Mini Facelift

A mini facelift, or short scar face lift, uses shorter incisions around the ears to address earlier or more limited changes in the lower face and along the jawline. It suits people who are generally at an earlier stage of ageing, with a smaller degree of laxity and early jowling. Because the access is more limited, it is not a substitute for a more complete lift when there is significant change in the face and neck.

At your consultation, Dr Ricketts examines your face and neck and assesses your skin and the deeper supporting tissues. She will tell you honestly what a mini facelift can achieve for you, and whether a fuller SMAS or deep plane lift would give you a better and longer lasting result, because a shorter scar only helps if your changes are early and limited.

The incisions are shorter than those used in a full facelift and sit around the ear. Through this access, Dr Ricketts repositions and supports the deeper tissue of the lower face to a limited degree and removes a small amount of excess skin without tension, which lifts and tightens the jawline and the lower face. Because the operation is more contained, the recovery is generally shorter than a full facelift, though the change is also more modest.

A mini facelift may suit you if you have early jowling or mild laxity of the lower face and jawline, good skin quality, and realistic expectations, and if you are in reasonable general health. It is not the right choice if you have significant descent of the face and neck, where a full facelift is usually needed. It is not a treatment for skin texture, fine lines or pigmentation, which have other causes. Smoking increases the risk of healing problems, so Dr Ricketts will discuss this with you.

At your consultation, Dr Ricketts examines your face and neck, assesses your skin and the deeper tissues, and listens to what concerns you. She explains whether a mini facelift or a fuller lift would suit you, where the scars would sit, the recovery and the risks, and whether procedures such as eyelid surgery or fat transfer would add to your result. She gives you written information and encourages you to take your time, as this is an elective decision.

A mini facelift is performed under general anaesthetic, and is often a day case or an overnight stay. On the day Dr Ricketts confirms the plan and marks the surgical areas with you in the upright position. A dedicated team cares for you through your operation and early recovery. You will go home in dressings with clear instructions, and it is best to have a support person take you home. Your first review is usually about a week later.

In the first one to two weeks, swelling, bruising and tightness are at their most noticeable, and a supportive dressing is usually in place for a short period. Discomfort is manageable with the medications prescribed. Keeping your head elevated and following the activity restrictions in the early days helps you heal.

Because a mini facelift is more limited than a full lift, many people feel ready to return to work and social activity a little sooner, often around two weeks, though bruising does not always clear that quickly. Strenuous exercise is restricted for about three to four weeks. Some numbness of the skin can persist for weeks before improving, and the result continues to refine as swelling settles over about three months. Dr Ricketts will see you for reviews. Everyone heals at a different rate, the timeframes given are a guide only, and the outcomes one person experiences do not necessarily reflect what another will experience.

Dr Sophie Ricketts is a specialist plastic surgeon based in Richmond, Melbourne, with a focused practice in facial surgery, including the mini facelift (short scar face lift). She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), the peak professional bodies for plastic surgery in Australia. You can also find her on RealSelf. Each of these listings is maintained by independent organisations and provides patients with a straightforward way to check the qualifications, training, and scope of practice of the listed providers before booking a consultation.