By Nicholas Karter, MD — Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, specializing in the extended deep plane facelift, Karter Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery, Glastonbury, CT. Medically reviewed by the author. Last updated October 2026.
The real difference is what each procedure treats and how long results last: a mini facelift tightens the jowls and jawline through a short incision with modest, temporary-feeling results, while a full facelift treats the cheeks, jowls, and neck together for a more complete, longer-lasting outcome. But “full facelift” has no standard definition, so the technique your surgeon uses matters more than the label.
Why Is a Full Facelift So Hard to Define?
“Full facelift” is hard to define because surgeons use the term inconsistently; it can refer to different treated areas, different techniques, or both. This question comes up in my consultations all the time, and it’s a tricky one to answer because surgeons use these terms to mean very different things.
It might mean only the lower face and neck, so the jowls and neck. It might mean the cheeks as well, so the midface, jowls, and neck. Some surgeons count a brow lift (forehead lift) as part of a full facelift, which brings in the upper third of the face.
The technique varies too. A full facelift can be done as:
- SMAS plication
- SMAS imbrication
- High SMAS
- Deep plane facelift
- Extended deep plane facelift
- Composite facelift
On top of that many surgeons give their own version a branded name. Some of those procedures are essentially an extended deep plane facelift under a name unique to that practice.
The practical takeaway: when you compare consultations, don’t compare the word “full”. Ask exactly which areas will be treated and exactly which technique will be used.
What Is a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift is a smaller-scope surgical procedure designed to address early signs of aging. It’s also easier to define. Most surgeons consider it a facelift performed in the office through an abbreviated incision in front of and directly behind the ear. It is almost always done with a SMAS plication technique, meaning the SMAS (the connective tissue layer that descends with age) is tightened with stitches, and it mainly targets the jawline.
In my definition, a mini facelift involves an incision in front of and behind the ear, sometimes extending along the hairline and sometimes not. The skin is dissected in a limited fashion to access the SMAS. It lifts the SMAS primarily through tension and stitch placement. It is designed to mildly lift the jowls and improve the jawline. It has no significant effect on the cheeks or the neck.
Some patients with early signs of aging may also benefit from reviewing nonsurgical alternatives to facelift surgery.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mini Facelift?
Candidacy is very limited. To get a meaningful result, you would need to be bothered only by your jowls, or have only mild jowling. A mini facelift will not:
- Lift the cheeks
- Change redundant neck skin
- Address fullness under the chin
- Correct the deeper structures of the neck
- Correct the vertical descent of the platysma muscle that develops over time
You would also need to go in expecting a very modest improvement, not a dramatic one. In general, patients who consider a mini facelift are looking for a temporizing measure before they are ready for something more complete.
Does Dr. Karter Perform Mini Facelifts?
No, at Karter Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery, I don’t offer mini facelifts, and I want to be upfront that this is my personal choice. I don’t believe it’s worth placing an incision in front of the ear, lifting the skin, and doing that work for such minimal results. In my view, patients take on surgical risk, downtime, scars, and cost for very little return.
What Does Dr. Karter’s Full Facelift Include?
I think of my facelift as a cheek and neck lift, and it addresses everything from the cheeks down through the neck. That means it changes:
- Cheek position
- Jowl position
- Platysma muscle position
- Skin redundancy in these areas
- The deeper neck structures: the subplatysmal fat pads, the digastric muscles, and the submandibular glands
A neck lift is part of every facelift I perform, not an add-on.
How Does an Extended Deep Plane Facelift Differ From a SMAS Plication?
An extended deep plane facelift releases and repositions the sagging SMAS tissue itself through a deeper dissection, while SMAS plication only pulls and stitches the already-tight, fixed portion of the SMAS over itself from the surface.
The technique I use is the extended deep plane facelift. Here is how it differs from the approach most commonly used in this area.
