• Anesthesia:
    Local with sedation
  • Duration:
    2 to 3 hours
  • Pain level:
    4/10
  • Recovery time:
    10 to 15 days
  • Resuming physical activities:
    4 weeks

A mini facelift procedure is a shorter and less invasive facelift procedure. The focus of this surgery is to rejuvenate the midface and slow down early signs of aging, especially around the mid/lower face. As we age, the quality of our skin naturally loses its integrity. One of the first signs of aging is a loss of tone with laxity of the skin. This allows for descent and a change in the shape of the mid and lower face.

Dr. Perry Gdalevitch is known for producing attractive, beautiful, and natural-looking results. With a mini facelift, she can tighten saggy, drooping skin and restore a smooth jaw line. This procedure achieves a youthful and rested look. With her experience and expertise, your results will look natural.

Patients who are good candidates for this procedure

  • Are at a stable and healthy weight
  • Have no significant medical problems
  • Non-smokers
  • Not on blood thinners
  • Have mild to moderate loose and sagging facial skin/ jowls
  • Desire a more defined jawline

Patients who are poor candidates for this procedure

  • Obese (want or need to lose weight)
  • Smoker
  • Have serious medical problems
  • On blood thinners

Are you a good candidate?

Our Self-Evaluation Quiz can help you decide if a mini facelift is the right procedure for you.

Techniques for Mini Facelift

The goal of a mini facelift is to remove excess skin from the middle and lower third of the face as well as lift and tighten the deeper facial tissues. A vertical incision will be made a few millimetres in front of your ear and may extend slightly behind your ear.

Dr. Gdalevitch will then pull the deep tissue layer under your skin upward, creating the “lift” of the lower face and smoothing out of the jawline. Once these tissues are fixed in their higher position, she will carefully remove any excess skin. Finally, she will close your incisions using very fine sutures to minimize the scars.

A mini facelift can be combined with other facial surgeries, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

Discover the procedure through live surgeries

Mini facelift presentation

Facelift SMAS plication technique

Consent for Mini facelift

Pre op instructions for Mini facelift

At Phi Plastic Surgery, we believe that a beautiful body can take many shapes and sizes. The Phi philosophy centers on respecting your body's proportions and helping you let your inner beauty shine.

We offer our patients the best, most advanced techniques to help them achieve their aesthetic goals.

Pre-op & post-op instructions

These pre-surgical and post-surgical instructions are provided as essential services for you. Please follow the instructions carefully to ensure optimum results. If there are instructions that need to be clarified, please feel free to contact our office as soon as possible. If some instructions are not followed, your surgery could be delayed if deemed necessary by your surgeon.

Pre-op INSTRUCTIONS

ONE MONTH before your surgery

  • Stop using contraceptive pills or hormone therapy.
  • A pre-operative visit (if necessary) approximately one month before your surgery will be scheduled to review your goals and provide you with additional information regarding your surgery.

THREE WEEKS before your surgery

  • Stop all consumption of collagen
  • Complete your preoperative tests. Be sure to complete all prescribed pre-operative tests (ECG blood tests, etc.). If all medical results and clearances of your tests are not received on time, your surgery may be delayed.
  • Prepare your surgery date: Plan to ensure a stress-free experience. Arrange your work leave and special assistance to help you with ride home. Prepare your return by organizing meals, delivery, babysitting, etc. Make sure you have someone scheduled to accompany you home after your surgery. Someone should also be on-call to help you during the first 24 hours after your surgery.

TWO WEEKS before your surgery

  • Stop the consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • A preoperative visit (if necessary), approximately two weeks before your surgery, will be scheduled to review your goals and provide you with additional information regarding your surgery.

SEVEN DAYS before your surgery

  • Stop taking any supplements or medications from the list below. These products can increase the risk of bleeding and other complications. Stop consuming any non-prescribed supplements, including: Omega 3-6, nutricap, echinacea, glucosamine, fat burners, St. John’s wort.
  • Confirm your surgical support plan: This includes your transportation and post-surgical care, including an adult family member or a friend on-call for your support, 24 hours after your surgery.
  • Purchase any prescription provided by Dr. Gdalevitch (If applicable) and revise your pre-surgical instructions.

