Facial aging doesn’t always announce itself. For many, the forties bring subtle changes where full cheeks might flatten slightly, jawlines blur, and smile lines deepen. You’re probably still feeling as sharp and energized as you were a decade ago, but the reflection in the mirror might not match that sense of vitality.
The mini facelift is a surgical option for those early changes. It doesn’t try to reshape your features. Instead, it restores structure that’s been quietly slipping, offering lift and clarity without the downtime of a full procedure.
Dr. Philip Solomon has been performing this operation for over two decades. His approach is specific, not standardized. With each face, he tailors technique and pacing, ensuring that what’s adjusted supports your features and doesn’t erase them. The outcome is a refreshed version of you.
What’s a mini facelift?
Targeting early signs of aging, the mini facelift focuses on the mid-face and jawline—areas where laxity tends to appear first. It’s less extensive than a full facelift, but don’t let that fool you. The results can still be visible and long-lasting. With smaller incisions, most patients quickly return to their daily routines.
The incisions are small and intentional, starting near the temple, curving around the ear, and ending just behind the lobe. Once they’ve healed, most people find they’re hard to spot, even with their hair pulled back. That’s the idea: structure and subtlety.
Now, not all techniques go beneath the surface. Some lift only the skin, which can help, but not for long. At Solomon Facial Plastic, the method goes deeper, elevating the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system)—a supportive layer of connective tissue that gives the face its underlying shape.
When combined with deep-plane or endoscopic methods, the result tends to settle more naturally and hold longer. A pulled look is less likely because structural layers, not just the surface, are repositioned.
How does a deep plane mini facelift work?
The deep plane mini facelift focuses on repositioning structures beneath the surface, specifically, those beneath the SMAS layer. Ligaments that have gradually loosened are released and lifted. Cheeks return to a higher position, and the jawline gains definition without pulling the skin tight.
Because the deeper tissues are involved, facial movement remains natural. Expressions stay intact. The face doesn’t look altered; it simply functions as it once did, but with restored balance.
One of the key benefits of this method is its structural focus. It doesn’t rely on surface tension to hold shape, which often leads to more durable, integrated results. For patients seeking something subtle and reliable, this approach often proves to be the right match.
Who is a candidate?
A full facelift isn’t always needed. That’s part of the draw with the mini facelift. It tends to suit patients in their late thirties or forties who’ve noticed early sagging along the jawline or mid-face. If the neck still holds its shape, this smaller procedure may be all that’s required to restore contour and balance.
By the time many patients reach this point, they’ve already cycled through years of fillers, skin-tightening devices, or other temporary fixes. Those can help—until they don’t. Eventually, structure, not volume, is what needs restoring. In those moments, surgery isn’t the more aggressive option; sometimes, it’s the simpler one.
You might wonder whether your forties feel too early for this procedure. Often, it’s the ideal time. The skin still responds well, healing tends to be fast, and results last longer because the foundation is solid.
Inside the Procedure
The surgery usually takes about two to three hours. It’s performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Small incisions are placed along the hairline and around the ear. Through them, your surgeon lifts the SMAS and skin together before re-draping them smoothly. This approach gives lift without tightness, and shape without strain.
Recovery is frequently smooth, but it’s still important to give your body time to recalibrate. Most patients are up and moving within a few days, maintaining circulation with light walks and avoiding strenuous activity. Swelling tapers within the first 10 days, and many feel ready to rejoin daily routines by day 14. It’s worth keeping your schedule open, since rest plays a larger role in recovery than patients usually expect.
Mini Facelifts vs. Full Facelifts
Although both of these procedures fall under the umbrella of facial plastic surgery, they serve different purposes. By addressing the neck and deeper aging, a full facelift offers broader correction. A mini facelift focuses on the mid-face and jawline with a recovery process that’s often easier to manage. For many, it’s a way to turn back the clock without putting life on hold.
Some patients like to enhance their results with neck liposuction, fat grafting, or laser resurfacing to keep features in harmony. Whether these are done together or spaced out over time matters less than how well they work together. The aim is simple: thoughtful balance that looks natural and feels right. When treatments are planned with care, everything fits together beautifully and nothing feels out of place.
Why So Many Patients Choose a Mini Facelift in Their 40s
There’s practicality in the timing. A mini facelift in your 40s often looks more natural because the skin is still resilient. Collagen levels remain high, so tissue settles neatly into place and holds shape for longer.
There’s also life balance to think about. Many patients in this age group juggle careers, children, or caregiving. They don’t have time for repeated short-term fixes, and this surgery can simplify things—one procedure that lasts years instead of going through cycles of maintenance.
The Advantages Summed Up
- A balanced, natural look that highlights your own features.
- Shorter incisions and an easier recovery that fit modern routines.
- Results that can last longer than non-surgical treatments.
- Fewer maintenance visits over time.
- A facial rejuvenation and renewed confidence from looking like yourself—simply well-rested.
Every benefit depends on anatomy, healing, and approach. Cosmetic surgery can’t freeze time, but it can guide how you age. When done with precision, it enhances your appearance without altering your identity.
Contact Solomon Facial Plastic for an Expert Toronto Plastic Surgeon
With over 25 years in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Philip Solomon has established a practice rooted in balance, anatomy, and individualized planning. Long before any procedure takes place, the focus is on proportion and patient comfort—not perfection.
At his fully accredited surgical centre in Toronto, procedures are performed under hospital-grade standards. Monitoring systems, private recovery rooms, and modern equipment are all in place to ensure the maximal safety and comfort of all our patients.
Rushed decisions aren’t part of the process. Consultations are unhurried. We make sure that there’s more than enough time for all of our patients to ask questions, look through comparable exams, and weigh their options. If a mini facelift doesn’t quite fit, or if now simply isn’t the right time, those thoughts and concerns are taken very seriously, too.
If you’re considering a consultation, you can reach out by phone or through our online form, whichever feels easier. Call us at 855-519-2799 (Thornhill) or 416-864-6100 (Davenport), or submit a request online at your convenience. No decision is expected on the spot, but if and when you’re ready, we’ll be ready, too.
Dec 02nd 2025