Choosing a Mini Face Lift

Mini and micro plastic surgeries are becoming more popular every day. Advances in technology are allowing for much less invasive surgical procedures that ever before. These surgeries have the benefit of requiring a drastically reduced recovery time compared to traditional plastic surgery, and a correspondingly lower cost making them much easier to afford. Of the newer micro surgeries, a mini face lift is one of the most popular procedures practiced.

There are many different reasons why people choose to have cosmetic surgery, but the single most often quoted reason is to boost self-confidence and stall the aging process. When you feel like you must look good to be successful, a mini face lift will help.

A mini face lift generally involves one of two procedures. One is the anterior mini face lift and the second is the posterior mini face lift. The posterior focuses on the neck and jawline area. The anterior mini face lift focuses on the lower eye lids, cheeck, and the mid-facial area. Depending on your consultation with your plastic surgeon, you may find that all you need are fillers rather than a mini face lift. Facial fillers help to smooth deep wrinkles and fill any hollow spots in the skin. If you have already had a full face lift, a mini may be right for you if you are looking for a touch up.

The procedures used in a mini face lift are conducted in the doctor's office under local anesthesia. They generally involve much smaller incisions as well as requiring smaller stitches. Many people consider the mini to be a weekend face lift as often you can go in on Friday for the procedure, stop by on Saturday for some follow ups, and return to work on Monday. This is much less than the two week recovery time required of a full face lift.

Is a Mini Face Lift Right for Me?

If you are looking for a touch up or to correct minor aging imperfections, the mini face lift may be right for you. The most successful candidates are those that are not expecting a totally new face from a less invasive surgery. The key to success is always in the treatment plan that the plastic surgeon you decide to work with recommends. The more realistic your expectations are, the more likely that you will feel happy with a mini face lift.

A complete face lift is generally considered to last approximately 10 to 15 years. The duration of a mini face lift is considered to be half that. Keep in mind, however, that just because it is a less invasive procedure, you are still having plastic surgery which has inherent risks associated with it. Always make sure you understand the risks involved in any elective procedure before agreeing to undergo surgery.

Finding a Qualified Surgeon to Perform a Mini Face Lift

It is always best when choosing a surgeon to find one who specializes and has performed numerous of the types of surgery that you are looking for.  When choosing a plastic surgeon for a mini face lift keep in mind the following things:

1. Find out about the surgeon's credentialing, background, education, training, any current certification, and how many times the specific procedure you are looking for has been done in your doctor's office.  Ask for references from other doctors and patients and follow up by contacting those references to discuss their experiences.
2. Examine any before and after photographs of previous patient who have been through various forms of plastic surgery.  While many doctors will only showcase their grand success stories, viewing photos can help you to create your own expectations based upon what has actually been done in the past.  You can also ask to be able to contact any people shown in a doctor's portfolio.
3. A picture is worth a thousand words.  If you have a photo of how you picture yourself after the surgery, such as from a younger time in your life, share this with your plastic surgeon so that he or she can inform you of how reasonable your expectations are as well as get a better idea for what you are looking for.
4. Make sure to ask about all the short and long term risks and impacts of the procedures that you are considering.  Often due to recovery times the results will not be immediately apparent, especially in more extensive plastic surgeries that involve swelling for months afterwards.  Make sure you understand the part of your treatment plan that details what you will need to do in order to maintain the results of your surgery.

Discuss with your doctor beforehand any concerns you have about how the procedure is to be performed, what types of equipment may be used, and how long the procedure is expected to last.  Understand all of the risks and possible consequences before you agree to any elective procedure.  If you don't understand, ask more questions!

Financing a Mini Face Lift

Because a mini face lift is an elective procedure, it generally isn't covered by any medical insurance you may have. The cost will depend upon your region of the country. Generally a mini face lift costs about half the price of a regular face lift - usually ranging from $1300 to $3000 depending on where you live. If you live on the West Coast or in the Northeast, you can expect to pay the upper range or more. Generally, the higher the cost of living where you are, the more the surgery will cost.

When financing your mini face lift you can do a few things. If you plan ahead, you can start a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) either through your employer or on your own. HSA's are considered pre-tax money which can save you at tax time! If you do not wish to set up an HSA and don't have the savings to pay up front for the surgery you elect, there are companies available online that specialize in financing only for medical procedures. Your loan terms will depend on your credit.