Facelift
When you look in the mirror from your mid-30s or early 40s, the first age-related changes to the face become apparent. This is due to a gradual loss of elasticity and gravity, which causes the tissue in the mid-face to sag slightly. This often manifests itself in sagging and slightly drooping cheeks and a less clearly defined jawline. This process is completely natural, but it can disturb the aesthetic perception and, in the long term, also affect self-confidence. Many patients therefore want to take countermeasures at an early stage.
Simply injecting a filler such as hyaluronic acid does not usually bring about a satisfactory improvement in slightly sagging areas of the face and it is often far too early for a major operation such as a classic facelift. The mini facelift offers a good middle ground.
In this comparatively minor procedure, Dr. Nichlos only treats the affected areas of the cheeks and jaw, gently tightens them and removes excess skin. This makes the corners of the mouth look less tired, the cheeks fuller, the chin line clearer and the face fresher and younger overall. For a natural-looking result, however, experience is required, which Dr. Nichlos has as a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. Make an appointment now for a no-obligation consultation!
A mini facelift is a comparatively gentle surgical procedure to tighten mild to moderate age-related changes in the face. The focus here is primarily on the cheek area, the corners of the mouth and the jawline, i.e. areas where the first signs of sagging skin are often noticeable. In contrast to the classic facelift, the mini facelift is limited specifically to these areas and is particularly suitable for patients who want to tackle age-related changes at an early stage without undergoing major facial surgery.


Dr. Emmanouil Nichlos has specialized in mini-facelifts and minimally invasive facial rejuvenation procedures for over 17 years.
Using modern, minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Nichlos ensures natural-looking results and a quick recovery. Even after the procedure, Dr. Nichlos personally supports his patients throughout the healing phase and is available at any time if needed.
The mini facelift is a gentle alternative to the classic facelift. Both methods pursue the same goal: to visibly rejuvenate the face by tightening it. With the mini lift, however, Dr. Nichlos concentrates specifically on the typical problem areas in the lower face. The focus is on
The Minilift also automatically smoothes nasolabial folds and marionette lines. If necessary, the result can be optimized with hyaluronic acid. Areas such as the eyebrows or forehead, which are included in the major facelift, are not included in the mini facelift. The fact that we only concentrate on the areas that are currently bothering you has several advantages:
However, it should also be mentioned that the results of a mini-lift are shorter lasting (approx. 5 years) than those of a major facelift (approx. 10 years or more).
Most patients decide to have a minilift when their reflection in the mirror no longer matches their own body image. Experience shows that this is often the case from the age of 30 upwards. Many people still feel young and fit, but the lower half of their face appears taut and flabby. This discrepancy often leads to dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance and the desire to change this with the help of aesthetic plastic surgery.
The mini facelift is perfect for this as it addresses typical early signs of skin ageing such as wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks and the onset of sagging skin. However, the procedure is not equally suitable for everyone. If the skin’s ageing process is already too advanced, the mini facelift will no longer achieve the desired result. This is the case with:
In these situations, the desired effect can often only be achieved with a classic facelift. The best way to find out which approach is best for you is to discuss it together. Dr. Nichlos will analyze your face in our practice in Frankfurt and find the treatment that best suits your wishes.

A personal consultation is very important before the mini facelift. During this consultation, you will discuss the results of the preliminary examination with Dr. Nichlos and what your wishes and expectations are for the procedure. The specialist will explain to you what changes can be achieved with the lifting technique and where its limits lie so that you have realistic expectations.
Dr. Nichlos will also explain the exact procedure of the facelift, anaesthetic options, possible risks and the necessary preparation and aftercare. Of course, you will always have the opportunity to ask your own questions. After the preliminary examination and the personal consultation, we will draw up an individual treatment plan based on the examination results and your wishes, as well as a detailed list of all expected costs.
Immediately before the operation, we will check your state of health and, if necessary, your blood values. If you are taking blood-thinning medication, you should stop taking it – in consultation with Dr. Nichlos and your family doctor – about 2 weeks before the procedure and also refrain from smoking during this time. This will help to avoid complications during the procedure and during wound healing.
