Question:
There seem to be many different procedures referred to as mini facelifts. What are the available options for less invasive/mini facelift procedures and are some better than others?
Answer:
You are correct in your observations with regards to the number of procedures referred to as mini facelifts. I know of two approaches that I consider mini facelift surgery.
The first and most popularized is also called a MACS lift. The MACS lift procedure elevates the skin of the face and then uses permanent sutures to elevate the tissue layer beneath the skin to reposition the skin of the face in an upward direction, thus, decreasing facial wrinkling and jowling.
The second approach pulls this same tissue layer beneath the skin after the tissue layer is dissected free from the remainder of the face. The mini facelift is appropriate for younger individuals who have laxity of the jowls and lower face. The mini facelift is not very effective for moderate or significant neck skin laxity. The mini facelift does have a more rapid recovery than a full facelift procedure.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld