By David Trung D. Nguyen, M.D.
Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon
Orthopedic Hand, Wrist, Microsurgeon

As the years go by, the aging of our face is unavoidable.  The our facial skin begins to loosen giving way to "crow's feet" at the corner of the eyes, deep folds at the corner of the mouth,  jowling at the jawline,  and a "double chin" beneath the chin.  Anything that cause the skin to lose its elasticity will hasten the aging process, including heredity, sun exposure, the pull of gravity, and personal habits such as smoking.  These changes are best treated with a facelift.  However, with the advances in surgical techniques, more and more people want to look young and feel confident without going through a major traditional facelift.  This is why a “Baby” facelift is the perfect choice!

A “Baby” facelift is a minimally invasive procedure with smaller incisions that can reposition targeted areas of the face without the time and effort required for a traditional facelift.  Its results are less dramatic but can improve signs of aging in the face.  It is a maintenance procedure preventing the need for more dramatic changes later in life and makes very subtle changes that the face does not appear “an operated look.”

These “Lunch/Quick facelifts” are popular among Hollywood celebrities because of short recovery time and low morbidity.  People with busy lives are perfect candidate for this operation.  In addition, the best candidates, typically between 30 and 65 years old, are those in good health with mild to moderate lower facial and neck laxity.  It is ideal for patients who want to stay ahead of the aging process, and those who previously had full facelifts, but desire additional rejuvenation of the face and neck area. Nevertheless, it does not preclude undergoing full facelift procedures in the future.

The main advantages of the “Baby” facelift over the traditional facelift are its low risk and cost.  It is safer because it is less invasive.  It does not require general anesthesia (although general anesthesia is available). Its quick recovery time and lower costs have made it available to a wide range of patients who are looking for facial rejuvenation at a cheap price. “Baby”i facelift patients see rapid, natural-looking results with very little recovery time.

The procedure is relatively straightforward.  An anesthetic solution is injected into the region anterior to the ears.  Once the area is anesthetized, small incisions are made just in front of the ear and advance up into the hairline. Incisions within the hair do not require shaving. The subcutaneous tissue and fascia are pulled to tighten the skin and anchored with deep sutures. Excess skin is tailored. The procedure takes between 45 to 90 minutes. Some patients take a mild sedative beforehand if need.

The “Baby” facelift is sometimes referred to as the "weekend facelift” because that is the approximate duration for post-operative recovery.   However, it could be longer depending on the individual. Postoperatively, an ace bandage will be wrapped under the chin and around the head for the first 48 hours. It can be removed for bathing and washing the hair. It should also be worn continuously for the next 5 nights.  Sutures are removed within one week, and visible scars will fade over time.

The duration of the result varies with a patient's sun exposure, skin type, and heredity. For most patients, the benefits from the mini facelift last between 5 and 7 years.

For those looking to keep their youthful look, a “Baby” facelift is the answer!  It's a short, safe, affordable operation that can provide specific results that keeps your look youthful and energetic without making it less obvious that you've undergone surgery.