Although it was one of the original cosmetic surgeries, the facelift has really been transformed since the turn of the new century. The focus has changed from pulling and stretching skin to addressing the underlying support tissues. By elevating these tissues, experienced board-certified plastic surgeons such as Dr. Barrera can deliver truly natural looking rejuvenation for patients. 

There are also a variety of options for today’s facelifts, targeting different areas that match patient needs. One of those is the mini facelift. This more limited facelift has become quite popular here in Houston and across the country. 

Dr. Barrera feels the mini facelift is an excellent procedure for mild facial aging that involves skin laxity. Because of its more limited goals and scope, a mini facelift requires shorter incisions and makes for an easier recovery when compared with a traditional facelift. 

Dr. Barrera, who is double board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, has extensive experience and expertise when it comes to various methods of performing facelifts, including mini facelifts. When considering the procedure, you should weigh its benefits and limitations. 

Benefits of a mini facelift 

A full facelift is a very invasive procedure that creates some extensive swelling and bruising. The recovery is involved. In contrast, for a mini facelift Dr. Barrera uses shorter incisions and manipulates underlying tissue to a lesser degree. This makes for less tissue trauma and bruising, and an easier recovery. Of course, as with every surgery, Dr. Barrera treats each patient’s needs as unique, so your mini facelift won’t be exactly like another patient’s. The overall goal, however, is a combination of nice results and less downtime. 

A mini facelift also gives the patient a refreshed look that isn’t overly noticeable. A full facelift delivers fairly dramatic changes in wrinkling and skin sagging and it’s pretty obvious to others that the patient, while looking great, still has had a facelift. A mini facelift delivers subtle changes that others will notice, but they won’t be able to put their finger on why you look younger. 

When considering what to do, it helps to understand the goals of a mini facelift. Dr. Barrera seeks to tighten and lift the cheek and jawline skin in a mini facelift. He also reduces the skin “overhang” at the nasolabial fold. A mini facelift is great for patients who have previously had a full facelift and have had the deeper tissues repositioned to eliminate the drooping that comes with aging. The mini facelift can maintain those results and “refresh” your appearance. 

Disadvantages to a mini facelift 

Everyone wants the procedure that does the most and is at the same time the least invasive. But when considering a mini facelift, you need to weigh its limitations. 

First, because it targets mainly the cheek area, if you have serious laxity on your neck and a loss of jawline definition a mini facelift won’t help. It doesn’t target the neck area. A more classical facelift with a focus on direct neck tightening would be better. 

Some people assume they can possibly have repeated mini facelifts to achieve the results of a full facelift. But, again, this doesn’t address the sagging deeper tissues. 

If you want to look refreshed, but don’t need lots of deep tissue maintenance, a mini facelift with Dr. Barrera could be a great procedure. Call us at (713) 468-5200 to set up a consultation.