What Is a Short Scar Facelift?
A short scar facelift is a deep plane facelift with a lateral neck lift, performed through a limited incision. The incision runs in front of and behind the ear and extends along the temporal and occipital hairlines. It is the base configuration among Dr Turner’s facelift options in Sydney, before a neck lift or other procedures are added.
Beneath the skin, the deep plane dissection releases selected retaining ligaments so the skin, fat and SMAS of the midface, jowls and jawline can be repositioned together, and the platysma at the side of the neck is suspended (lateral platysma suspension). The skin is then redraped over the repositioned tissue rather than pulled tight on its own.
A short scar facelift does not include work at the front of the neck. Platysmal bands or fullness under the chin are treated through a separate incision under the chin, with a standard neck lift (the lower facelift) or a deep neck lift. Which is appropriate depends on anatomy, tissue position, skin quality and neck findings, assessed at consultation.
How Short Scar Facelift Differs From Mini Facelift
Short scar facelift and mini facelift are sometimes used interchangeably in cosmetic surgery marketing, but they do not always describe the same operation. Mini facelift is a loose term that can mean different things depending on the surgeon and technique, and in some settings it describes skin-only procedures that do not reposition the deeper layers.
In Dr Turner’s practice, a short scar facelift always includes a deep plane dissection beneath the skin. Patients researching mini facelift should confirm with any surgeon whether the procedure involves a deep plane dissection or only skin lifting. The short scar facelift vs mini facelift guide covers the difference in more detail.
Short Scar Facelift Compared With Other Facelifts
| Procedure | What it includes | May be discussed when |
|---|---|---|
| Short scar facelift | Deep plane facelift with lateral neck lift through a limited incision | Changes are mainly in the midface, jowls and jawline, with the side of the neck |
| Lower facelift | The short scar facelift plus a standard neck lift | Platysmal bands or fullness under the chin are present |
| Deep plane facelift with deep neck lift | The short scar facelift plus a deep neck lift | Deeper neck structures, such as the digastric muscles or submandibular glands, contribute to the neck contour |
| Vertical Restore Facelift | A deep plane face and neck lift with brow lift, eyelid surgery, lip lift and fat grafting | Change extends across the whole face |
| Ponytail facelift | Upper face, temples and early midface | Changes are mostly above the lower face and neck |
How a deep plane facelift differs from a SMAS facelift is explained on the SMAS facelift page. The plan is set at consultation based on anatomy, tissue position and neck findings, and the facelift surgery page covers how Dr Turner plans each facelift.
Who May Be Suitable for a Short Scar Facelift?
A short scar facelift may be considered where changes are mainly in the midface, jowls and jawline, without platysmal bands or significant fullness under the chin. Suitability depends on anatomy, tissue position, skin quality, medical history, prior surgery and smoking status, rather than age alone.
Considerations assessed at consultation include:
- Where the change sits: the midface, jowls and jawline rather than the front of the neck.
- Neck findings: platysmal bands or fullness under the chin point to adding a neck lift.
- Skin quality and the amount of skin to be redraped.
- Prior facial surgery, and whether it has altered the tissue planes.
- General health and suitability for general anaesthesia.
- Smoking status, with nicotine cessation required before and after surgery.
- Realistic expectations about what surgery can and cannot change.
A face-to-face consultation following GP referral is required to determine candidacy. Two consultations are required before surgery, and a seven-day cooling-off period applies before surgery can be booked or a deposit paid.
When a Short Scar Facelift May Not Be Enough
A short scar facelift on its own may not be enough where there are platysmal bands, fullness under the chin, deeper neck structures contributing to the neck contour, or change across several facial areas. In those cases it is usually extended rather than replaced:
- Platysmal bands or fullness under the chin: a standard neck lift is added, making it a lower facelift.
- Subplatysmal fat, digastric muscle bulk or submandibular gland prominence: a deep neck lift is added.
- Change across the brow, eyelids, upper lip or facial volume as well: a Vertical Restore Facelift may be discussed.
A shorter incision is not a reason to choose an operation that does not fit the anatomy. Matching the plan to the actual pattern of change matters more than the incision length, and patients seeking surgery primarily as a quick option are encouraged to discuss expectations and alternatives at consultation.
Optional Combined Procedures
Other procedures can be performed in the same operation, each adding to the theatre time. Where several facial areas are involved, a Vertical Restore Facelift may be discussed rather than adding procedures one at a time.
- A standard neck lift for platysmal bands or fullness under the chin, which makes the operation a lower facelift.
- A brow lift where the brow and temple have descended.
- Upper blepharoplasty for excess upper-eyelid skin.
- Lower blepharoplasty for under-eye fat and lower-eyelid skin.
- An upper lip lift where the distance between the nose and the upper lip has lengthened.
- Facial fat grafting for volume in selected facial areas.
The facelift cost page shows what each procedure adds to the fee.
Short Scar Facelift Recovery Timeline
Recovery varies between patients and depends on the surgical plan, whether other procedures are performed, health factors and individual healing. Swelling, bruising, tightness and altered sensation are expected.
