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Limited Incision Lower Facelift

Our doctors personalize each facelift at the Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas, to match the needs of the patient. The mini facelift, which is also referred to as a limited incision facelift, is a modern procedure that our surgeons may perform in place of the traditional full lower facelift. For some patients, the surgeon can use this less invasive, technically advanced technique to lift and beautify the lower section of the face. Our surgeons have years of experience performing the mini facelift procedure in Austin, TX. Therefore, patients receive outstanding results, including a minimal recovery period and limited, well-concealed incisions. The limited incision facelift is the answer that many individuals desire as they seek to achieve tighter, lifted skin with minimal scarring.

Mini Facelift Before & After

*Each patient is unique, and individual results may vary.

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The Mini Facelift Procedure

Our doctors create personalized facelifts to provide each patient with natural-looking results, preventing the traditional, windswept, unnatural appearance that was common after surgery in the ’80s and ’90s. Our surgeons offer modern, proven techniques. These techniques provide patients with outstanding results and require very little recovery time. In addition, our surgeons use their experience and skill to place the incisions in areas where they can easily be camouflaged. For example, during a limited incision facelift, the anterior neck is not opened. The limited incision or mini facelift is an aesthetic procedure that beautifies the lower face, including the jawline, neck, and the area running from the corner of the mouth to the upper ear.

Our surgeons adjust each facelift procedure to match the patient’s needs and desires. The surgeon may recommend the limited incision facelift or mini facelift to patients who want minimal scarring and a faster recovery. The surgeon creates all limited incision facelift incisions in the area around the ears and hairline. There is no need to create an incision on the anterior neck. As such, the post-surgical swelling and bruising remain in the lateral neck and around the ears. Therefore, patients who have medium to long hair can completely hide the sutures, swelling, and bruising. Even though there is no incision under the chin and the anterior neck is not directly worked on, this procedure still provides significant neck improvement for the appropriate patient. 

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The Mini Facelift Technique

The limited incision facelift procedure is recommended for patients with limited neck banding and thinner necks. Our surgeons tailor each procedure to match the patient’s needs. Even patients with moderate to severe jowls benefit from the limited incision facelift because the Submuscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) is still being lifted and repositioned the same as it is in a larger, more invasive lift. However, patients with heavy faces and significant signs of aging achieve more substantial benefits with a traditional lower facelift, which combines lifting the SMAS with anterior neck work, including neck liposuction with platysmaplasty. 

In either procedure, our surgeons utilize patient-specific techniques to reposition the SMAS, which may include a high SMAS technique or deep plane facelift technique. With these techniques, the SMAS is repositioned in a completely superior vector and secured to deep tissue over the cheekbone, providing a more significant, secure, and long-lasting result. During the consultation, our surgeon examines the patient. The surgeon then recommends the best facelift options for the patient’s skin type, needs, and desires.

Limited Incision Lift vs Facelift

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What Does "Mini" Really Mean? 

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Why Choose The Buckingham Center For Facial Plastic Surgery?

The Buckingham Center proudly offers a comprehensive experience featuring three fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons with over two decades of expertise in Austin. Within our accredited surgical facility, we ensure a top-tier journey. As Austin's leading facial specialists, our science-based approach guarantees scientifically proven results. We prioritize your safety with the highest care standards while fostering lasting patient relationships. From your initial consultation to the day you celebrate your rejuvenated look, our dedicated and compassionate team creates an inviting and cheerful atmosphere throughout your entire journey.

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What To Expect During A Mini Facelift

Facelift surgery is customized for each patient depending on the amount of sagging skin, muscle banding, and deposits of fat. The limited incision facelift is usually performed in the office operating suite with light oral sedation, which includes a relaxing medication taken by mouth, and local, injectable anesthesia. If desired by the patient, IV sedation is also an option.

A hidden incision is then formed around the ears, exposing the Submuscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS), which is linked to the superficial platysma muscle that covers the lower face and neck. The SMAS is then incised using various patient-tailored techniques and then elevated off the deeper facial structures to release the tissues, allowing maximal lift. 

The SMAS is then secured in a vertical direction to the deep fixed tissue layers. Once the layers are tightened, the surgeon removes just enough of the excess skin to allow the edges to lie together without creating tension. Beautiful skin with minimal postoperative scars is achieved with the mini facelift. 

The mini facelift surgical dissection and recovery are limited, yet the procedure produces remarkable results as the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) is still undermined and tightened in this procedure.

Limited Incision Facelift Expectations

The limited incision or mini facelift in Austin, TX refreshes and rejuvenates the lower face and involves only minimal scarring and a short recovery period. Additional cosmetic procedures are not required but may help enhance the refreshed look the surgeon achieves with the mini facelift. During the consultation, our surgeon provides the patient with before and after photos to view. There are numerous photos available in our photo gallery.

The limited incision mini facelift results will include the following:

  • Elevated facial skin
  • Reduced wrinkles
  • Tightened and redefined jawline
  • Lifted jowls
  • Lifted neck skin
  • Reduced neck banding and lines
  • Tightened skin and removal of hanging skin from the lower face
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Mini Facelift Surgical Recovery

Recovery time after a mini facelift is shorter than the traditional facelift. A light dressing is worn on the first night after the surgery and removed on post-op day one. The sutures are removed in approximately one week, and bruising is typically resolved in the first 7-10 days as well. Many patients resume social activities within a week after the surgery. Improvements to the incisions and a reduction in swelling will continue to be experienced daily. Residual swelling and some areas of minor firmness, which are noticeable upon close inspection, could be experienced but will improve significantly within a short period.

