Mini Facelift Orange County

The terms facelift and mini facelift have different meanings depending on the facial plastic surgeon or office contacted. Although this may be confusing to many prospective patients, we have a straightforward definition for these procedures at Refreshed Aesthetic Surgery in Orange County.

We define a facelift as a surgical procedure that addresses the cheeks, jowls, and neck. To be more precise, at our office, the terms “lower face-neck lift” instead of “facelift” are used to emphasize the procedure will directly improve the neck, too. We have outlined the details of these procedures:

• Lower Face-Neck Lift: With a Lower Face-Neck Lift, there are inconspicuous and hidden incisions in the hair, within the ear, and under the chin. Dr. Miller uses the gold standard in surgical techniques for this procedure, called a High-SMAS deep plane lift during this procedure. A facelift or Lower Face-Neck Lift does not elevate the brows, change eye shape, improve eyelid bags, or remove excess eyelid skin. Those issues are addressed with a separate procedure. 
• Mini Facelift: Our mini facelift procedure does not involve incisions beneath the chin but utilizes the same incisions as a Lower Face-Neck Lift, which are hidden in the hair and within the ears. Dr. Miller uses the High-SMAS deep plane technique in all of his mini facelifts—a critical point in the longevity of the outcome. A mini facelift improves the appearance of the cheeks, smoothing away jowls while modestly improving the neck. The mini facelift technique employed by Dr. Miller is an excellent way to resolve modest to moderate laxity along the jawline or to treat patients who do not have concerns about neck laxity or vertical neck bands but desire improvement with their jawlines and cheeks. More details will be presented during a consultation. If neck appearance is a concern, a lower face-neck lift will likely be the best option. Learn more here.

The recovery after a mini facelift is easy to tolerate for most patients. Every person’s experience differs based on several possibilities. Because safety and achieving great results are our goals, we advise minimal activity for seven to ten days. During that phase of healing, no exercise, heavy lifting, or activities that would cause sweating or increase breathing rate. Most patients will start to return to their social activities after a seven to fourteen-day period, some slightly sooner. As the swelling resolves, most patients can begin light “cardio” exercises during the third week, with more strenuous activity in one to three weeks.

Four Tips for Mini Facelift Recovery

• Follow Post-Operative Instructions: Adhere strictly to taking prescribed medications, activity restrictions, and wound care guidelines to promote proper healing.
• Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Drink plenty of water and consume nutrient-rich foods to support the body’s recovery process and speed natural tissue repair.
• Avoid Strenuous Activities: Refrain from vigorous exercise, heavy lifting, and activities that may strain the facial muscles to prevent complications and optimize healing.
• Be Patient and Gentle: Allow sufficient time for the body to heal naturally, avoiding excessive touching, rubbing, or manipulation of the surgical site to minimize swelling and ensure optimal results.

In essence, the results of a mini facelift will last forever. Comparing facial appearance at one year, five years, ten years, or fifteen years after a mini facelift, there is less skin laxity and a more youthful look. Nevertheless, aging does not end, and with time, some changes will appear within five to seven years after the procedure. The changes associated with aging do not necessarily mean that another surgery will be necessary. These age-related skin quality changes can be addressed with various aesthetic treatments, such as laser resurfacing or volume augmentation with fillers or fat transfer to return or maintain a more youthful, refreshed appearance.

Maybe. Non-surgical options may produce some measure of tightening. All non-surgical tightening treatments produce variable results, and the amount of tightening is limited in most cases. Other options may include fractional CO2 laser resurfacing and targeted volume augmentation with fillers or fat transfer. A consultation is required to determine if non-surgical options will achieve your aesthetic goals.

A typical mini-facelift at our Orange County office typically takes 2.5 to 3.0 hours. Dr. Miller does not use staples and personally applies all sutures. Additionally, Dr. Miller uses a deep plane technique that produces longer-lasting, truly natural-looking, refreshed results. This critical difference cannot be over-emphasized because most other mini-facelift techniques seek to do the procedure quickly and use older, less sophisticated techniques that pull (or plicate) the tissues with excessive tension, leading to short-term results, thinning of the skin, noticeable scarring, and an unnatural and pulled appearance.

Yes, a mini facelift or a traditional facelift (called a lower face-neck lift) can be combined with a brow lift, eyelid surgery,, laser resurfacing, or fat transfer.

Most patients will experience discomfort for one to four days, with the vast majority taking pain medications for only one or two days. The recovery after this procedure is easy to experience for most patients.

The best candidates for a mini facelift are patients from Newport Beach and the nearby communities who enjoy good general health and have a modest to moderate degree of laxity along the jawline. Most patients undergoing mini-facelifts are in their forties; however, some patients in their early fifties or late thirties may be ideal candidates. Those concerned about neck banding or seeking substantial improvement in the neck appearance are better served with a facelift or a procedure that we more accurately call a 'Lower Face-Neck Lift.'

Before surgery, you will meet with Dr. Miller and his staff. The pre-operative appointment is typically scheduled two weeks before the surgery date. A list of medications and supplements to avoid will be provided and discussed (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve, fish oil, and other medications and supplements.). An EKG and necessary laboratory studies will be performed. Also, helpful information about diet, exercise, and all the required prescriptions will be sent to the pharmacy. Additional preparations and expectations will be discussed during a consultation and pre-operative visit.