Feb
Over time, the face will lose its natural, youthful appearance. As the skin loses elasticity, it stretches and sags. Extra skin first shows as deeper folds between the nose and mouth, mild jowling, and extra folds of skin beneath the chin. For many patients with early aging changes in the face, a mini facelift, or “celebrity lift”, may be a better alternative than a standard or “full” lift. A celebrity lift offers a quicker recovery, shorter incisions, and of course, less cost than a full lift. Dr. Steinbacher serves proudly for the towns of New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut and has his doors always open for new patients.
In a mini lift, a short incision is made at the hairline in front of the ear and is extended down in the crease between the ear and the cheek. The skin in front of the ear is released, and a thin, deeper muscle layer is lifted to a more youthful position. Dr. Steinbacher trims the extra skin and hides the incision where the cheek meets the ear.
Ideal candidates for a mini facelift have signs of aging down to the jawline, but only early changes in the neck. For more advanced sagging of the neck, a standard or full facelift may be more appropriate.
Dr. Steinbacher can further enhance a mini facelift by performing it in conjunction with other plastic surgery procedures. People who are 40 to 60 years old, or those who have already undergone a previous facelift surgery, are frequently good candidates for this procedure.
While a traditional facelift may produce more noticeable results, that is not always what people are looking for. This is where the mini facelift comes in. Benefits of a celebrity facelift include:
For a mini facelift, Dr. Steinbacher makes the initial incision in front of the patient’s ear. The incision extends from the bottom of the earlobe and stops at the hairline behind the ear. He then pulls the tissues upward and outward toward the ears. This reduces sagging skin and jowls, along with wrinkles throughout the lower face.
Despite the light name, this procedure does not only involve the skin. It also focuses on the underlying muscular system, called the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system), as well as fat tissues. By lifting these underlying tissues, a mini lift is able to enhance the patient’s natural facial contours with significant results that still look completely natural.
When Dr. Steinbacher is satisfied with the new position of the skin and underlying muscles, they are sutured into place with permanent sutures. The final step is to trim excess skin. A mini facelift usually takes an hour and a half to perform.
During your initial consultation with Dr. Steinbacher, he will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your upcoming procedure. Such instructions will include complete cessation of smoking, avoiding certain medications, as well as advice on medications and activity limitations which will help speed recovery. It is important to follow these instructions to reap the best results from your mini facelift.
Despite the name, a mini facelift with Dr. Steinbacher provides patients with significant results. This procedure restores definition to your jaw and removes sagging and wrinkles on the lower cheeks and around the mouth. These results are permanent, however, your face will still continue to age. A mini facelift is a great procedure for patients who do not have dramatic sagging of their facial skin yet, but want to address the signs of aging that are beginning to show. Some patients choose to undergo a second procedure to restore results five years after their initial facelift.
There is usually minimal to no pain after the lift, and no dressings are necessary. Immediately after your procedure, you will see a new, younger and fresher look to your face! Dr. Steinbacher removes your sutures five days later. Patients with longer hair can hide the stitches and mild bruising with makeup and hairstyles. Patients with short hair will have visible sutures for five days. Lifting, pulling and pushing, as well as workouts are restricted for two weeks, at which point patients may resume full activity.
The mini facelift targets the lower third of the face. You can combine this simple procedure with other procedures such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift to extend the treated areas. BOTOX can erase wrinkles on the upper third of the face, or dermal fillers such as Juvederm Volbella can augment the lips. If you’d like to combine procedures, talk with Dr. Steinbacher during your consultation.
If you are interested in a Mini Facelift, contact our office at (203) 453-6635 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Derek Steinbacher. Our practice serves Guilford, New Haven, and surrounding areas in Connecticut.
Dr. Derek Steinbacher has devoted his life to
aesthetic and life-changing surgery. He is an artistic and meticulous surgeon who draws patients
from around the world due to his perspective, unmatched skill, and exceptional results. He is able
to uniquely address the face (facelift +
rejuvenation), jawline (orthognathic; chin; contouring; implants), nasal (rhinoplasty), eyelids, profile, neck, breast, and body with
one-of-a-kind results.
He is a multiple Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Plastic, Cosmetic, and Cranio-Maxillofacial
Surgery. He is Fellow of the most prestigious surgical organizations, including the Society of
Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the
Academy of Facial
Plastic Surgery, Societies of Craniofacial and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Aesthetic
Society, and the Rhinoplasty Society. He has served as Full-Professor
of Plastic Surgery at Yale, including Director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Program, and Chief of
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Steinbacher has unparalleled training at premier institutions,
including Harvard
and Johns Hopkins. His
perspective brings together the best aspects of many distinct – but related fields – and it is this
intersection of scope and expertise, in addition to an artistic eye, which enables excellent
comprehensive results.
Dr. Steinbacher's approach: technical acumen, meticulousness, and penchant for combining art and
science, together with his eye for balance, beauty, and harmony, helps achieve outcomes that greatly
improve a person's confidence, health, and overall quality of life. Patients can trust that they are
always in good hands!