Skin’s collagen and elastin production starts slowing down in your thirties. When the body stops making an abundance of these essential proteins, you may notice new laugh lines around your mouth or that your jawline isn’t as tight due to hanging jowls. These changes can be very frustrating, especially if you’re still young and enjoying life in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. The good news is these issues can be fixed with a minimally invasive facial rejuvenation procedure: the mini facelift.
A mini facelift with Dr. Malena M. Amato aims to help younger patients with mild to moderate skin laxity restore their facial contouring by tightening the lower and middle regions of their face, including the jowls and the jawline area. Continue reading to learn how this procedure can help you achieve a more youthful, natural-looking appearance and improved self-esteem.
What Causes Early Jowling, and How Can a Mini Facelift Help?
To understand what causes jowls, it’s important to understand the aging process in the skin. When you’re born, your skin produces an abundance of collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein that makes up the connective tissues in your body. Elastin is another connective tissue protein that helps your skin resume its normal shape after being stretched. Over time, as the body loses its collagen and elastin supply, the skin can no longer hold its firm appearance and begins to sag.
Other factors that contribute to premature jowls include:
- Genetics
- Repetitive facial expressions
- Weight loss
- Sun Exposure
- Smoking
A mini facelift addresses sagging jowls by placing incisions underneath the ears. From these incisions, your surgeon will trim away excess skin, tighten remaining tissues, and secure the new contours in place with sutures.
Is a Mini Facelift a Suitable Solution for Early Jowling Concerns?
A mini facelift is a facial aging solution well-suited for those who are just starting to notice skin ptosis in the lower portion of their face. They may also be seeking treatments with shorter scars and a reduced recovery time to address facial sagging. A mini facelift uses limited incisions to remove excess sagging skin, correct the appearance of early jowling, and tighten underlying facial tissues, making it a less invasive option than traditional facelift techniques and most cost-effective than other non-surgical alternatives.
Can I Expect Natural-Looking Results from a Mini-Facelift for Early Jowling?
In the hands of an experienced and qualified facial plastic surgeon, the results of a cosmetic procedure like a mini facelift can be very natural. During your mini facelift procedure, Dr. Amato is incredibly meticulous about how much excess skin she removes and the degree of tissue tightening. She also secures the sutures and closes the incisions with as little tension as possible to minimize scarring and avoid the over-pulled or stretched look. Patients appreciate the time Dr. Amato takes during their consultation and their procedure to correct jowling while preserving their natural appearance.
What Should I Look for in a Qualified Surgeon for a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift involves many choices. The first and most important is who will be performing your procedure. The first thing you should look for is a surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). By choosing a member of the ASPS, you can feel confident that they are among the most qualified and highly trained in their field.
Second, you should look for a surgeon who specializes in the procedure you’re interested in having. For a mini facelift, choose a board-certified facial plastic surgeon whose practice focuses on performing facial plastic surgeries and treatments. These surgeons are equipped with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the delicate facial anatomy and are well-equipped to address potential risks.
Last, explore your surgeon’s peer and patient reviews. By learning more about the experiences of other patients, you’ll be able to confirm that the surgeon you’re interested in is able to achieve your ideal outcome.
Will a Mini Facelift Address Other Signs of Aging in Addition to Jowling?
In addition to reducing the appearance of jowls, a mini facelift can also address other aging signs to define the jawline and improve the look of wrinkles on the lower half of the face. A mini facelift on its own cannot address concerns on the upper part of the face, such as crow’s feet, wrinkles on the forehead, or skin laxity around the eyes. However, many patients choose a mini facelift with combined procedures, such as blepharoplasty, forehead lift, laser facial resurfacing, or non-invasive procedures like Botox and fillers.
How Does the Mini Facelift Procedure Differ from a Traditional Facelift?
The primary differences between a mini and a traditional facelift are the targeted areas and the length of the incisions used during surgery. A mini facelift focuses on treating the lower region of the face while a traditional facelift targets everything from the top of the ears down to the neck. Additionally, the incisions used during a mini facelift are much smaller, making the recovery time shorter than that of a traditional facelift.
How Long Do the Results of a Mini Facelift Typically Last?
A mini facelift cannot stop the aging signs from appearing; however, it can prolong your youthful appearance and help fight off future signs of aging. In most cases, the results of a mini facelift will last around ten years before further facial rejuvenation procedures are necessary.
You can also implement these helpful tips into your skincare routine to help prolong your results:
- Moisturize daily
- Quit smoking
- Avoid sun exposure and use an SPF of 30 or higher regularly
- Eat healthy and exercise consistently to avoid weight fluctuations
- Invest in regular skin tightening treatments, such as laser facial resurfacing, Botox, or Dermal fillers
Schedule Your Mini Facelift Consultation with Dr. Amato
Learn how a mini facelift can help treat your early jowling by scheduling a consultation with board-certified eyelid and facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Malena M. Amato. Throughout her esteemed career, Dr. Amato has built a reputation that speaks to the quality of her knowledge and skills in eye and facial aesthetics. To schedule a consultation, please complete our online form or call (512) 501-1010 today!