The term “mini facelift” is a non-specific term that should not be used when discussing facial rejuvenation. There is no specific procedure called a “mini facelift”; it means different things to different surgeons and patients. For example, some may think that a “mini facelift” implies shorter incisions, lifting only the skin, lifting skin and muscle, placing superficial sutures in the muscle layer, performing the procedure awake, performing the procedure with intravenous sedation, lifting the eyebrows or midface endoscopically with minimal incisions behind the hairline, using injectable fillers to “lift” the face, etc. There is no consistency to this term, and it should be discarded in Dr. Agarwal’s opinion.
It is much more important to focus on which areas of the face are being lifted. It is also an error to assume that every face needs every part of the face to be lifted in order to have a harmonious result. The fact is that genetics, skin care, sun damage, weight gain/loss, behaviors such as smoking, and a multitude of other factors influence how each individual ages. There are individuals with minimal signs of aging of the forehead, eyelid, and upper cheeks, who have aging stigmata visible only along the jawline and neck. There are also patients who may have very low eyebrows genetically at an early age, with no signs of aging of the cheeks, jawline, or neck. Does this mean that every patient needs every part of the face lifted? Absolutely not. The approach must be customized for each individual to ensure a natural, rejuvenated post-operative appearance.
At Aesthetic Surgery Center in Naples, FL, Dr. Anurag Agarwal, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, developed the Uplift™ lower face and neck lift as his approach to lift the lower cheek, jowls, and neck, working at the deep plane level and preserving skin to muscle attachments. This relies on release of attachments of the muscle layer to underlying structures, allowing the muscle layer to glide upwards without tension and bring overlying skin and facial fat pads with it. When the eyebrows must be lifted, Dr. Agarwal utilizes the Endoscopic minimal-incision brow lift technique. For those seeking maximal vertical suspension of the upper cheeks, Dr. Agarwal adds the Endoscopic Midface lift to the procedure, lifting in a separate, even deeper plane.
Five Things to Know Before Choosing a Facelift
Facelift surgery is a personal decision, and the right procedure depends on what is actually happening in the face and neck. The following points can help frame the conversation before a consultation.
- A mini facelift is a generic, non-specific term that should not be used. Unfortunately, it is a term often used to draw patients in because it sounds benign, but then the surgeon performs more than the patient is expecting. Vice versa, sometimes a “mini facelift” means minimal surgery, which translates to a “Mini Result”.
- An individual consultation is the only way for a board-certified facial plastic surgeon to examine a patient’s unique anatomy, discuss their goals, and evaluate how the aging process has affected that specific patient. Then only can the appropriate type of facelift can be recommended, whether it involves an Endoscopic brow lift, Endoscopic Midface lift, and/or deep plane UpliftTM procedure targeting the lower cheek, jawline and neck.
- Recovery time after an UpliftTM face and neck lift is not prolonged.
- A deep plane UpliftTM procedure does not always require lengthy incisions. Depending on the direction the face is being lifted in and the patient’s baseline skin laxity, the incision may start in the sideburn, extend around the ear, and then end behind the earlobe. Or it may extend up the back of the ear and into the hair behind the ear. Do not let terms such as “short scar” or “S lift” fool you. What matters is how the tissues under the skin are being lifted.
- The end goal is important, not only in terms of the immediate post-operative result, but how the result ages with you over the rest of your life. While the aging clock cannot be halted, you will forever look younger than your chronologic age after a properly performed facelift procedure.
The UpLift™ Before & After Photos
* Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
What Happens at a Facelift Consultation in Naples, FL
During a consultation at Aesthetic Surgery Center, Dr. Agarwal examines your facial structure, skin quality, and areas of concern. He uses a three-way mirror to demonstrate proposed changes and discusses which approach (or combination of approaches) will best meet the patient’s goals. The consultation also covers medical history, current medications, the type of anesthesia administered, and what to expect during recovery.
The Uplift™ face and neck lift is an outpatient surgery performed under deep intravenous sedation (which is the lightest form of general anesthesia) at the practice’s AAAASF-accredited surgical facility. Our patients are carefully monitored throughout the procedure; no inhalation gases or paralytic agents are required, thereby minimizing post-anesthesia recovery time. The procedure takes approximately three to four hours, depending on whether it’s a revision, submandibular gland reduction is needed, or platysma muscle surgery under the chin is required. Patients who are traveling to Naples for the procedure should plan to remain in town for at least ten days, though two weeks is preferred.
Contact Aesthetic Surgery Center at 239-594-9100 to schedule a consultation.