SMAS plication
In my experience, most surgeons in my geographical area use a SMAS plication technique. The skin in front of the ear is lifted, then the surgeon grabs the fixed SMAS, pulls up on it, and stitches it over itself. I don’t favor this technique for three reasons:
- It tightens the wrong tissue. The portion of SMAS over the parotid fascia is already tight and fixed in position. A plication overtightens that tight tissue to try to lift the loose tissue, and that “pull” doesn’t reach the loose part very well.
- Tension causes problems. Tissue under tension can look unnatural, which is where the pulled or windswept look comes from. Tension can also stress healing incisions, so scars may widen and heal less well.
- It doesn’t last as long. Tissue pulled tight and held with stitches wants to return to where it was, and the stitches can stretch over time.
Extended deep plane
Instead of pulling on the SMAS from its surface, I make an incision into the SMAS and dissect beneath it, all the way out to the nasolabial folds and marionette lines. That frees the part of the SMAS that actually sagged. When it’s repositioned, it sits in place with little to no tension; the only tension left is gravity.
The result is a more comprehensive lift because the sagging tissue is what’s being lifted, a more natural look because nothing is pulled tight, and better longevity because there is little tension trying to stretch the repair back out.
The neck
The same deep plane dissection continues beneath the platysma muscle, which is repositioned upward and backward on the sides to where it belongs. Centrally, I go under the platysma, sculpt the deeper structures that cause fullness under the chin and a blunted neckline, and bring the platysma back together in the midline.
Mini Facelift vs. Full Facelift At a Glance
The handy chart below compares facelift techniques to help you better understand each approach, what’s involved, and the results each can deliver.
| Mini Facelift | Full Facelift (Extended Deep Plane) | |
| Typical setting | Often in the office | Often at a surgery center |
| Incisions | Abbreviated, in front of and behind the ear | Extended incision pattern, planned for the full lift |
| Technique | Usually SMAS plication (suture tightening) | Deep plane dissection beneath the SMAS, repositioned with little tension |
| Areas treated | Jowls and jawline only | Cheeks, jowls, and neck |
| Neck | No significant effect | Platysma repositioned; deeper neck structures addressed |
| Cheeks | No significant effect | Cheek position lifted |
| Degree of improvement | Very modest | Comprehensive |
| Best suited for | Mild jowling only; a temporizing measure | Patients with changes in the cheeks, jawline, and neck. Patients looking for a more holistic approach |
Mini Facelift vs. Full Facelift FAQ
What is the difference between a full facelift and a mini facelift?
A mini facelift is a limited procedure that usually takes place in the office and primarily tightens the jowls and jawline with suture plication, whereas a full facelift addresses the cheeks, jowls, and neck. The term “full facelift” has no standard definition, so it’s important to ask which areas and which technique a surgeon means.
Am I a good candidate for a mini facelift?
Candidacy is very limited. The procedure generally fits someone who is bothered only by mild jowling and who expects a modest improvement. A mini facelift does not lift the cheeks or change the neck.
Can a mini facelift fix my neck?
No. A mini facelift does not address redundant neck skin, fullness under the chin, deeper neck structures, or the descent of the platysma muscle.
What is the difference between a SMAS plication and a deep plane facelift?
A SMAS plication pulls up the SMAS and stitches it over itself, thereby putting the tissue under tension. A deep plane facelift releases the sagging SMAS from beneath, so it can be repositioned with little to no tension, delivering a more natural look and longer-lasting results.
Why do some facelifts look pulled or windswept?
This look can result from tissue held under tension. Techniques that reposition tissue with little tension, such as the extended deep plane facelift, are designed to avoid it.
Why doesn’t Dr. Karter perform mini facelifts?
Dr. Karter’s opinion is that a mini facelift exposes patients to surgical risks, longer downtime, scarring, and higher costs for very limited results. His preference is to perform the extended deep plane facelift with a deep plane neck lift.
Considering a Facelift in Glastonbury or the Greater Hartford Area?
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon serving Glastonbury, Hartford, Wethersfield, Avon, and Farmington, CT, I specialize in the extended deep plane facelift and isolated deep neck lift. Request a consultation at Karter Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery to talk through which facial rejuvenation approach fits your anatomy and goals. Complete the online form or call us at (860) 775-5595.
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