The mini facelift is slightly cheaper, safer and has better results than the traditional facelift.
- The first facelift took place more than 100 years ago and since then it has had a long and interesting evolution.
- As young people turn to facelifts, the medical aesthetics industry has continued to adapt to the demand.
- Enter the S-Lift, or mini facelift, which is slightly cheaper, safer and has better results.
The facelift, a surgical procedure that reduces sagging skin, was first introduced just over 100 years ago by the German surgeons Eugen Holländer and Erich Lexer. Since then, the common cosmetic procedure has evolved over time, with people looking for ways to protect their face in slightly cheaper and less invasive ways.
And, while facelifts (known as rythidectomies) are traditionally seen as treatments for the elderly – for people in their 60s and 70s – the growing number of people opting for the procedure is also boosted by younger people, who are now seeking to have a procedure done in their 40s and 50s.
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Enter the “mini” lift: also referred to as the S-lift, it is highly recommended for people in their 40s and 50s. That’s according to Dr. Bruce Lelala, a plastic surgeon at the Specialty Laser and Cosmetic Institute (SCIN) in Hyde Park.
Lelala says it’s beneficial to have a facelift when you’re younger: a faster recovery time is expected. Less tissue repositioning and adjustment is required and patients can expect a more youthful aging process.
“When patients over 60 get a facelift, they’re usually trying to reverse 20 years of aging at once. Doing this can lead to dramatic results compared to those who only aim for five or 10 years,” he says. “Because of this, younger people tend to enjoy more natural results that also last longer.”
Standard facelift vs mini facelift
So how does a facelift compare to the more modern, mini facelift? Lelala explains:
Compared to a standard facelift, a mini facelift is a less invasive procedure than a full, extensive surgery. The mini facelift [also] typically requires half the recovery time of a traditional facelift.
Lelala, who recently completed his fellowship in microsurgery at Nottingham Breast Institute in the UK and has been involved with Smile Foundation SA performing cleft palate surgeries, adds that the main benefits of an S-Lift procedure are that patients are left with minimal risks complications, minimal scarring and no hair loss.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, a facelift, which involves lifting the skin and tightening the tissues and muscles, can cause complications and have long-term or permanent risks. These risks, although rare, include scarring, nerve injury (causing uneven facial appearance or expression), hair loss, and skin loss. Like any other type of major surgery, this procedure also carries a risk of bleeding or infection, he adds.
Cost
The cost difference between a mini facelift and a regular facelift is not much different, with the former costing about 10% less. The difference is the recovery time and the extent of the incisions that need to be made.
According to the doctors at Hyde Park SCIN, the cost for a standard facelift can range from R90,000 to R120,000, while a mini facelift ranges from R65,000 to R75,000, depending on the doctor and hospital.
Getting a mini facelift
Lelala says an S-Lift is performed using a special anesthetic solution, which is injected into the area in front of the ears. This liquid gently lifts the skin from the underlying tissue.
Operating on one side of your face at a time, the plastic surgeon removes a narrow “S” shaped section of skin from the area in front of your ear. The skin is lifted and the surgeon tightens and repositions the underlying muscles and tissues. Excess fat is also removed before the opening is closed with fine stitches.
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The procedure usually takes about two hours and treats the lower third of the face and neck. The position of the brow and forehead, as well as the appearance of the eyelids, are not affected by the S-Lift, he adds.
“The incision made for the S-Lift is hidden within the hairline and in front of the ear, resulting in a well-concealed scar after recovery,” says Lelala.
The changes after an S-Lift can be dramatic. She explains: “After your procedure, you’ll go home and rest for at least 24 hours. There may be minor bruising and swelling for a day or two – along with some minor discomfort, which can be controlled with painkillers – and you’ll wear a small bandage on the incision site for the next two to three days.
“After that, you can take a shower, wash your hair and shave. The stitches will be removed after 6-7 days, and most patients resume their normal activities after four or five days.”
