I’m not old enough for a facelift! How about a Mini-Facelift?
This is one of many reasons that patients ask about a Mini-Facelift. Here are some others along with Dr. Hubbard’s response.
I don’t want to have a full facelift and look unnatural: This is probably the most common conversation Dr. Hubbard has with patients during a facelift consultation. Most people remember the facelifts of their great aunt or Hollywood celebrities of the 1970s that look “fake and overdone”. Dr. Hubbard takes great care to provide his patients with the most natural look possible. A modern facelift is no longer performed by just tightening the skin. By utilizing additional techniques such as fat grafting and laser resurfacing, a much more natural result can be achieved by addressing all the signs of aging, not just loose skin. With advanced fat grafting techniques, there is no way to know that Dr. Hubbard’s patients have undergone this procedure. There is nothing that “looks fat”. The result is just natural contours.
Is fat grafting always done with a facelift? Of course, a patient may choose to not have fat grafting. But one should realize the results in experienced hands are so superior and natural looking that national plastic surgery meetings only feature prominent surgeons who include fat grafting with their facelift procedures.
I want a shorter recovery time: A Mini-Facelift does provide a shorter recovery time because there is usually less swelling and bruising. This allows patients to return to work and most normal activities sometimes in as little as a week to ten days, instead of 2-3 weeks with a full facelift.
I don’t want anyone to know I had surgery: Immediately after any facial procedure, there will be some swelling and bruising. Therefore, we provide guidance to patients to help set their expectations about how they will look and feel, when they can return to work or attend a special event. Following recovery, Dr. Hubbard hopes you will hear, “you look so refreshed, have you been on vacation?” or “you look great, did you change your hair?”
I prefer not to be under anesthesia: There are many patients who have this concern. Mini-facelifts can be done with local anesthesia and the vast majority of full facelifts can be done with IV sedation. Neither a full facelift nor a mini require general anesthesia. During your consultation, Dr. Hubbard will describe how we safely sedate and monitor patients during their procedure for those patients who prefer this method. You will feel confident that safety is the number priority at Hubbard Plastic Surgery and The Aesthetic Center, our fully accredited surgical facility.
I don’t want my appearance to change: Whether you have a Mini Facelift or a Full Facelift, the goal is to enhance your appearance, not change it. During your consultation with Dr. Hubbard, you will look in the mirror and at photos of your face and describe what you like about your appearance and what your concerns are. You may love your cheekbones and your skin texture, but maybe you think your neck is showing signs of wrinkling or your jowls are sagging. There are different procedures to address each concern and also to enhance what you already love. No two facelifts are performed the same.
How do I decide what is best for me? Having facial surgery is a very personal decision and only the patient can decide what will make them look and feel good while also considering recovery and results. Each patient has unique facial features and different goals for rejuvenation. This is the reason that you should consult with an extremely experienced and meticulous facial surgeon like Dr. Hubbard who will help you decide what procedure meets your needs and fits your lifestyle.