Hello, this is Woori Plastic Surgery.
When sagging in the face starts to become a concern, many people naturally begin looking into lifting procedures or surgery. In that process, many people come across mini facelift surgery along with full facelift surgery. Mini facelift surgery is especially attractive to those considering a lifting procedure for the first time because it is perceived as having a relatively small incision area and less burden during recovery. However, at the same time, you often hear people say that “mini facelift surgery doesn’t work.” So why did this perception arise? Today, let’s take a step-by-step look at why mini facelift surgery came to be known as ineffective.
Criteria that determine the effectiveness of a mini facelift
First, not all mini facelift surgeries are ineffective. If performed according to proper surgical principles, a mini facelift can also deliver a sufficient lifting effect. The problem is that there are many cases where a mini facelift is not performed properly. The reasons can be broadly divided into two categories: one is when it could be done properly but is not, and the other is when it is structurally difficult even if it is desired. Basically, what matters in lifting surgery is not simply pulling the skin. After making a skin incision, the skin layer must be dissected, and the layer beneath it, the fascia layer, that is, the SMAS layer, must also be separated. In particular, the process of accurately releasing the retaining ligaments supporting the SMAS layer is important. Only after this process can the sagging SMAS layer be pulled upward and fixed, and the remaining skin trimmed and sutured to finally expect a structural lifting effect. This is the basic principle of a “proper” lifting surgery.
Why “there is little change” with a mini facelift
However, in mini facelift surgery, these steps are often omitted or reduced. Some clinics finish the surgery by minimally dissecting the skin and then gathering the fascia layer using lifting threads, while in other cases they choose a method that pulls only the skin layer and sutures it without touching the SMAS layer. These methods may provide a temporary tightening effect, but the structural lifting effect is inevitably limited. In the case of lifting threads, whether they are absorbable or non-absorbable, the bonding strength between the thread and the tissue weakens over time, and the effect tends to gradually decrease. Also, in a method that pulls only the skin and sutures it, the sagging tissue’s weight is borne entirely by the skin, which can increase the possibility of the scar opening or sagging again. Lifting performed without adequately addressing the retaining ligaments inevitably has limitations.
Because it is “mini,” does it have limits?
Then, do medical staff simplify mini facelift surgery because they do not know these facts? It is hard to say that is necessarily the case. Mini facelift surgery is emphasized as a procedure with less cost burden and faster recovery compared to a full facelift. As a result, a structure can easily form in which the surgery is expected to be provided in a relatively short time with a simpler process, and this can lead to the surgical process being minimized. As a result, even if the effect is not as expected, there are cases where it is explained by saying, “It has limitations because it is a mini facelift.”
Being “mini” does not mean it is an easy surgery
Another reason is technical difficulty. Just as visibility is important for safe driving, lifting surgery also requires a sufficient field of view in order to accurately identify and safely release the retaining ligaments. However, because the incision range is limited in a mini facelift, securing visibility is more difficult than in a full facelift. Performing skin dissection, SMAS dissection, and retaining ligament release accurately in a narrow space requires considerable experience and skill. In some cases, a mini facelift may even feel more difficult than a full facelift. As these factors combine, people who have experienced the results of a mini facelift that did not undergo a sufficient surgical process may come to feel that “mini facelift surgery doesn’t work.”
Today, we looked at the background behind why mini facelift surgery came to be known as ineffective. One thing you should definitely remember is that mini facelift surgery is by no means a simple procedure. More important than the name of the surgery is how faithfully and precisely it is performed according to proper principles. If you choose the surgery that suits you through sufficient consultation and with an experienced medical team, you can expect satisfying results from a mini facelift as well.