The procedure itself takes place under local anesthesia with twilight sleep or under general anesthesia in the modern operating rooms of the Berger Klinik in Frankfurt. As soon as all preparations have been completed and the anaesthetic has taken effect, Dr. Nichlos begins to make the small incisions required for the mini facelift. The incisions are usually made in front of and behind the ears, sometimes also along the hairline. There, the skin is loosened, lifted and carefully tightened. The specialist then removes the excess skin and carefully sutures the edges of the wound together.
Your help is needed so that the surgical wounds in the facial region can heal well. You should therefore pay particular attention to the following things after the mini-lift:
Overall, the risks associated with a mini facelift are significantly lower than with a classic facelift. Nevertheless, as with any surgical procedure, there are general surgical risks that can never be completely ruled out. These include in very rare cases:
However, it is much more likely that the mini facelift will be accompanied by completely harmless side effects that are part of the normal healing process. These include
These symptoms usually subside quickly on their own. You can support this process by carefully cooling the area.
The cost of a mini facelift depends primarily on the extent of the tightening and the patient’s individual anatomical characteristics. Since this procedure primarily targets the lower third of the face, a mini facelift is generally less invasive than a traditional facelift.
At our practice in Frankfurt, the cost of a mini facelift generally starts at:
The exact price depends, among other things, on the degree of skin laxity in the cheek and jawline areas and which surgical technique is used to achieve a natural result. Following a personal consultation, Dr. Nichlos will create a customized treatment and cost plan that transparently lists all services.
The cost of a mini-facelift consists of various components. These typically include:
In addition, there are anesthesia and clinic fees, as the mini-facelift is performed in a specialized clinic. Depending on the procedure, an overnight stay at the clinic may also be required.
To help you plan your treatment flexibly, financing in monthly installments is also available for a mini-facelift.
Financing is provided through an experienced financing partner and can be tailored to your personal financial situation. This allows you to conveniently pay for the procedure in monthly installments.
We would be happy to inform you about the requirements and the financing process during a consultation.
Experience has shown that people between the ages of 35 and 40 are usually interested in a mini facelift. However, there is basically no age limit above which a mini facelift is possible. It makes sense when the first signs of skin ageing become visible. This may be the case sooner or later. Therefore, it is not the biological age that is decisive, but rather the individual condition of the skin, the progress of the ageing process and your personal aesthetic perception. If you are bothered by fine lines and wrinkles on your face and would like to counteract them, let Dr. Nichlos advise you on the most suitable treatment method.
Every surgical incision leaves a scar. However, the incisions made during a mini facelift are so fine and in such discreet places (around the ears, hairline) that the scars are barely visible to the naked eye.
In a mini facelift, Dr. Nichlos removes excess skin, tightens the remaining skin and lifts areas of the neck, cheeks and chin that have sagged with age. Particularly good effects can be achieved on sagging facial skin, “sagging cheeks” and a blurred chin line. Fillers such as hyaluronic acid primarily compensate for the age-related loss of volume in the skin, thereby smoothing out fine wrinkles. Although they can also lift tissue slightly, they are no substitute for surgical tightening.
The effects achieved with non-surgical methods are limited and must be regularly refreshed in order to last longer. The results of a mini facelift are longer-lasting, as the skin is repositioned rather than just adding volume.
Dr. Emmanouil Nichlos, M.D., is a board-certified plastic and aesthetic surgeon in Frankfurt who has specialized in mini-facelifts and aesthetic treatments for gentle facial rejuvenation for over 17 years.
The content of this page has been personally reviewed by him and reflects the current state of medical knowledge in the field of plastic and aesthetic surgery.
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Does it bother you that your face looks more tired, perhaps even older than you feel? A mini facelift offers you the opportunity to turn back the hands of time and retain your natural facial features thanks to the expertise of Dr. Nichlos. Make an appointment now for a no-obligation consultation and let us find out if the procedure is right for you.
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