Mini Facelift

A mini facelift, sometimes called a jawline lift or lower facelift, tightens the skin and addresses mild laxity in the lower face for a smoother appearance. Unlike a traditional facelift that removes a significant amount of excess skin, a mini facelift is a more conservative procedure that makes smaller adjustments for a more natural look. As you age, it is common to experience sagging jowls, volume loss, and age-related changes to your skin. Sun damage can cause hyperpigmentation, melasma, and age spots, increasing your perceived age and self-esteem.

We can lift the skin and tighten it during a mini facelift for subtle but impactful adjustments.

At Plastische Chirurgie am Klosterstern, Dr. Dalia Tobbia has helped thousands of patients address signs of aging with personalized procedures designed to improve their proportions for lasting results. With both her face and body procedures, she takes an artistic approach to help you rebalance your features. Her mini facelift includes a specialized technique to sculpt the jawline for a smoother, more balanced look.

Contact our Hamburg office online or call +49 40 46 091 076 to learn more about how a mini facelift can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

About Mini Facelift

As you age and your skin loses proteins (collagen and elastin) that help it maintain its structure, it is common to experience fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity that affect your appearance. Gravity, sun exposure, and diet can impact the skin’s texture and quality. Ultraviolet light exposure contributes to up to 80% of skin aging ⁽¹⁾ and can alter the structure of your skin’s fibroblasts–cells that create collagen and elastin proteins. (²) A mini facelift is one of the most effective ways to address signs of facial aging. Specialists performed more than 78,000 facelifts in 2023, and mini facelifts offer the right balance for patients who need minor adjustments. (³⁾

Mini vs Traditional Facelift

A mini facelift addresses mild to moderately sagging skin for a smoother appearance and minimal recovery time. With a traditional facelift, we can address more severe signs of aging with slightly longer incisions to remove more excess skin. During a mini facelift, Dr. Tobbia can tighten the skin and the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer–connective tissue located beneath the cheekbones.

Aging can cause the underlying facial muscles to atrophy, and tightening them with adjustments to the SMAS layer is an effective way to subtly lift the skin and address signs of aging for a more youthful-looking appearance and minimal downtime. The incision in a mini facelift is much smaller and very easy to conceal since it is tucked behind the ear, unlike the typical incision for a traditional facelift that leaves a longer scar.

Benefits

There are several benefits to a mini facelift, including:

Candidates

Suitable candidates for a mini facelift are struggling with signs of facial aging, such as:

If you are in good overall health and have realistic expectations, you are likely a good candidate for a mini facelift. Most patients are between the ages of 30 and 60, but age is not a determining factor for these procedures. If you have additional aesthetic goals, you must discuss them in depth to help Dr. Tobbia customize your treatment plan for your needs. We can recommend several additional procedures combined with a mini facelift to improve your appearance.

Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Tobbia will ask about your aesthetic goals, medical history, lifestyle, and current medications. She will also examine your skin to determine the best treatment plan. If you have severe signs of facial aging, she may also recommend a full facelift to help you address it.

If you have a health condition that could affect the appearance of your skin or your ability to receive anesthesia, she can recommend a different treatment plan.

Preparation

To prepare for a mini facelift, you must avoid medications and supplements that thin your blood for approximately 2 weeks. You will also need to stop smoking and/or using nicotine products for approximately 6 weeks before and after your procedure. We recommend that you fill your prescriptions preemptively and arrange for someone to care for you for 24-48 hours after your procedure. You should also avoid excessive sun, which could damage your skin, and reschedule any medspa treatments that could affect the quality of your skin.

Procedure

During your procedure, we will cleanse your skin and place you under anesthesia. Although most patients can receive a local anesthetic with sedation, we can discuss the best options for your procedure during your consultation.

Dr. Tobbia will make a thin incision, usually behind the ears, to tighten the skin and access the underlying SMAS layer. She also calls this procedure a “jawline lift” because of how it results in a more defined jawline. After adjusting for a subtly lifted and smoother appearance, she will suture your incisions. Our team will monitor you in our recovery room until you wake up. A mini facelift usually takes 2-4 hours, depending on the condition of your skin and your treatment’s complexity.

Recovery

Recovering from a mini facelift requires minimal downtime, but you must properly care for your skin to help your incisions heal. You must keep your head elevated and avoid bending over with your head below your knees. If you experience discomfort or swelling, you can easily manage it with a cold compress or medication.

Most patients can return to work after 1-2 weeks, and Dr. Tobbia will let you know if you are cleared to return. After removing your dressings, you must avoid excessive sun exposure and protect your skin from damage with sunscreen, as the sun can cause your incisions to scar.

Results

After a few weeks, you can enjoy smoother, firmer skin if you take good care of yourself. With proper skin care, you can enjoy results for several years.

Many patients notice that their jawline is more defined after tightening the skin on the lower face. Since the procedure is customizable, Dr. Tobbia can create a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your unique aesthetic goals. We can strategically sculpt your jawline to help you achieve a slimmer, more defined jawline.

Face and Neck Lift

If you have loose skin on the neck or muscle banding, we can reduce it by combining your mini facelift with a neck lift. A neck lift tightens sagging skin on the neck, which can be caused by aging, stress, pollution, sun exposure, or diet.

The procedure also helps define your jawline for a slimmer, more sculpted appearance. Neck banding, colloquially known in the United States as a “turkey neck,” occurs when the neck muscles become thicker with age. With discreet incisions, we can reduce this by removing excess tissue, helping you achieve a smoother, more elegant neck. We can also significantly reduce neck wrinkles and laxity for a smoother appearance.

To learn more about a neck lift, see the blog!

The Cost of a Mini Facelift in Hamburg

The cost of a mini facelift depends on your treatment plan and the starting condition of your skin. During your consultation, we can provide an all-inclusive quote based on your aesthetic goals and any additional procedures you may need to achieve them.

Do not hesitate to transform your appearance when a simple procedure can help you achieve lasting results. Contact our Hamburg office online or call +49 40 46 091 076 to learn more about how a mini facelift can enhance your complexion for lasting results.

FAQ

References

1. Flament F, Bazin R, Rubert V, Simonpietri E, Piot B, Laquieze S. Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology. 2013;6:221. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s44686
2. Chaudhary M, Khan A, Gupta M. Skin Ageing: Pathophysiology and Current Market Treatment Approaches. Current Alzheimer Research. 2019;16(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205016666190809161115
3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
4. Hatan Mortada, Najla Alkilani, Halawani IR, et al. Evolution of Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System Facelift Techniques: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Complications and Outcomes. JPRAS Open. Published online June 1, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2023.06.003