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Before & After
The facelift’s over one hundred year history has seen many variations of the facial rejuvenation procedure. The earliest forms involved simply removing the extra skin and tightening it. While it did result in a younger look, patients had a tendency to look windswept and the results often did not last that long. Eventually, surgeons learned that they could improve results and their longevity by also tightening the facial muscles. Today, facelifts are becoming less invasive, more natural looking, and come with less risk. This is partially due to the evolution of the mini lift facelift. Dr. Alberico Sessa performs the best mini lift facelift Sarasota offers.
A mini lift–sometimes called a mini facelift–is a less invasive version of a traditional facelift. It involves shorter incisions, less surgical time, and overall less risk. In some cases, you may be able to undergo a mini facelift under local anesthesia, cutting risk and side effects even more.
Mini lift patients tend to be younger and need less correction than standard facelift patients. Though, patients with mild sagging and wrinkles may be candidates for a Sarasota mini lift regardless of age. Some of the signs of aging that a mini facelift can address include:
Beyond what a mini facelift can correct, there are many benefits and advantages of the procedure. While not all patients are candidates for a mini facelift, for those that are, they can find many advantages. Some of the benefits and advantages include:
Facelifts come in many shapes and sizes based on the patient’s individual goals and anatomy. Ultimately, Dr. Sessa will evaluate these factors, along with your medical history, you make an informed decision on which facelift will provide the best results. Let’s take a look at the four main types of facelifts and the times when they are warranted.
A mini lift–as previously described–is a less invasive version of a traditional facelift. It cannot replace a full facelift if needed but can prolong the need for larger facial plastic surgery. A mini lift tends to remove skin and may address the underlying muscles, though typically only in the lower portion of the face. Patients for this procedure tend to be on the younger side for a facelift, usually their late forties to early fifties. It is best for mild to moderate aging. It also will not provide significant changes to the midface.
A standard, or full facelift, is the most frequently performed facelift surgery. It involves slightly more extensive incisions than a mini lift, but they are still hidden behind the ear or within natural creases. A standard facelift will also address the lower face and can extend up to the midface. It also tends to remove more skin and may tighten the muscles more and higher up than a mini facelift would. This may also include the deep plane facelift technique.
An extended facelift is the combination of a standard (lower) facelift and midface lift. This means that about two-thirds of the face is addressed and corrected in one procedure. An extended facelift will likely remove extra skin from the lower face and neck, tighten muscles of the lower and midface, tighten the skin, and may reposition descended fat. In general, this type of facelift is ideal for older patients or those who have experienced more
The least invasive type of facelift often involves only a small amount of skin removal among the lower face. Some surgeons may not even refer to this as a facelift, and sometimes it is called a “superficial facelift”. These typically do not correct any long term sagging, but rather only address smaller points of excess skin.
At a consultation at Sarasota Surgical Arts, you will meet with Dr. Sessa to discuss your concerns and goals for surgery. Next, he may want to know about relevant aspects of your medical history and lifestyle such as major medical conditions and if you smoke. Finally, he will examine your anatomy to determine the right type of facelift for you. If he thinks a mini lift facelift would provide the results you want, he will go more in-depth about the procedure. If not, he may recommend another facelift or procedure.
After you are placed under the appropriate anesthesia, Dr. Sessa will start by making a short incision behind your ear. The exact location can vary depending on your anatomy and needs. Occasionally, it will be in front of the ear. Dr. Sessa will do his best to keep all incisions as small and hidden as possible.
Through the two incisions, Dr. Sessa will remove extra skin and fat, tighten the muscles of the lower face and neck (if necessary), and pull the skin tight while maintaining a natural appearance. The surgery takes approximately one to two hours to complete. It can also be performed in combination with various other facial surgeries such as brow lifts, CO2 laser resurfacing, and a neck lift.
A mini lift recovery is generally shorter and easier than a traditional facelift. You will go home the same day as surgery and rest for the first 24 hours. Within that time, you can get up and walk occasionally to keep blood flowing, but otherwise, it is best you do not do too much. During this time, your face may be swollen and some patients might experience side effects like bruising, redness, pain, itchiness, and numbness.
After the initial one to three day recovery period, many patients feel well enough to do some daily activities. Some may even return to work within the first week if they can do so from home or work at a desk. Side effects should improve within a week or two, with many reporting that their side effects fade significantly in the first week of recovery.
While Dr. Sessa will likely prescribe pain medication to ensure you are comfortable during your recovery time, many patients find they do not need pain relievers beyond over-the-counter options. Since a mini lift uses only tiny incisions and is overall minimally invasive, the recovery is usually bearable and fairly quick.
A mini facelift is expected to last several years. The exact amount of time will vary based on how well skin quality is maintained, the specifics of the procedure, and hundreds of other factors. Most patients see the results of a mini facelift last between seven and ten years. Though, some have lasted much longer than that. A traditional facelift is expected to last about ten to twelve years, so it is often a result comparable to that of a standard facelift.
There is no one “right” age for a facelift. Mini facelift patients tend to be around 45 to 50. Keep in mind that this is an average. Patients in their late thirties and early fifties do and can often benefit from a mini lift. Ultimately, it comes down to the severity of your aging and what you want for the result. Good candidates for the procedure range in age.
Whether you have the procedure general or twilight anesthesia (a type of deep sedation local anesthesia), you should not feel any pain during the procedure. If partially awake, it is possible to feel some pressure, but the surgical areas will be fully numb. After surgery, post-operative pain and discomfort are easily managed and generally not too severe.
Any surgical procedure comes with some level of risk. It is important to fully understand the risks of a mini lift before opting to undergo surgery. Dr. Sessa will review these with you. Individual patients can carry higher risks if they have certain health conditions, smoke, or are older. Most of the time, these risks can be mitigated.
Some of the risks of a mini facelift include:
Following a mini facelift, it is hard to know exactly how much younger you will look. This is highly individual to each patient. Once Dr. Sessa can evaluate you, he can provide a better estimate of what you can expect of your Sarasota facelift results. Patients tend to look about five to twelve years younger depending on their starting anatomy. Combining your mini lift with other procedures such as dermal fillers can make patients look even younger.
A mini lift at Sarasota Surgical Arts starts at $8,500 for Dr. Sessa’s version of a mini lift, the Smart Lift. Beyond this, the price will vary given each patient’s needs. To find out more about pricing, visit our price list and Price Simulator app. You can also find more information about financing on our financing page.
Dr. Alberico Sessa is an accomplished cosmetic surgeon serving the Greater Sarasota, Florida area. He has two decades of experience and has contributed to the advancement of facelift techniques with his Smart Lift. He is an expert facelift surgeon and has performed hundreds of facelifts on a diverse range of patients, including both men and women. His less invasive approach allows for results comparable to a full facelift with an easier recovery. Dr. Sessa performs the best mini lift Sarasota provides.
Sarasota Surgical Arts is located not far from Siesta Key Beach. This beautiful location is easily accessible from Highway 72. Welcoming cosmetic surgery patients from throughout Florida, the United States, and the globe, Sarasota Surgical Arts is happy to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
To learn more and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sessa, call us at 941-923-1736. You can also submit inquiries online via chat, contact form, or Price Simulator.