Genetic factors, weight changes, aging, gravity, habits like sitting and sleeping positions and excessive sun exposure contribute to facial sagging over time. The facial structure deteriorates, and muscles and skin lose their firmness.
It’s essential to mention that many methods can delay or even avoid a facelift, provided you’re persistent and consistent over many years:
- Non-invasive methods: These include radio waves and myolift, and other techniques that improve skin elasticity and texture (microneedling).
- Aesthetic medicine methods: Highlighted by threads and skin boosters, as well as hyaluronic fillers.
When sagging becomes significant, surgical lifting effectively restores the face’s appearance.
Sagging might be more pronounced in certain facial areas, and interventions can target:
- Upper third of the face: Involves lifting the forehead and brows.
- Lower and middle thirds of the face: Involves lifting the face and neck (full or mini facelift).
Details about upper-third facial lifting are covered elsewhere, so we will now focus on procedures for the lower third of the face.
What is the Difference Between a Full and Mini Lower Face Lift?
- Full Lift: Tightens the sides and middle parts of the face and the neck. Incisions are made in front of or behind the ears and in the hair.
- Partial (Mini) Lift: Usually performed on younger patients to address sagging in the middle and lower thirds of the face. It can be done under local anesthesia.
Surgery and Postoperative Care
After the surgery, you’ll stay in the day hospital for just a few hours. Recovery takes 7 to 14 days. Initially, you’ll wear bandages around the face to reduce swelling, and stitches are removed after about 10 days. Detailed care instructions are provided for later recovery stages.
Incisions are hidden in natural facial folds, and scars fade over time. The results are long-lasting, but future care and habits—such as skin care, additional aesthetic treatments, smoking, and other (un)healthy habits—significantly influence them.
How to Keep Your Surgery Discreet
A well-done facelift doesn’t change your face but lifts and firms the skin and underlying structures. You’ll look fresher, more rested, and much younger. That’s what people will notice, but they likely won’t realize you had cosmetic surgery.