Various terms have been used for mini-facelifts, and recently some marketing companies have taken variations of the procedure and have given them proprietary names. This has created a great deal of confusion surrounding these procedures. Some of these procedures seen on TV are not even surgical, and produce subtle changes that may only last for a few months. Some practices/clinics are even advertising a “30 minute facelift”.
In reality, a safe and effective facelift procedure, even the “mini” variety, cannot possibly be performed in less than an hour.
When the board certified and board eligible surgeons at Edina Plastic Surgery perform a mini-facelift, the surgeons spend at least 30 minutes simply placing the closing sutures, ensuring that we are obtaining the best possible result. After all, the patient will live with the result we achieve for many years, and they deserve the time and effort needed to have this done properly to get a fantastic result. A typical mini-facelift procedure that we perform will take about two hours to complete, and if other procedures are included, such as a brow lift or eyelid lift, more time will be added. It’s important to be aware that not all procedures, or practitioners, are equal and you do not want to be comparing apples to oranges.
In contrast to the mini-facelift, the classic facelift takes longer to perform and is usually done under a general anesthesia. The procedure requires a longer scar that extends from the temporal hairline and along the front of the ear as in the mini-lift, and then continues behind the ear and into the posterior hair-bearing scalp. A more aggressive elevation of the tissues in the face and neck is performed. Often, brow lifts or eyelid lifts are performed at the same time, which also adds to the operative time, cost and recovery.
