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Mini Face
The Traditional Facelift Versus "Mini"Lifts. The
traditional facelift incision starts in the temple area,
extends downward in a natural line in front of the ear,
or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear,
and continues behind the earlobe to the lower scalp.
This technique, which varies somewhat from surgeon to
surgeon, is still the most effective way to treat many
patients who show significant facial aging.
But let's say that you are concerned only about the
fullness under your chin or the appearance of early neck
cords. Excess fat in this area often can be removed
through a small incision underneath your chin. Working
through the same incision, the muscles in your neck can
be tightened, restoring a smoother, more youthful neck
contour. The small incision will be barely visible when
healed.
If your main concern is the slackness of your jaw line,
a "mini lift" requiring only an incision behind your
ear-and no incision in front of the ear - may do the
trick. If a lift to your cheek area is what you need,
this may sometimes be accomplished with only half of the
traditional facelift incision-the part that extends from
the temple down the natural line in front of, or just
within, the ear. In some cases, a cheek lift may be
performed through incisions placed in the lower eyelid.
Remember, though, that none of these mini procedures
will address aging changes of the upper third of your
face, including your brows and eyelids. Separate
procedures can be combined with a facelift or "mini
lift" if you want to see improvement in these related
areas. Treatment of fine wrinkles and improvement in the
skin's texture may require resurfacing techniques such
as a chemical peel or laser treatment.
Mini procedures to correct aging changes in the lower or
mid face can reduce cost and shorten recovery time
compared to a traditional facelift. But they are not for
everyone. If your facial aging is more generalized, then
a mini procedure may not achieve the results you want.
Although you can always go back later and have more work
done, you may regret not addressing all the problem
areas at once.
How do you know what's right for you? The first thing is
to study your face in the mirror and decide what, if
anything, bothers you. If you are looking for
improvement in only one area of your face, then a mini
procedure may be all you really need. Such a procedure
can be effective in postponing more extensive facial
rejuvenation surgery. On the other hand, if you are
bothered by signs of aging in multiple areas of your
face, a full facelift - perhaps in combination with
other procedures to address problems of the brows and
eyelids - may be the best alternative. Ultimately,
whether to have less or more done at a particular time
depends on a number of factors. Board-certified plastic
surgeons are trained to expertly evaluate the physical
characteristics that influence the results of facial
rejuvenation surgery, such as your bone structure and
the condition of your skin and underlying tissues.
Dr Mounir can advise you on whether performing an
isolated mini procedure will improve your facial
appearance or whether multiple procedures are needed in
order to maintain your overall facial harmony.
Thoroughly discussing your goals and expectations with
your plastic surgeon can help you make the right
decision about facial rejuvenation.
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