Mini Facelift Sydney
Elective cosmetic procedure
- Not covered by Medicare or private health insurance
- Can be performed as a day procedure
- Patients may need to stay in hospital overnight
As a less extensive option than a full facelift, a mini facelift may be suitable for patients who want to focus on the lower third of the face, such as the jawline, jowls, and sometimes the neck area.
As a less extensive option than a full facelift, a mini facelift may be suitable for patients who want to focus on the lower third of the face, such as the jawline, jowls, and sometimes the neck area.
Plastic Surgeon Dr Benjamin Norris can answer any of your questions during a consultation at Form & Face in Sydney. He can meet with you personally to discuss how the procedure may be performed to meet your needs.
What a mini facelift can achieve
A mini facelift, or a partial facelift, is performed on the lower third of the face. During your consultation, you will be able to discuss what you would like to focus on.
You may want to address:
- Mild to moderate skin laxity
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Underlying tissues
- Skin and tissue on the jawline
No matter your particular concerns, Dr Norris will aim to align your results with your individual, unique features. Together, you will discuss a personalised surgery plan, which will help to ensure that you are on the right page in terms of what you would like to achieve.
Suitable candidates for a mini facelift
A suitable candidate for a mini facelift is typically someone who wants to treat mild to moderate skin laxity and signs of ageing, particularly in the lower face. Some specific signs of ageing in this area can include mild jowls, and moderate fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the jawline and mouth.
Surgery is not typically recommended for younger patients who want to treat milder skin laxity or mild fine lines and wrinkles, as they can often find that non-surgical methods are effective. Ideal candidates for a mini facelift are usually in their 40s to 60s, although your suitability for the procedure does not depend on age alone.
Candidates should generally be in good overall health, at a healthy weight, and not have health concerns, such as problems with blood clotting or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Suitable candidates should also not be pregnant or breastfeeding. As well as being suitable for surgery health-wise, candidates should also have realistic expectations for the results of the procedure. A mini facelift is designed to address the lower face, and is not designed to achieve as extensive as a result that a full facelift can achieve. It does not address the upper face or forehead area.
During a consultation at Form & Face, Dr Norris can discuss personal, health and lifestyle factors to help determine if you are suitable for a mini facelift. He can assess aspects of your face, such as the quality and elasticity of the skin, as well as your underlying facial structure. You will be able to ask any questions you may have, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not to proceed with surgery.
Your consultation with Dr Benjamin
Before undergoing a mini or partial facelift, you will need to meet with Dr Norris for a consultation at Form & Face in Sydney.
At your consultation, you and Dr Norris will discuss your goals and expectations for a mini facelift to help decide if it is the right procedure for you.
Personal factors like health history, current health, medications, and lifestyle habits will also need to be discussed to assess your suitability for surgery. Dr Norris will assess your skin tone, facial structure, and fat tissue distribution to help tailor the steps of the procedure to your needs. Your consultation includes a photograph for your medical records.
Preparation, recovery, and potential complications can also be discussed during your consultation, ensuring that you are well informed about what the surgery involves. Dr Norris can explain how to prepare for the procedure, the steps you’ll need to take during recovery and how complications can be prevented.
Cost information will also be provided, considering the personalised steps of your procedure. During the consultation, you’ll receive a personalised quote detailing your procedure costs.
Your consultation will allow you to ask any questions you have and feel prepared for your surgery. If you decide to proceed, Shannon, our Practice Manager, will then assist in arranging a detailed quote and discussing your surgery options.
What is the cost of a mini facelift in Sydney?
During your initial consultation, we can provide you with personalised cost information, based on the details of your procedure. Mini facelifts are highly individualised procedures, and therefore, costs will vary based on a variety of factors.
At your consultation in either Bondi Junction or Bella Vista, you will be able to discuss your surgery options, create a treatment plan, and receive a personalised cost estimate.
The costs of a mini facelift will need to include surgeon’s fees, which reflect Dr Norris’s extensive experience and qualifications, anaesthesia fees, determined by the anaesthetist responsible for your procedure, and hospital fees, covering the operating room and recovery room time. Other potential costs during recovery, such as facial bandages or follow-up appointments, can also contribute to the overall cost of your surgery.
For more information on costs, we recommend booking a consultation at Form & Face by using the contact form below, or by calling us on 1800 376 677.
How you can prepare for a mini facelift
After your initial consultation for a mini or partial facelift, Dr Norris prefers to see patients again for a second consultation. During this second consultation, he can provide you with more detailed information, including instructions on preparing for your procedure.
Preparation instructions are tailored to your needs and the specific steps of your procedure, but instructions typically include to:
- Quit smoking. Dr Norris will require you to stop smoking for at least two months before surgery, as smoking can inhibit the healing process.
