Mini Incision Lift - SM Plastic Surgery

Because the SMAS itself is lifted, it tends to hold longer than non-surgical lifting — generally said to last 3–5 years or more. How long it holds varies with the degree of ageing and the state of the skin.

The incisional lift opens from the front of the ear to behind it, covering the midface, lower face and neck lines; the minimal-incision lift opens only in front of the ear, addressing mainly the midface — nasolabial folds and cheek sagging. Recovery is also quicker, at about 1 week.

If the retaining ligaments are not properly released, the tissue must be pulled hard, so the effect suffers and the scar remains large. Releasing them safely lets sagging improve naturally, with scarring kept down.

The mini-incision facelift is generally indicated for patients in their thirties and forties. Age itself is not the criterion, however; we first assess the degree of aging, facial proportion, and the muscle, fat and skin elasticity to judge whether the concern falls within what a mini incision can address.

The mini-incision facelift mainly addresses the mid-face, including nasolabial folds and sagging cheeks. Through an incision in front of the ear, the SMAS layer is lifted and fixed, and the degree of improvement varies with the extent of aging and skin elasticity.

Loss of facial contour from sagging cheeks falls within the mid-face area that the mini-incision facelift addresses. If the sagging has progressed more widely into the lower face or neck, we review together at consultation whether the incisional facelift is the better fit.

Nasolabial folds and cheek sagging that appear after contouring or two-jaw surgery are among the indications for the mini-incision facelift. The extent and timing of the previous surgery must be reviewed as well, so we advise after assessing your facial condition at consultation.

For the mini-incision facelift we guide patients to expect about seven days as the recovery benchmark. Since only the area in front of the ear is opened, the dissection range is narrower than in the incisional facelift and recovery tends to be shorter, though the pace differs between individuals.

Suture removal is guided by a one-week benchmark, as early as five days and as late as two weeks. The timing depends on how the wound heals and on the condition of the sutured area, so it is decided after checking at your follow-up visit.

The mini-incision facelift is performed under sedation anesthesia and takes about one hour. The anesthesia plan is decided after checking your general health and the extent of surgery, and is explained at the pre-operative consultation.

The mini-incision facelift uses an incision in front of the ear, which is then closed with precise suturing. Because the incision does not extend behind the ear, the scar is limited to the pre-auricular area, and how it heals varies with individual constitution.

Because the mini-incision facelift opens only in front of the ear, the dissection range is narrower than in the incisional facelift and it mainly treats the mid-face. When the lower face and neck lines also need improvement, the wider incisional facelift is considered, and which approach fits is decided after detailed analysis.

Side effects such as swelling, bruising, infection and asymmetry can also occur after a mini-incision facelift, and the degree varies between individuals. The narrower incision means recovery tends to be shorter, but follow-up observation is still needed and your recovery is checked at each visit.

At SM Plastic Surgery we first assess the degree of aging, facial proportion, and the muscle, fat and skin elasticity to judge whether the concern falls within what a mini incision can handle. When sagging has progressed widely, we review together at consultation whether the incisional facelift is more appropriate rather than forcing a mini-incision approach.

Aging continues after surgery, so sagging can reappear over time. In that case the degree of progression and the condition of the skin are reassessed and the appropriate approach is determined at consultation, and how long results last varies with the extent of aging and skin condition.