Jen,
Thanks for your question about mini-facelifting. You are exactly right; a mini-facelift, aka limited incision facelift, S-lift etc. is less expensive, less invasive and has less recovery time. However, it is not for everyone. There are many variations of facelifts and we try to tailor the lift to each patient based upon their needs. If a person has only jawline interruption, ie. jowling, then one type of lift will do. If they have only neck sagging then another. If both are present, but in limited quantities then a third type will do. If they have heavy jowling and a heavy neck however then a full facelift with a more aggressive dissection and therefore longer recovery and expense is the best option. There are some centers for facelifting that take a “one size fits all” approach. These are to be avoided. A mini-facelift isn’t for everyone and in fact isn’t even the most common lift we do, but it might be right for you. The best thing to do is come in for a consultation so that we can assess your needs and plan the best procedure for you.
Ed Buckingham