-looking results through their artistic approach.

In addition, the surgeons operating in these countries are equally likely to ensure high-quality healthcare at cost-competitive charges.

While both the Facelifts are famous worldwide, India has a settled market for these surgeries. This is mainly due to a better number of experienced surgeons across major clinics in the country. Slashed rates, better healthcare facilities, use of advanced treatment equipment, and amicable staff are the other prominent reasons behind this face.

To go for any Facelift surgery, you have many options. Especially, if you wish to undergo Facelift in India, you can get numerous doctors to choose from.

The difference between a Full Facelift and a Mini Facelift

Before going under the knife, you must know what is more suitable for you – a Normal Facelift or Mini Facelift. Understanding the differences between these two surgeries will fetch you the right answer. You may ask your surgeon to proceed accordingly.

Candidacy

Full or normal Facelifts are an ideal option for older patients who want to treat their facial aging issues. So, if you experience moderate to advanced sagging in the nasolabial folds and cheeks, this surgery is suitable for you. It is good for people with laxity in the neck and jaw area and those with sagging jowls.

You can be the right candidate for Mini Facelift surgery if you are younger and have started noticing loose or sagging skin. It is the most suitable surgery for patients who are least concerned about mid-face skin sagging or hollow cheeks.

Areas treated

The full or normal Facelift surgery addresses the laxity in the lower face, mid-face, and neck area. you may go for a full Facelift to see a noteworthy difference in these specific areas.

The Mini Facelift may not address the issues of the mid or upper face. It can only show results on the lower face and sometimes it works on the neck area.

Level of invasiveness

The full Facelift procedures are way more invasive compared to the Mini Facelifts. The surgeons perform the full Facelift surgery with longer incisions. But, they perform the Mini Facelifts through smaller incisions.

Mini Facelifts only need one incision, which is around the ears. However, surgeons make incisions in the front and back of the ears and the hairline area.

Duration of the procedure

The duration of both procedures varies depending on the technique the surgeon uses and the outcome you want to get. In general, the surgeon needs almost 2 hours to complete the surgery.

In a full Facelift, the duration may go up to 2.5-3 hours since it is a more comprehensive surgery. Likewise, if you go for skin resurfacing treatments, it may take as much as 5 hours.

Results

You can expect a subtle lift around the neck and lower face areas with tightened skin from the Mini Facelift surgery. In this surgery, the surgeon uses dermal filler to remove excess fat from your lower face. So, you can get a more defined jawline, face, and neck.

The full Facelift surgery tightens your full face and musculature. You may expect a better result from this surgery because it works on your full face along with your neck.

Duration of the result

The results of any Facelifts differ for every patient and depend on several factors. However, in both cases, the outcomes last longer in the patients who have good skin elasticity. Also, it depends on your general health and the skincare routine you follow.

If you consume a balanced diet and do your skincare routine daily, the results will persist for a longer time. You must also stay hydrated, avoid too much sun exposure, maintain a good body weight, etc.

In general, a Mini Facelift might rejuvenate your facial skin for up to 5 years or more, as it tightens only a selected portion of your face. The result duration of a full Facelift surgery will be around 10- 15 years, which is twice as compared to a Mini Facelift or maybe more.

Costs

When you go for any Facelift surgery, budget plays a significant role while making a decision. Mini Facelifts are more affordable than full Facelifts because of common reasons. They are less complex, take less time to perform, and do not require general anesthesia.

So, if you go for the Mini Facelifts, you may save money. The total cost of Mini Facelift surgery may range in 4 figures. In case of full Facelifts, the cost may shoot up to lacs.

Recovery time

The recovery time also varies according to the individual patients, no matter what surgery they opt for. Usually, full Facelift surgery patients may need at least 2 to 3 weeks to recover fully. However, Mini Facelifts patients may recover within 1 week.

For both surgeries, surgeons remove the sutures 6 to 7 days after the surgery. After that, you can slowly come back to your normal life and do daily stuff.

Bottomline

A surgical Facelift can help to get away with your facial wrinkles and sagging problem. To be specific, you can go for full Facelift surgery if you have severe or moderate signs of aging and have money. Otherwise, the alternative option is Mini Facelifts that work on specific areas of your face and make it look younger. Both surgeries have their respective pros and cons.

Nevertheless, considering the complexity and efforts involved, full Facelifts can address more issues and help your face stay rejuvenated for a longer time. In either case, direct interaction with your surgeon before the procedure will be advisable.

It is always important to have realistic expectations regarding the surgery results. Moreover, you should be ready to face several possible complications after the surgery. These may include injury due to anesthesia, bleeding, problems in motor activities of the associated muscles, scarring, etc.  

While Facelift surgeries are popular worldwide, the number of people undergoing Mini or full Facelifts in India is growing at a fast pace. Therefore, if you too want to accentuate your facial looks through a Mini Facelift or complete Facelift, an expert from India will be the best to help you deliver favorable outcomes.

Let us know if you wish to seek help in your search for the best cosmetic surgeons for full or Mini Facelifts. We will be glad to help you out.