17 Nov Welcome to the World of “Baby” Facelifts
Just a couple of decades ago, a “facelift” was a major surgery that could turn back the clock by 10+ years (and that’s still possible when you go the full facelift route!). At RefinedMD, we offer both full facelifts and the mini lift, but keep in mind that within those definitions are myriad sub-definitions—and that every surgery should be customized for your unique features and goals. The term “baby facelift” has been popping up recently and, though Hollywood might have you thinking otherwise, it is (fortunately) not cosmetic surgery for infants. Instead, it’s a more colloquial term for a mini facelift and is often more suitable for clients in their 40s or even younger.
As you can imagine, when you’re getting a miniature version of the real deal, there will be fewer and shorter incisions, which means both a quicker healing period as well as subtler results. In fact, these results can be so subtle that your friends might not be able to figure out what you’ve “had done,” but rather just that you look younger, happier, and healthier. And isn’t that the real goal of a facelift, anyway? Although full facelifts can (and should!) yield natural-looking results, people are going to recognize if you suddenly look 15 years younger than you did a couple of months ago.
Baby, Baby
It’s not uncommon to give procedures cute nicknames like a baby facelift—but they often don’t actually reveal the procedure itself. There is no clinical definition for a baby facelift, but it often refers to a kind of mini facelift that overall will tighten the jaw, under the chin, better the neckline, and generally lift, tighten, and contour. Since everyone is different, your exact target sites for a baby facelift might be different than someone else’s. Most of the time, a baby facelift focuses on the lower half of the face and the neck, just like a full facelift while being less invasive. The cost of a baby facelift is also relatively lower than a full facelift in most cases.
If you want to define your jaw, reduce jowls, lighten those nasolabial folds, and address sagging skin that isn’t quite severe enough for a full facelift yet, a baby facelift might be for you. Clients love them because not only are they more subtle, but the down time is less so you can get back to your real life faster. Full facelifts should also be customized, but they can sometimes include incisions that take longer to heal. Baby facelifts usually constrict incisions to in the crevices of the ear and a tiny incision right under the chin.
Are Celebs Going Gaga Over This Lift?
There’s no way to prove with any certainty that baby facelifts are all the rage in Hollywood (and in turn why so many celebs seem to have stopped aging). However, most cosmetic surgeons agree that celebrities are a big driving force behind this surgical trend. A smaller-scale surgical intervention is going to be the go-to for celebrities because they want to avoid extensive downtime and not make headlines for “going under the knife.” Smaller procedures and tweakments are the secret weapon for celebrities, but the reality is that anyone can benefit from taking this under the radar approach.
If you’re thinking that neuromodulators like Botox and dermal fillers can also help fill in wrinkles, define the jaw, and so on, that’s absolutely true. However, there will come a time when non-surgical treatments have their limits. Instead, injectables and other such procedures can maximize and extend the results of facelifts, including baby facelifts. When skin is actually starting to sag, there are non-invasive treatments like Ultherapy and ThermageFLX. However, when it gets moderate, only surgery will do the trick. That’s why we offer both surgical and non-surgical options in our clinic.
If you’re interested in learning more about facelifts, including baby facelifts, eyelid lifts, or brow lifts, schedule a consultation with our board-certified surgeon today. Book your appointment soon and you’ll be able to show off results in time for those holiday parties (downtime really can be that quick!). Get in touch by calling RefinedMD today or completing the online contact form now.