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When early laxity shows up as jowls or heaviness around the mouth, fillers start to chase shadows instead of shaping structure. A mini facelift elevates the midface—the lower cheek and the lid–cheek junction—so marionette lines soften and the cheek contour looks lifted without looking pulled. A mini facelift in Beverly Hills restores definition with a measured lift of the support layer under the skin, shorter incisions, and a focused recovery.
Why Choose Nazarian Plastic Surgery for a Mini Facelift?
A strong lower face isn’t an accident. It’s anatomy, planning, and restraint. At Nazarian Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, board-certified plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian, MD, MMedSc builds every mini facelift around your facial structure, tissue strength, and calendar. Surgery takes place in an accredited suite with modern anesthesia, careful SMAS work (the layer that actually lifts), and a scar plan that hides along the ear curves. You also have access to a comprehensive facial rejuvenation toolkit, including laser skin resurfacing, RF tightening, submental liposuction, and eyelid surgery, so skin quality and contour improve in a unified manner. Patients visit from across Los Angeles—West Hollywood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Hancock Park—and we routinely care for national and international patients who want a measured, modern lift that reads sharp, not “done.” Virtual consults and concierge scheduling are available.
What Is a Mini Facelift?
By adjusting the SMAS vectors into the lower cheek, the lift also supports the midface—improving the transition from eyelid to cheek and softening nasolabial depth. By lifting and securing this foundation, the surgeon reduces jowls, softens marionette lines, and tightens mild laxity without the scope of a full facelift surgery. The mini facelift offers a faster recovery process, discreet scars, and natural-looking changes for faces showing early signs of aging. It’s a surgical procedure, not a quick fix, and that’s why the improvement holds.
Mini Facelift vs. Traditional Facelift
Think in zones and power. A traditional facelift resets the lower face and neck in patients with advanced sagging skin, platysma banding, and thicker laxity. It uses broader release, extended incisions, and deeper work, ideal for a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. A mini facelift is a less invasive procedure built for mild sagging skin at the jawline and early neck changes. Incisions are shorter, undermining is limited, and the lift focuses on the underlying facial tissues along the lower cheek and jaw. If you need major neck work or heavy midface elevation, a full facelift with or without a neck lift may be smarter. If your concern is early jowling and soft marionette lines, the mini plan fits.
| Factor | Mini Facelift (Beverly Hills) | Traditional Facelift |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal candidate | Early jowls, mild skin laxity, good skin quality | Moderate–advanced laxity, jowls + neck bands, heavier aging changes |
| Primary goal | Sharpen jawline, soften marionette area | Rework lower face and neck with a broader reset |
| Incisions | Short, ear-curve–hugging, limited behind the ear | Extended around the ear and into the hairline for wider access |
| SMAS work | Focused plication or limited SMASectomy | Extended SMAS/SMASectomy, deep-plane moves when indicated |
| Neck correction | Improves early laxity; not for strong bands | Comprehensive neck work; platysma treatment standard |
| Anesthesia | Local with light sedation or general (case dependent) | Typically general anesthesia |
| OR time | ~1.5–3 hours | ~3–5 hours (varies by plan) |
| Downtime | Back to desk work ~1 week; light cardio ~2 weeks | Desk work ~2 weeks; full activity 4–6+ weeks |
| Swelling/bruising | Less overall; resolves faster | More initial swelling; longer fade |
| Scar visibility | Concealed along ear curves; short footprint | Longer incisions; still hidden in creases/hairline |
| Longevity | Years when weight and skin care are stable | Longer arc of change due to broader lift |
| Best pairings | Submental lipo, laser skin resurfacing, eyelids | Neck lift, fat grafting, midface moves, laser |
| Who should skip | Heavy neck bands, major midface descent | Patients seeking a quick refresh with minimal downtime |
| Cost landscape | Lower than full facelift; still surgical | Higher due to time, scope, and resources |
Benefits of a Mini Facelift
A measured lift brings back a youthful appearance without breaking your calendar. Expect a cleaner jawline, less heaviness at the corners of the mouth, and a subtle midface lift so the cheek looks supported and the lid–cheek junction reads smoother. Scars hide along the ear and hairline curves, so your hair can go up without drawing a map to the OR. When paired with laser skin resurfacing, skin tone and texture match the new contour.
You also gain better balance across the lower face. Make-up sits smoother. Neck jewelry and collars frame a line that feels intentional again. Most patients call the change a refreshed appearance, the face looks rested and more lifted, yet still yours.
You’re a good candidate when the mirror shows early jowls, midface descent, or excess skin along the lower face that fillers no longer fix. You should be in good health, a non-smoker, at a stable weight, and have realistic goals. Younger patients with early laxity do well; so do patients with stronger bone structure and decent skin elasticity. If your neck has heavy skin or strong platysma bands, or if the midface has dropped farther, we’ll talk about a surgical plan that includes a neck lift or a more complete lift.
Medications matter. Bring a list to the initial consultation, especially blood-thinning medications and supplements. They can increase bruising and extend the recovery period if not timed right.