The day BEFORE your surgery

Prepare a bag. It should include:

  • All necessary papers
  • Your identification (RAMQ card)
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Glasses if necessary
  • Confirm the person who will assist you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • Take a shower. Use a non-perfumed soap. Wash your hair. Do not put cream or lotions. Do not put deodorants, hair products, perfumes, or makeup.
  • Remove any nail varnish (even if transparent) from your hands and feet, including shellac, resin, gel or acrylic. All this reduces the risk of post-surgical infections and nails are monitored for blood circulation.
  • Do not eat anything or drink any dark liquids for 8 hours before your surgery. Do not drink any light liquids 6 hours before your surgery. Anything you eat can cause cancellation of your surgery and increase the risks associated with surgery and anaesthesia. This includes sweets, mints, chewing gum, tea or coffee. You can take a very small amount of water after brushing your teeth or taking medication.
  • Relax. Enjoy a good night’s sleep and avoid stress.

YOUR SURGERY DAY

  • If you wish to have oral sedation, do not eat or drink 4 hours before the surgery. Present yourself at the time confirmed to you by a staff member one week before
  • Do not train before surgery
  • Please bring your medications which have been prescribed to you in a bag as above.
  • Please bring your compression socks if they have been prescribed to you.
  • Do not wear any make-up, jewellery, contact lenses, hairpin or piercings: during surgery, an electric cautery is used, any piercing or jewellery can cause burns.
  • Wear light and comfortable clothing. Wear a top that opens forward. Do not wear a sweater, turtleneck or tight clothing. You can wear a skirt, but pants and a jogging jacket are ideal. Flat shoes should be worn that are easy to put on and remove (no heels). A lip balm is recommended.

post-op instructions

The night of surgery

You can expect to have pain and feel like your cheeks are tight. For your comfort we recommend:

  1. Keep your head elevated (semi sitting position)
  2. Take extra strength Tylenol every 4 hours
  3. Take a medication like Gravol 30 minutes before taking your prescribed pain medication to avoid nausea and vomitting
  4. Take the pain medication as prescribed around the clock for 48 hours
  5. Take your antibiotics if prescribed
  6. Wear your face garment

Please contact us immediately if you experience any of the following

  • You have a fever of > 38.5
  • Severe nausea or vomiting
  • Are experiencing hallucinations or unusual behaviour
  • Your pain is not controlled with the pain medication
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Severe bruising around the neck or difficulty breathing

The day after surgery

  • You can expect the pain to decrease after 48 hours
  • It is best to keep your head elevated as much as possible to prevent swelling
  • You can shower 48 hours after surgery

Healing and follow up

  • You will be swollen for 1-2 months
  • You should wear your face garment to help limit the swelling
  • You should rest for 1 week
  • You will have a follow up appointment in 1 week to remove your stitches
  • The final result will be seen around 1 month. Scars continue to improve over 6 months to a year.

Your results

After your mini facelift, you can expect the pain to decrease after 48 hours. It is best to keep your head elevated as much as possible to prevent swelling. A mini facelift will help you obtain a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance and will accomplish the following:

  • Remove sagging excess skin
  • Improve the look of jowls and wrinkles on the mid/lower half of the face
  • Define the jawline to the upper cheeks
  • Increase self-confidence

The result is a more youthful, natural appearance of the face.

View most frequently asked questions

Can a mini facelift be combined with other facial surgeries?

Yes, blepharoplasty is often combined with mini facelift surgery. However, you should contact Dr. Gdalevitch to book a consultation and find the best solution for you.

How bad is the scarring?

It is less extensive than the scarring from a traditional Facelift. Scars are typically hidden in skin folds near and around the ear.

When will I see my mini facelift results?

Recovery can take 7 to 10 days, and you need to stay home and rest during this time. Your sutures will be removed one week after surgery. The results of your mini facelift can usually be seen immediately after surgery. However, they will become even more satisfying as the swelling and bruising subside.

How long does a mini facelift last?

A mini facelift gives more long-standing results than less invasive procedures like dermal fillers or radiofrequency skin tightening. Although the surgery restores youthful beauty and firmness to your face, natural aging will still occur.

How is a mini facelift different than a complete facelift?

Mini or limited incision facelift is a variation of a complete facelift, with shorter incisions around ear and into the hairline. Usually, this procedure only addresses the midface to target sagging cheeks and jowls. A full facelift will typically also address laxity in the neck area, which a mini facelift does not.

How much does the procedure cost?

Mini facelift

starting at $7,500

For a more beautiful and proportional you!

φ Phi is the Greek symbol that indicates the golden ratio, a ratio that is synonymous with beauty.

Dr. Perry Gdalevitch offers a unique approach that involves applying the principles of perfect proportions (phi) to help you achieve your aesthetic and reconstructive goals.

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