What is a facelift?
A facelift, by definition, does not actually include your entire face, Dr. Jeff Popp said.
“It’s really the lower third of your face and your neck. It doesn’t do anything from the cheeks up.”
He said facelifts generally address neck waddles, loose skin and jowls.
How about a mini facelift?
While a mini facelift does cover the lower third of the face, it primarily addresses the jowls. It doesn’t do much to the neck.
Do people combine other procedures with facelifts?
The answer is different for each person, Dr. Popp said. It’s simply not standard from one patient to the next.
“I’ve seen many other areas thrown in with it, but the most common additional procedure is the eyelids.”
Age is a factor
The standard facelift is definitely more popular than the mini facelift. Interestingly, the one you choose may have more to do with age than anything else.
The mini facelift is more appealing to a younger person, Dr. Popp said, someone whose neck is in pretty good shape but may start to show a little jowling.
“The facelift would be a more likely choice for someone older who has both neck laxity and jowls,” he said.
How the lift is achieved
Both types of facelift re-suspend the layer of tissue below the skin called the superficial muscular aponeurotic system or SMAS.
“Think of it as a fatty, muscular fibrous layer below the skin. Part of that is what’s actually lifted and suspended higher up,” Dr. Popp said. “The SMAS continues into the neck area as well.
Popular during the winter
Facelifts are popular right now. Patients tend to get them in winter months because the incisions are easier to hide.
For facelifts, the incisions are in front of and behind a patient’s ears as well as under the chin. Those who get mini facelifts have incisions just in front and behind the ears. No chin incision.
“These are both easy areas to hide,” Dr. Popp said. “Women who wear their hair longer can easily cover these areas.”
Healing time isn’t long
The total healing time is approximately two to four weeks. But Dr. Popp cautions that the bruising can take two to three weeks to go away. And it’s a bit harder to cover.
Want to know more? Set up your consultation with Dr. Popp at 402.391.4558.
