What is a “Mini” Plastic Surgery Procedure?
Plastic surgery is an important commitment. The results are long-lasting, and any type of surgery will require financial and time commitments from the patient. For people who want shorter recovery times and/or more minimalistic results, there is a wide variety of nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedures to choose from. For patients who are ready to commit to surgery but don’t need extensive changes, there are what we call “mini” plastic surgery procedures. Two of the most common mini procedures are the mini facelift and the mini tummy tuck, and understanding how they work will help you understand what plastic surgeons generally mean by “mini.”
A full, traditional facelift aims to provide comprehensive rejuvenation for the whole face. This popular procedure can address sagging jowls, forehead furrows, and an overall old or tired appearance of the face. However, not everyone wants or needs such dramatic and extensive rejuvenation. It’s not uncommon for different areas of a person’s face to appear to age at different rates from one another, and we can target those specific areas to cut down on recovery time and make the changes as inconspicuous as possible. This is where targeted procedures like the mini facelift come in.
Typically, a mini facelift addresses only the middle third of the face, from the jawline to the cheekbones. Through only a few small incisions around the ears or temples, one of our surgeons can lift and tighten structural tissues around the cheeks to achieve a rejuvenated look. This can help correct loose skin and, through seemingly tiny changes, give the face a vastly improved appearance overall. In this sense, a mini facelift can be greater than the sum of its parts.
Patients who have subtle-to-mild levels of sagging skin in their face are sometimes better candidates for mini-facelifts than they are for full facelifts. There are several degrees of and approaches to facial rejuvenation, and a patient’s age, health, personal preferences, and other factors will help determine how extensive their cosmetic procedure should be.
Another popular mini plastic surgery procedure is the mini tummy tuck. Whereas a full tummy tuck removes excess fat and skin from the whole abdomen and tightens underlying abdominal muscles, a mini tummy tuck addresses smaller amounts of skin and fat and does not repair underlying muscles. Thus, a mini tummy tuck is often the best choice for the patient whose “pooch” is relatively small and whose abdominal muscles are still in good shape. There are many ways that many surgical procedures may be adjusted, all depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.
In general, mini plastic surgery procedures tend to entail briefer, less involved recovery processes, less dramatic results, and easier-to-hide scarring. If you’re considering plastic surgery and would like to speak with an experienced surgeon about your options, please contact one of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery offices to schedule a consultation today. In addition to discussing your prospective procedure, we can go over our available financing options for plastic surgery with you. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest plastic surgery news and updates.
