Facelift: A Shorter Recovery Option

The effects of aging are felt particularly intensely on the skin of the neck and face. Sun and wind damage added in with diet and overall health can leave these areas wrinkled and sagging. Previously, the options for repair were rather limited.

Cosmetic companies have always sold anti-aging creams and washes. These promise amazing results that are rarely fulfilled. The other option was expensive and painful surgery. This often required extensive time under anesthesia and extensive downtime for recovery. Neither of these were particularly appealing but they were the only viable choices. Well now, there is a new procedure called a mini-suture facelift. This uses far smaller incisions and nearly zero downtime. In fact the advantages are many.

First of all this type of facelift requires only two small incisions. One is placed in front and one behind the earlobe. From there rather than tightening and suturing the skin, it is in fact the muscle beneath that is lifted. Then the excess flesh is removed leaving a smooth and nearly imperceptible procedure. In this way the results last longer and there is no puckering at the operation site and a nearly invisible scar. Because the muscle is the site of the operation there are none of the strings or barbs to show through or irritate the patient. Generally speaking the procedure is far simpler and less invasive.

The real benefits of a mini-suture facelift are that it virtually eliminates downtime, the results are immediate, and there is minimal discomfort. Because the incisions are near the ear there is no need to shave off any hair. This means no hair loss and as such no need to hide the hair loss to be discrete. In addition, because of the tiny incisions there is minimal swelling or bruising. That means that the patient will only need about a week to heal completely instead of the typical two weeks. Additionally, because of how minimally invasive the procedure is it can be performed under local anesthetic which saves both time and money and is incredibly less dangerous.

While there are many benefits to getting this type of facelift it is not the right choice for every patient. It is most effective on people who have minor aging and who maintain a generally healthy lifestyle. This means that while it may be safer for people who smoke than other traditional facelift operations it still is not recommended. It also means that there is a basic level of healthiness that must be maintained to see maximum results. While this surgery lasts a long time, typically 5-10 years without revision, it will not prevent future damage caused by weight gain and simple aging. The best way to know if one is an apt candidate is to consult a surgeon and schedule a consultation. They may recommend this or something else but they will no best what is most appropriate for each individual situation.