THE MINI FACELIFT – dentrocasa magazine, October 2012

It is not clear what is meant by a “mini lift”: some authors mean a rhytidoplasty, localised to a single area of ​​the face, such as the temporal region or the midface area or only the areas of the neck and of the mandibular margin; other specialists use the term “mini” to mean a minimally invasive procedure or with reduced cutaneous disconnection.
With regard to this topic, patients often ask what age a facelift should be done, but it is clear how difficult it is to answer this question. The “need” to have a facelift is born and matures in a  patient who is no longer in harmony with his/her physical appearance and in particular with his/her own face. Someone involved in the world of entertainment is more predisposed to request facial rejuvenation procedures even at a young age and several times during their working life; the subject who will not tolerate ageing will consider rhytidoplasty at a later age differently from those who want to preserve a youthful appearance and plan small procedures extended over time.
In mature age, many people complain about the progressive decline in the definition of the oval of the face. Due to gravity and reduction in tone, the skin tends to go downwards, accentuating the nasolabial furrows and the so-called marionette lines and creating a discontinuity of the mandibular line between the chin region and that of the mandibular extension. At the same time, skin folds are structured at the level of the neck produced by the collapse of the mimic muscles. The first approach is to find a solution in aesthetic medicine using fillers to fill the grooves or midface area, radiofrequency to increase skin tone or lipofilling or suspension threads for the most demanding cases.
When all this is not enough, the scalpel is used. When to choose a mini lift instead of a traditional facelift? When a substantial rejuvenation is desired, maintaining physiognomy, perhaps with a contained trauma. The ideal candidate is a middle-aged patient who perceives a sense of disharmony between his/her own face and his/her perceived youthful image.
Through an incision in front and/or behind the auricle, the skin tissues are broken down and the mimic muscles are tensioned before sacrificing the excess skin and suturing is performed. The limits of the mini lift are related to the lower potential of traction compared to a traditional procedure and it is precisely for this reason that is indicated in average ageing cases of the face where the patient wants to preserve their physiognomic characteristics. In fact, those who face a minimally invasive procedure are likely to undergo a similar treatment after fifteen years if they still want to renew their appearance. Another limit to consider is the presence of scars close to the auricle which will have to be disguised in the first months. A mini face and neck lift is performed in a day hospital setting under local anaesthesia supported by a mild sedation to put the patient at ease.