Is a Mini Facelift Worth It?

If you’re looking for a mini facelift in New York, you know how hard it might be to choose between so many well-qualified plastic surgeons. After all, Park Avenue is a true Mecca of plastic surgery, and some of the best facelift surgeons in the world practice their craft here in NYC.  

Since most busy New Yorkers don’t have the time to become facelift experts themselves, it is best to leave some of your mini facelift decisions in the hands of the professionals. However, there are some things you should know about facelifts in order to get the most out of your procedure.

If you are trying to decide between a mini and a full facelift, knowing the advantages and limitations of each could make the difference between experiencing great results and merely good ones. 

I have devoted my entire practice to the rejuvenation of the face and neck, and mini facelifts are one of my most common procedures. It’s important to note that there is no substitute for an in-person consultation when it comes to cosmetic treatment, but after reading this I hope you feel both confident and informed whenever you do decide to take the next step toward your rejuvenation goals. 

What’s the best age to get a mini facelift and what are its limitations?

The best candidate for minimally invasive facial rejuvenation is typically in their 30s or 40s. That’s because the mini facelift is primarily designed to improve the contour of the jawline, and this will have the greatest effect in the early stages of facial aging.

Getting a mini facelift in NYC might seem like the trendy thing to do, but it’s crucial to understand that it’s not a procedure that works for everyone. A mini facelift can have wonderful effects, and it’s true that more and more people are having it done, but the best candidate for this procedure is usually someone with earlier signs of aging. You can learn more about who is a good candidate for a mini facelift in this related blog post.

What happens if someone who would actually benefit from a full facelift gets a mini lift instead?  Well, you don’t have to go far for examples. There are many people on the internet who are quite disappointed with the results of their facial rejuvenation procedure, citing that their results only lasted a few months before the sagging came back. This is a typical scenario where someone underwent a mini facelift when a more extensive procedure was needed.  

Another limitation of the mini facelift is the potential need for another facelift in the future.  Since a mini facelift is typically done at a younger age, one would expect to have some aging changes by the time they’re in their 50s or 60s, at which point another facelift may be performed.  

What’s more, a mini facelift is really only designed to deal with the jowl area of the face, and not the sagging cheeks. So if a patient would like to have their whole face rejuvenated, they’re going to need a full facelift and not just a mini. 

Are mini facelifts worth it?

If a patient is still in the earlier stages of aging, and primarily concerned with jowling, a mini facelift might just be the ideal cosmetic treatment for them. One of the most appealing aspects of the mini facelift is that it’s very effective at treating early aging in a minimally invasive fashion. You can see some of our patients’ mini facelift results in our before-and-after photos to get an idea of the type of results a mini facelift can achieve.

As opposed to a full facelift, the incisions of a mini facelift are shorter and therefore less noticeable. Shorter incisions mean less surgery, and less surgery means shorter recovery time.

And finally, a mini facelift is also considerably cheaper than a full facelift. Cost is a factor in many patients’ decisions, and that’s a perfectly fine reason to consider a mini facelift over another procedure, as long as it also makes sense with regards to one’s facial rejuvenation needs and goals. 

If you’re interested in facial plastic surgery in Manhattan, visit my Upper East Side office and find out if it’s really the right procedure for you. We’re here and happy to answer any questions that you may have. Call us at (212) 380-3634 or use our online contact form to request a consultation with me, a facial rejuvenation specialist and double board-certified facial plastic surgeon.