Minimal Incisions Facelift
in Newport Beach, Orange County

Minimal Incision Facelift

There are a number of types of minimal incision facelifts being done these days. It is important to understand the differences. Some are called "mini facelifts" or "lifestyle lifts" but these are often referring to doing little more than excising a small amount of skin in front of the ear. Usually these mini types lift are only effective if done some years after a true facelift if there is a small amount of excess skin that needs to be removed to improve contour. However this type of mini facelift will not correct an aging face with sagging skin, jowls, hanging loose fatty neck and banding in the neck. For this you will need a true facelift (also known as a Rhytidectomy).

So what is a Minimal Incision Facelift (MIF)?

This facelift will correct 1) mid face laxity where the cheeks sag and there are prominent nasolabial folds (grooves running from the nose to the corners of the mouth). 2) Jowling at the jaw line with poor definition of same 3) sagging neck with or without bands and fatty fullness. This is done through an incision that runs from the side burn of the hairline to just behind the ear lobe. This differs from the standard facelift incision which runs about 2.5 inches into the temple hairline down in front of the ear and around the earlobe and up the back groove behind the ear and then into the hair for about another 2 inches.

What makes the MIF different from the mini facelift?

The minimal incision facelift is a true lift in that it tightens the underlying facial musculature by suspension sutures in 3 locations to correct the sagging muscles prior to tightening the overlying skin. The minilift just pulls on skin and does nothing to correct the underlying loose muscle. As a result the correction you achieve with a minilift is very short lived and won't correct most of the problems.

When do you use a Minimal Incision Facelift instead of a Standard Facelift?

Either one can be used to correct the aging face but the minimal incision facelift will provide a lot more mid face lifting and the standard facelift will have more neck lifting potential. Depending on the degree of skin laxity and whether there is fat and muscles bands in the neck may determine which type of lift is most appropriate and whether or not the patient requires additional liposuction or neck suspension techniques in addition to the facelift. The ultimate decision will be determined by your Surgeon after the consultation.

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