Mini facelift vs. classic facelift

Over time, age becomes noticeable in all of us. Unfortunately, of all places, the most prominent area is the face. Even the best and most expensive creams can hardly do anything to change this. Natural skin ageing is to blame. From the age of 25, it leads to a reduction in the body’s own elastin and collagen production, which often manifests itself in sagging cheeks, sunken eyebrows, wrinkles or blurred jawlines.

When this external appearance is no longer in harmony with a youthful attitude to life, this often leads people to my practice in Frankfurt. Of course, many patients do not come unprepared. Most of them have read up on various treatment methods such as a facelift on the internet before their consultation. What often causes confusion, however, are the many different terms such as mini, deep-plane or SMAS facelift. Understandably, the question often arises as to which procedure is the right one.

My short answer: It depends. Among other things, it depends on how advanced the patient’s skin ageing is. And, of course, what goals he or she wants to achieve with it. To give you some initial orientation, in this article I will take a closer look at the individual facelift operations and explain which option is suitable for whom.

What is a facelift?

In plastic and aesthetic surgery, a facelift is used to make age-related sagging, tired facial features appear more alert, fresher and younger again. The principle is simple: the sagging, excess skin and the underlying tissue are permanently removed through fine incisions, which are made in the area of the temples, in front of and behind the ears and/or along the hairline. The remaining skin and subcutaneous tissue are then fixed in their new position with fine sutures.

This proven procedure can be used to rejuvenate the areas in the lower half of the face (cheek region, jawline, chin area) with very good results. If desired, the neck region can also be included in the operation. Depending on the extent of the facelift and the patient’s individual wishes, different options are available.

The classic facelift

The classic facelift is still the gold standard of facial rejuvenation and the most comprehensive procedure. I advise my patients to have a major facelift if they come to my practice with large excess skin on the neck (“turkey neck”), severely sagging cheeks and correspondingly deepened nasolabial folds or noticeable “sagging cheeks”.

In order to restore the youthful appearance of these pronounced findings, a comprehensive and deeper tightening of the lower half of the face and the neck region is required. The incision is typically made along the hairline, in front of and behind the ears.

In the past, the classic facelift only consisted of tightening the facial skin. However, the results of the facelift were often rigid, looked mask-like and unnatural and were also only short-lived. Modern plastic and aesthetic surgery has therefore begun to incorporate the deeper layers of tissue and the muscles into the facelift in order to achieve significantly more natural and long-lasting results. These modern variants of the facelift are known as the SMAS facelift and deep-plane facelift.

SMAS facelift

SMAS is the abbreviation for “Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System”. This is a stable layer of connective tissue and muscles which, in simple terms, forms the foundation of your face. Instead of just tightening your facial skin as with the outdated facelift, with the SMAS facelift I include this deeper layer in the tightening process.

In this modern procedure, I first dissect the skin from the sagging SMAS layer and then separate the SMAS layer from the underlying tissue. I then tighten the deep layer and fix it in its new position with very fine sutures. Finally, I perform the same steps on the skin. This special procedure makes the results of the operation look much more natural and experience has shown that they last longer (approx. 10 years).

Deep-plane facelift

With the deep-plane facelift, I take a slightly different approach to the SMAS facelift: Instead of detaching the skin and the SMAS layer separately, I dissect them directly together from the underlying support structures. I can then move both and tighten the face without tension.

The SMAS facelift also provides very natural and long-lasting results, even with severe sagging and deep wrinkles. As the technical method is very demanding, you should only have it performed by an experienced plastic and aesthetic surgeon.

The mini facelift

A gentle and less invasive alternative to the major facelift is the mini facelift (also known as the S-lift or mini-lift). The healing phase is correspondingly shorter. I particularly recommend this procedure to patients who are beginning to show the first signs of skin ageing but are not yet as pronounced as described above.

In most cases, the procedure is performed in twilight sleep or under local anesthesia. The necessary incisions are much smaller and I make them in front of the ear or hidden in the hairline so that the scars are barely visible later on. Experience has shown that a gentle and natural tightening of the lower part of the face can be achieved with the mini facelift.

Classic facelift vs. mini facelift in direct comparison

The following table shows the differences between the two methods at a glance:

Mini or classic facelift: Which procedure is suitable for whom?

The mini facelift is particularly suitable for patients:

• who notice the first wrinkles and sagging skin on their face.

• who want to delay the progression of natural skin ageing.

• who want a very gentle refreshment or rejuvenation of their face.

• who refuse an operation involving general anesthesia and major surgery.

The SMAS or deep-plane surgery method, on the other hand, is an option for patients:

• whose inner, young self-image no longer matches their mirror image.

• who do not want to put up with deep wrinkles and age-related sagging cheeks.

• who are happy to undergo more extensive surgery for a significant rejuvenation.

Make an appointment now and receive a no-obligation consultation from a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery

Are you interested in a mini facelift or have you already had an operation and were not satisfied with the results? As a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery, I am at your disposal with many years of expertise in lifting operations. I offer you:

• Specialist consultation with a thorough examination and analysis of your individual facial structure in order to be able to make a serious recommendation.

• Individual treatment planning including preparation of a cost estimate, in which all costs associated with your mini facelift or major facelift are listed transparently.

• state-of-the-art surgical equipment at the Berger Klinik Frankfurt for safe treatment and an optimal result that you will be satisfied with for many years to come.

• personal care from the first consultation to the planning of your procedure and aftercare. Of course, I am also available to answer any questions you may have later on.

Call now and make an appointment for a non-binding initial consultation.