Before Surgery

Dr. Bentkover will carefully evaluate your face and discuss with you how your face can look and what you might expect from surgery. If a minilift will achieve your goals, he will recommend the appropriate type of minilift. If he thinks you need a full facelift instead of a minilift, he will tell you so.  His objective is to create a natural appearance. Using digital some photos of you he can simulate different types of minilifts with our imaging software. Our aesthetic nurse will give you instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and medications. If you smoke, he will ask you to quit for at least 1 month before and after your surgery, since smoking can ruin good surgery. It can cause more swelling and lead to loss of skin! You must stop anticoagulant medications or herbal preparations such as aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, gingko, garlic, St. John's Wart, or ginseng 2 weeks prior to surgery. You may be required to take antibiotics to prevent infection. You should shampoo your hair the night before surgery. We often use Arnica and pineapple juice (for its Bromelein content) to help decrease swelling and bruising.

The Procedure

Minilifts may be performed in conjunction with a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), forehead lift, chin augmentation, resurfacing, and/or liposuction to create an overall rejuvenation of the face. A procedure may need to be repeated a number of years later, since the effects of aging and gravity continue. You will be the judge of when or if you need further surgery.
Minilifts are most commonly performed in the Same Day Surgery Unit of Saint Vincent Hospital at the Worcester Medical Center. General anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation is required. Dr. Bentkover also operates at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The placement of incisions depends on the type of minilift being performed. These incisions are placed in such a manner that they generally hide very nicely and are as small as possible.. Most women can wear their hair up in a few months without worry of unsightly incisions. Minilifts take less time that a full facelift, and often multiple types of minilifts can be performed at one time. For example, a cheek lift is often combined with a mid facelift or a submental platysmaplasty.

Recovery: What to Expect

You will be given pre- and post-operative instructions. By following these instructions you will minimize potential problems. It is necessary to have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. The type of dressing depends on the type of minilift and often includes some type of face wrap. Stitches around the ears will be removed in a few days. Many of the sutures will dissolve on their own. Scalp sutures/staples will be removed in 7-10 days.

Generally scars fade satisfactorily over a number of weeks, but maximal fading may take a few months. Most swelling and discoloration generally decreases within two weeks, but some areas may take months to subside. If a midface lift is performed, the swelling will persist a bit longer. Tightness in your face or neck will be present for several weeks, and there may be slight changes in your hair pattern around the incision. Dr. Bentkover will discuss all these details with you and show you the location of the incisions. If you have had a facelift previously, your hairline may be a bit high at the sideburn area. Dr. Bentkover may alter the incision to prevent further elevation of you sideburn.

We recommend that you avoid the sun after surgery. In order to preserve the results of your surgery and prevent unwanted thick scars, we actively discourage excessive sun exposure and encourage high SPF sun protection (45-75).

Complications following minilifts are very rare. These may include bleeding, infection, loss of skin near the ears, facial nerve injury, discoloration of the skin, numbness, asymmetry and excessive scarring. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. The risk of bleeding is greater if you take aspirin or blood thinners within 10 days of the surgery. The risk of wound complications is higher in smokers, diabetics, persons with a history of radiation and autoimmune or collagen diseases.

The healing process is gradual, so you may look good in a couple weeks but look better in 3-4 months.  A minilift may not last as long as a full lower facelift. Most patients do not have another lift later in life, but the number of patients having second lifts is definitely growing. Most patients who have had minilifts are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.