19 Dec 2024 | by Dr. Vickram Tandon
No one likes to look in the mirror and be dissatisfied. Facial aging is a given.
Certain lifestyle choice such as time spent outside in the sun, diet, hydration and
living in a big city like Boston can speed up the process, but Father Time
eventually finds us all. Deciding whether or not facial rejuvenation is right for you
is personal. There is also no one size fits all treatment plan. In general, patients
who come in to see me to discuss a facelift are tired of the disconnect between how
young they feel on the inside and their outer reflection. In the last few years,
however, I’ve seen an uptick in patients who are not quite ready for a full facelift,
but are tired of the ongoing maintenance with injectables, for example. This is why
I am so excited to be able to offer them the option of a mini facelift.
What is a Mini Facelift?
As the name implies, a mini facelift is a less invasive version of a traditional
facelift. While the placement of the sutures is the same for both surgeries, behind
and within the ear, the incision required for a mini facelift is shorter so most
patients experience a much faster recovery. I have had patients go back to work as
quickly as 48 hours post-op. Typically, however, I advise taking it easy for at least
a week until all the sutures are removed. The reason for this faster turnaround is
that, with a mini facelift, the focus of rejuvenation is on a smaller area. Generally, I
am looking to improve the appearance of:
• Mild “jowling”
• Sagging in the mid-face/cheeks
This is different from a traditional facelift where I am addressing more areas of
concern.
Ideal Candidate for a Mini Facelift
Since the trade-off of a less invasive procedure is more limited rejuvenation, the
ideal candidate for a mini facelift has more robust skin and tissues, less sagging
and often skews younger. Generally, this can be any man or woman in:
• Mid-30’s to early 60’s
• Good overall health
• Non smoker
• Within 10 lbs. of a maintainable goal weight
• Practices good skincare
Social Media & the Mini Facelift in Boston
Social media seems to be a driving force behind the increase in mini facelift
requests. I think the reason is multi-faceted. Patients today spend considerable time
looking at themselves on screens for both work and play, making them extremely
aware of how they look. This is not always good as a computer camera can distort
your image and create body dysmorphia. I will spend considerable time during
your initial consultation going over what bothers you about your appearance and
why in order to ensure that your reasoning is sound.
On the positive side, the world wide web has allowed potential patients to become
much more educated about their facial rejuvenation options, including the mini
facelift. Furthermore, social media has really helped to alleviate the stigma that
used to surround any kind of intervention, particularly surgery. Younger patients
don’t seem to be embarrassed about telling others that they had “work” done.
Since my job is to deliver a totally natural looking result, I will leave it up to you
how to answer the inevitable post-op question: “Did you just get back from
vacation?”.
To find out more about a mini-facelift, or any other surgical or non-surgical
procedure with Dr. Vickram Tandon at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery,
contact us today or call 617-402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