The mini plan tackles the lower face first. It tightens the SMAS to control underlying muscle and connective tissue, then trims and redrapes remaining skin without tension. You’ll see:
Skin quality is a separate axis. If texture, pores, or sun wear bother you, we often add laser skin resurfacing once incisions have sealed, so the surface reflects the new structure.
Expect a thorough examination of facial anatomy: skin stretch, SMAS tone, chin-neck angle, and hairline patterns for scar placement. We photograph in neutral light and plan discreet incisions that hide along ear curves. You’ll try on outcomes in plain language—what a mini facelift surgery can do, what it won’t, and how we can sequence other procedures (e.g., brow lift, upper or lower eyelid surgery, laser).
Prep is simple and specific: pause nicotine on our timeline; adjust blood-thinning medications with your prescribing doctor; increase quality protein; set aside cold packs and extra pillows to keep your head elevated the first few nights. We’ll map skincare from The Skin Spot to support healing and scars.
The mini facelift procedure runs about 1.5–3 hours at our Beverly Hills facility. Anesthesia can be local anesthesia with light sedation or general anesthesia, based on plan and preference. Incisions trace the front of the ear, curve within natural creases, and may extend a short distance behind the ear. Through this access, Dr. Nazarian elevates limited skin, then reshapes the SMAS with plication or limited SMASectomy to restore line and hold. Small amounts of excess tissue are trimmed so the skin lays smooth without pull. Closure happens in layers for strength and scar quality.
If planned, submental liposuction sharpens the chin-neck angle through a tiny access point. Laser skin resurfacing can be staged in the same season to improve tone, fine lines, and sun wear so skin looks as good as the contour.
Expect swelling and bruising in the first week. Most patients describe mild discomfort or tightness, managed with a short course of pain control. Keep the head elevated, use cool compresses as directed, and limit salt. You can shower after the first follow-up when we confirm incisions are dry. By day four or five, many patients handle email and calls; desk work often resumes within a week. Light cardio returns near week two. Lifting, hot yoga, and high-impact gym work wait until you’re cleared.
Scars hide in the ear and hairline contours. Once sealed, start silicone therapy and stay out of direct sunlight. As swelling fades, a rejuvenated appearance emerges: firmer jawline, less heaviness near the mouth, and a lower face that reads younger without visible scarring. Full refinement continues for several weeks as the underlying tissues settle. To extend results, we often plan maintenance with non-surgical treatments like RF tightening or laser skin resurfacing a few months after surgery.
If the midface needs more lift than a mini can provide, we’ll discuss deepening the SMAS work or staging complementary moves so cheeks, jawline, and neck read as one. Many patients pair a mini face lift with lower eyelid surgery for under-eye bags, a brow lift for low brows that crowd the lids, or chin contouring to match a cleaner jaw. If skin texture and tone lag behind structure, staged laser or RF microneedling improves skin quality so surface and shape align together. The goal is comprehensive facial rejuvenation tailored to your features, not a one-size plan.
Fees reflect surgeon, anesthesia, accredited facility, time in the OR, and any add-ons like submental lipo or laser. Pricing in Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles differs from smaller markets due to staffing and accreditation requirements. Your written estimate outlines surgeon, anesthesia, facility, garments, and follow-ups. We do not accept insurance. Many patients use medical financing (CareCredit or LendingUSA). We regularly coordinate care for out-of-state and international patients and can align consults, pre-op, and recovery windows around travel.
Location matters when you need precise work and seamless support. A facelift in Beverly Hills gives access to a board-certified plastic surgeon, an accredited operating room, and a team used to planning around real schedules—school drop-off, studio days, board meetings. The mini facelift offers the structure you want with the recovery window you can live with.
Meet us in Beverly Hills to map a plan that fits your anatomy and your calendar. We’ll size the lift, stage any adjuncts, and give you a clear path from consult through facelift recovery.
Call (310) 263-8239 • Nazarian Plastic Surgery • 120 S. Spalding Dr., Suite 315, Beverly Hills, CA
Serving Beverly Hills and Los Angeles—with national and international patients welcomed.
Both. While the mini focuses on the lower face, SMAS lift vectors also support the lower cheek and lid–cheek transition. For deeper midface descent, we’ll map a plan that adds or stages more midface work.
Results hold for years when the SMAS is secured, weight stays steady, and skin care is consistent. Maintenance with RF or laser helps keep a more youthful appearance.
It improves early laxity near the jaw and upper neck. Strong platysma bands or heavy neck skin call for a neck lift or a more complete plan.
Many cases run with local anesthesia and light sedation; others use general anesthesia. We choose what fits your surgical plan and comfort.
Shorter incisions hide along the front of the ear, within natural creases, and may curve behind the ear. With careful closure and scar care, they blend well.
If your changes are mild, a mini lift tackles the problem early with a smaller footprint. If laxity is advanced, a full lift makes more sense. We’ll map the line in your consult.
Yes. Common pairings include lower or upper eyelid surgery, brow lift, submental lipo, and laser. Combining procedures can streamline recovery when planned well.
Plan a quiet first week. Patients report tightness more than pain, swelling that fades over days, and a return to office work in about a week. Exercise phases in after clearance.
Active smokers, patients with uncontrolled medical issues, or those seeking dramatic neck change from a mini plan. We’ll screen all of this during the consultation.
