‘Mini Face Lift’ – an Option When Time is of Essence

By The Surgeons of Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg

Published on September 25, 2006

A ‘mini face lift’ can erase years from a person’s appearance in a relatively short amount of time. Also known as short-scar face lift, S-lift and various other marketing-related names, this procedure is a good option for patients striving to look their best for an upcoming event or minimize time away from work.

While mini face lift works well for people who cannot commit to significant recovery time, full face lift still produces the most dramatic results because it tightens skin in the cheeks, chin, jowls and neck. This procedure is often performed in conjunction with forehead and eyelid surgery.

Mini face lift belongs to a group of procedures known as partial facial procedures, which can be undertaken incrementally or in combination to achieve significant yet natural-looking improvements. Some of the more popular partial facial procedures include mini face lift, mid face lift (check lift), forehead lift (brow lift), neck lift, eyelid surgery and Contour Threadlift™, which tightens moderate facial and neck sagging with the help of tiny threads inserted under the skin. One major advantage of partial facial procedures is their shorter at-home recovery period. For example, mini face lift patients can return to work sooner than the one to two weeks required after a full face lift. However, since everyone heals differently, most doctors recommend scheduling partial facial procedures at least six to eight weeks (or, ideally, three months) before a special event.

A Few Success Stories

Judy Grant, 54, Ashburn, Virginia

After receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments for years, in February 2006 Ms. Grant chose to have partial facial surgery, less than two weeks before remarrying. Dr. Howard Heppe performed a mini face lift and lower eyelid “pinch” surgery to tighten her sagging jowls and the skin under her eye. A contracting officer for the federal government, Ms. Grant underwent the procedures on a Friday and was back at work by Monday. She has since noticed what she describes as a “dramatic difference” in her appearance. “My 31-year-old daughter thinks it’s great,” she adds. “My husband thinks it’s great, too – though he didn’t put any pressure on me to have it done. I did it for me.”

Cheryl Daniels, 46, King George County, Virginia

Cheryl Daniels was inspired to take action after watching the aging process in older members of her family. Ms. Daniels opted for partial facial procedures in order to reverse this process while minimizing downtime from work. Dr. L. Thomas Albert first performed upper and lower eyelid surgery on Ms. Daniels in 2004. She was so pleased that she asked him to perform a mini face lift with neck liposuction in order to eliminate sagging jowls. Ms. Daniels says the recent procedures took 10 years off her appearance. “I felt it was better to do it now than wait for it to get worse,” she explains. Ms. Daniels was able to return to her administrative post within two days of each procedure. In addition to partial facial surgery, she also receives BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments and uses prescription products to refine her skin.

Cathy Morris-Manke, 54, Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Cathy Morris-Manke decided to take more comprehensive measures to improve her self-confidence. Dr. Harold Bautista performed a full face lift with lower eyelid surgery on Ms. Manke in March 2006 to eliminate a hereditary double chin and tighten her facial skin. She took seven days off work and her recuperation spanned two weekends. But the results, she says, were worth it. Prior to surgery Ms. Manke was very self-conscious about her appearance. “I felt so poorly about myself,” she explains. “Now, I can’t believe the difference. I feel so much better.” So much so that she no longer uses her hand to cover her chin when stopping at red lights in her convertible. Ms. Manke says she is telling her story to encourage others. “You’d be surprised how many people I have told who confide, ‘I have been wanting to have plastic surgery.’”

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported earlier this year that the popularity of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, injectable wrinkle fillers and other minimally invasive procedures reduced the number of face lift procedures by 19% between 2000 and 2005. Still, we have witnessed steady demand for facial surgical procedures due to the fact that many patients have needs that these treatments cannot correct. Eyelid surgery and mini face lifts are among the most popular facial surgery procedures among our patients.

About Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg

Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg (PSSF) has been providing cosmetic surgery to residents in the Fredericksburg area since 1983. Our board certified surgeons are dedicated to achieving natural-looking results through a team approach to patient care. We employ state-of-the-art equipment and proven techniques at our accredited medical facility. For more information, please call (540) 371-7730 or visit us at www.plasticsurgeryservices.com

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