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More and more often when you look in the mirror, you see a tired face, even though you might feel great. Time is an unforgiving force when it comes to aging. The mini facelift is a less invasive option than a full facelift, for individuals desiring a more youthful appearance, a sharper jaw line, and a reduction of the loose skin in the lower face and neck. It is a procedure that produces fantastic results with much less recovery time and a lower cost than a full facelift.

The mini facelift is ideal for people in their late 30s or early 40s, but can be useful for patients up into their 60s. It is also a great follow-up procedure for people who have had a full facelift in the past but need a little refresher. The benefits of a mini facelift can last up to 7 years.

During a mini facelift, anesthetic is injected just in front of the ears, numbing the lower face. The anesthetic also prevents excess bleeding in the area. Then a small incision is made from just in front of each ear up into the hairline, to allow the excess skin to be removed and the underlying tissue to be tightened. Some surgeons also use liposuction to eliminate excess fat from the neck or chin. The entire process takes less than 90 minutes to complete.

The best candidates for mini facelift are healthy individuals who want to slow the aging process and suffer from mild to moderate lower facial and/or neck laxity. Patients need to be aware that having a mini facelift will not slow aging indefinitely. It may be necessary to undergo further procedures later in life to maintain results.

Sometimes the mini facelift is referred to as the "weekend" face lift because of the short recovery time, although depending on your needs more time may be necessary. As with any surgical procedure, the proper care must be taken following surgery to ensure safety and good results. You may require some pain medication and might need to use ice to relieve swelling that could occur. Occasionally some bruising is visible, which is temporary.

It is important to be realistic with your physician about your desires and consider all of the various options for facial rejuvenation before committing to any single method. A good surgeon will listen to your feelings and ask the right questions. You should feel extremely comfortable with the doctor that you choose before having any kind of surgery.

Not ready for surgery? Non-surgical options for face lift include Thread Lift and Thermage.