- Stop taking blood-thinning medications. You will need to stop taking certain medications that can raise the risk of increased bleeding. Usually, you’ll need to stop taking these medications for at least two weeks before your procedure. These medications may be prescribed, over the counter or even herbal supplements. Some of your medications may be approved by Dr Norris during your consultation.
- Arrange for a patient escort to take you home after your surgery.
- Schedule time off work.The amount of time you will need to take off work depends on the physical demands of your job, as you will need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for longer than light exercise or sedentary work.
- Ensure that you have everything you need at home for your recovery. It’s a good idea to prepare for your recovery in advance, allowing you to rest after your surgery.
How is a mini facelift performed?
Your mini facelift procedure will be performed by facelift surgeon Dr Norris, in fully accredited medical facilities. You will be attended to by experienced and qualified staff, including an anaesthetist whom Dr Norris works with regularly. Mini facelifts will need to be performed under general anaesthesia.
A mini facelift typically involves:
- Limited incisions – Unlike a traditional full-face facelift, which requires extensive incisions, a mini facelift involves smaller, more targeted incisions. These incisions are typically made discreetly around the ears and sometimes along the hairline.
- Tissue repositioning –Similar to a full facelift, Dr Norris will carefully separate the skin from the underlying tissues. The underlying muscles and tissues are tightened, and excess skin may be removed, according to the patient’s needs.
The full details of your surgery are discussed during your consultation, as every plan is personalised. After Dr Norris has performed the procedure, the incisions are sutured closed, and you will then be monitored in the recovery room.
A mini facelift typically takes about one to two hours, but this will depend on individual factors and the extent of the procedure. Some patients may need to be monitored overnight, while others may be able to return home on the same day.
What to expect after the procedure
The recovery period after a mini facelift is generally less extensive than with a full, traditional facelift. Dr Norris will explain what you can expect during your recovery, how to manage any post-surgery discomfort and how to support your body’s healing.
After your mini facelift, you’ll be taken to a recovery area where you’ll receive pain medication to manage any discomfort and be closely monitored. You may have a bandage around your lower face and small tubes placed under the skin to drain excess fluid, but these are typically removed within a day or two. The bandages will usually need to stay on for one to five days, and you’ll need to wear a special facial garment during the earlier weeks of your recovery to aid in the healing process.
After stitches and/or bandages are removed, you may experience stiffness, numbness, bruising, and swelling, but following post-operative instructions, such as keeping your head elevated and using cold packs, can help to reduce these symptoms.
A follow-up appointment with Dr Norris is usually scheduled within a week, to assess your incisions and perform any dressing changes. You can typically return to work and engage in light exercise after about two weeks, gradually resuming normal activities but avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for longer.
The timing for returning to your usual activities depends on individual factors, which will be discussed during the consultation. Patients generally require less recovery time after a mini facelift than a full or traditional facelift, but the details of your recovery will still come down to individual factors.
Throughout your recovery, it’s important to monitor your overall health and the treated area for any signs of complications, which Dr Norris will explain during your consultation.
Our patients at Form & Face receive a Lifetime Followup Guarantee. This means that we can provide you with support long after your initial recovery. Should you have any concerns after surgery, you will be able to contact our clinic for guidance.
Potential surgery risks and complications
All kinds of surgical procedures can be associated with some level of risk. Dr Norris will thoroughly go through all of the possible complications that may occur as a result of a mini facelift, and explain how these complications can be prevented. They can generally be prevented by ensuring that you are suitable for surgery, putting preparation and recovery instructions in place, and using the appropriate techniques during your procedure.
A mini facelift can be related to the following risks and complications:
- Prolonged pain or discomfort
- Swelling, infection, or excessive bleeding
- Scarring
- Nerve Injury
- Damage to deeper structures
- Asymmetry
- Blood clots
- Fluid accumulation (Seroma)
- Skin necrosis (Tissue death)
- The need for revision surgery
Dr Norris works carefully to minimise scarring while performing his procedures. If you’re concerned about scarring, please mention this during your consultation so that you can discuss where your incisions will be placed, and how to reduce scarring.
Should you have any concerns during your recovery, or any further questions about your instructions, please contact the clinic.
Why to choose Dr Benjamin Norris
Dr Norris is an experienced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with over 20 years of training.
He has performed a large number of procedures, including procedures with short-scar and minimal-scar techniques. As well as a mini facelift and a full facelift, Dr Norris offers a wide variety of cosmetic procedures at his Bondi Junction and Bella Vista locations.
Dr Norris is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons FRACS in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has trained in Australia and internationally, and currently has a program that involves travelling to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery centres in Europe and the United States.
You can read more here to learn about Dr Norris and his experience. If you would like to book a consultation for a mini facelift, please get in touch with our team.
Here at Form & Face, we provide patients with a
Lifetime followup guarantee
This means that we will be there for you far beyond the recovery period.
You can rest assured knowing that you can come to us about any
post-surgical concerns for the rest of your life.