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Facelift Consultation

Our surgeons believe that a truly successful surgery requires having a good rapport with the patient. The relationship between the surgeon and patient is established and maintained during the consultation and each subsequent visit. During your initial limited incision facelift consultation in Austin, TX at The Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, our patient care coordinator will introduce you to the practice and will explain the facelift process. One of our surgeons reviews your medical history. Following this review, the doctor listens to your aesthetic goals and will examine you to determine what procedure will address your concerns. Our surgeon shares before and after photos that display former mini facelift patients who had similar goals and interests. After your consultation is complete, you will receive a written quote and treatment recommendations, along with an option to select a surgery date.

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The Ideal Limited Incision Facelift Candidate

Ideal candidates for a mini facelift in Austin, TX at Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery are in good mental and physical health and are nonsmokers with realistic and healthy surgical expectations. The procedure is best for individuals with minimal to moderate neck laxity but without significant platysmal banding and thin necks. Jowling can be moderate in nature, and the limited/mini facelift procedure is still indicated. Generally, younger patients undergo the mini facelift. Patients with more significant signs of aging typically benefit from a full or deep plane facelift. However, the ultimate decision is based more on facial anatomy than age, and a full range of ages may or may not be well suited. During the initial consultation, the doctor determines the patient’s candidacy for a limited incision facelift.

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Mini Facelift Cost

The cost of a mini facelift depends on the details of the procedure because each treatment is personalized to match the unique needs of the patient. The Buckingham Center’s surgeons and staff never pressure a patient into having a procedure. Furthermore, we work with each patient’s budget to accomplish their desired results when possible. Financing packages are available. At The Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, we do our best to keep the limited incision facelift procedure affordable.

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Mini Facelift FAQ

What Is a Limited Incision Facelift?

Where Is the Limited Incision Facelift Performed?

What Type of Anesthesia Is Used During a Mini Facelift?

How Long Is the Facelift Surgery?

Where Are the Facelift Incisions?

What Must I Do to Prepare for a Limited Incision Facelift?

Is Mini Facelift Surgery Painful?

Do Limited Incision Facelifts Result in Permanent Scarring?

When Are Patients Released to Return to Work?

Does a Mini Facelift Have Risks?

What Is a Limited Incision Facelift?

There are variations to the lower facelift that are used to lift, smooth, and remove excess skin. The mini facelift requires the shortest recovery period and uses incisions that are easily hidden to improve the appearance of aging skin. It is tailored to match each patient’s desired results. The limited incision facelift is a less invasive facelift that benefits patients who have limited banding or a thin neck.

Where Is the Limited Incision Facelift Performed?

Our surgeons perform mini facelift surgeries in our fully accredited outpatient surgical facility at The Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas.

What Type of Anesthesia Is Used During a Mini Facelift?

The mini facelift procedure is usually performed under a combination of light oral sedation and local anesthesia, however MD administered IV sedation is also an option. Your surgeon will discuss during your consultation the type of sedation you will receive during the customized limited incision facelift.

How Long Is the Facelift Surgery?

The mini lift takes from two to three hours.

Where Are the Facelift Incisions?

The limited incision facelift incisions are hidden around the ears and in the hairline. Each incision is positioned to provide invisibility after the incision has healed. Patients can usually wear their hair in any style without revealing the incisions. We encourage each patient to review before and after photos to visualize the incisions.

What Must I Do to Prepare for a Limited Incision Facelift?

If you are currently smoking, you will need to stop smoking at least two weeks before your surgery. You will also be given a list of all prescription, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products that you will need to stop taking before the surgery.

Is Mini Facelift Surgery Painful?

Local anesthesia and oral sedation are used during the surgery, and the surgery itself is not painful at all. Some patients have mild recollection of the local anesthetic injections, but the discomfort is minimal. For highly anxious patients, IV sedation is also available. Most patients only experience mild postoperative pain that can be treated with extra-strength Tylenol for one or two days. If necessary, your surgeon can prescribe pain medication.

Do Limited Incision Facelifts Result in Permanent Scarring?

Mini facelift incisions are hidden around the ear and within the hairline. Technically, there are scars, but they are usually completely hidden and barely perceptible except to very close inspection.

When Are Patients Released to Return to Work?

Most patients return to working at least a partial day of non-physical work after only three to four days. Two weeks will be the recommended timeframe if you desire to keep the surgery a secret from your coworkers.

Does a Mini Facelift Have Risks?

All surgery has some risks. The mini facelift risks are minimal and rarely occur, but may include post-operative bleeding, which may lead to more bruising and swelling but is not life-threatening, visible scarring, infection, and sensory or motor nerve injury. Your surgeon reviews all possible risks with you during your consultation.

Schedule Your Mini Lift Consultation In Austin Today

Our surgeons perform limited-incision facelifts to give each patient the refreshed, more youthful-looking appearance they desire. To learn more about a mini facelift at The Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas, call 512-401-2500 to request a consultation.
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