- First 24 to 48 hours. An overnight hospital stay. Head elevation is maintained and discomfort is managed with prescribed analgesia.
- First week. Swelling and bruising build and peak, with a review at day 3. Light walking is encouraged while bending and lifting are avoided.
- Weeks one to two. Sutures are removed in stages from the day 7 review. Swelling begins to settle, and many patients plan two to three weeks away from desk-based work.
- Weeks three to four. Visible bruising often resolves over this period. Light exercise resumes with surgeon approval.
- Several months after surgery. Healing and tissue settling continue over several months, and later-stage healing varies between patients.
The deep plane facelift recovery timeline covers each stage in more detail.
Short Scar Facelift Scars
The incision runs in front of and behind the ear and extends along the temporal and occipital hairlines. Scar healing and visibility vary between patients and may be influenced by skin type, smoking history, wound healing and aftercare.
Points discussed at consultation include where the incision sits relative to the ear and hairline, the normal variability of scar healing, and the uncommon possibility of hypertrophic or keloid scarring. Scars appear pink initially and typically change over months, and healing is monitored at follow-up visits. The facelift scars guide covers placement and healing in more detail.
Short Scar Facelift Cost in Sydney
A short scar facelift is $33,300 all-inclusive for surgery in Sydney, about four hours in theatre. The fee covers the surgeon, specialist anaesthetist, private hospital and scheduled post-operative reviews.
Fees reflect theatre time, surgical complexity and the procedures combined, so a neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, lip lift or fat grafting performed in the same operation adds to the fee. A formal itemised quote is provided after assessment. Facelift surgery for facial ageing is cosmetic, so there is no Medicare rebate or private health insurance benefit.
See the facelift cost page for the fee for each combination of procedures and a calculator to estimate yours.
Risks and Complications
All surgery carries risks. Risks relevant to short scar facelift surgery, discussed in detail at consultation, may include:
- Haematoma. A collection of blood beneath the skin, most common in the first 24 hours.
- Infection. Uncommon in clean facial surgery but possible.
- Scarring. Including the uncommon possibility of hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
- Delayed wound healing. Increased in patients who smoke or have poorly controlled medical conditions.
- Facial nerve injury. Temporary or, less commonly, permanent weakness of the muscles of facial expression.
- Altered sensation. Numbness around the ears and cheeks, usually improving over months.
- Asymmetry. Minor asymmetry may persist, as no two sides of any face are identical.
- Hair loss near incisions. Usually temporary.
- Skin bunching or contour irregularity near the incision area. Related to the limited redraping the shorter incision allows.
- Under-correction. The limited access may produce less change than hoped where the underlying changes are more advanced; careful patient selection reduces this risk.
- Need for a longer incision or a different approach. Where assessment or surgery shows the limited pattern is not sufficient.
- Anaesthetic risks. Associated with general anaesthesia.
- Need for further surgery. To address healing or to revise an outcome.
- Dissatisfaction with the outcome. Where the result does not meet expectations.
Risk is reduced by smoking cessation, optimisation of general health, careful surgical technique, an accredited private hospital setting and structured follow-up. Further information is available on the risks and complications page.
Short Scar Facelift FAQs
What is a short scar facelift?
A short scar facelift is a deep plane facelift with a lateral neck lift, performed through a limited incision in front of and behind the ear that extends along the temporal and occipital hairlines. It repositions the deeper tissues of the midface, jowls, jawline and side of the neck, takes about four hours in theatre and is followed by an overnight hospital stay.
How is short scar facelift different from mini facelift?
Mini facelift is a loose term that can describe different operations at different practices, including skin-only procedures. Dr Turner’s short scar facelift always includes a deep plane dissection beneath the skin, so it is worth confirming with any surgeon whether a procedure involves a deep plane dissection or only skin lifting.
How does a short scar facelift differ from a lower facelift?
A lower facelift is a short scar facelift with a standard neck lift added, which treats platysmal bands and fullness under the chin through an incision under the chin. It takes about 4 hours 30 minutes in theatre, compared with about four hours for a short scar facelift. Which one suits you depends on your neck findings at consultation.
Who may be suitable for a short scar facelift?
A short scar facelift may be considered where changes are mainly in the midface, jowls and jawline, without platysmal bands or significant fullness under the chin. Suitability depends on anatomy, tissue position, skin quality, medical history, prior surgery and smoking status, rather than age alone. Candidacy is determined at consultation following a GP referral.
Does short scar facelift treat the neck?
Partly. A short scar facelift includes a lateral neck lift, suspending the platysma at the side of the neck along with the jawline. Platysmal bands and fullness under the chin need a separate incision under the chin, with a standard neck lift (the lower facelift) or, where deeper neck structures contribute, a deep neck lift.
Where are short scar facelift scars placed?
The incision runs in front of and behind the ear and extends along the temporal and occipital hairlines. Scar healing and visibility vary between patients and may be influenced by skin type, smoking history, wound healing and aftercare, and healing is monitored at follow-up visits.
What is the recovery timeline for short scar facelift surgery?
Recovery varies between patients and depends on the surgical plan and whether other procedures are performed. An overnight hospital stay is followed by reviews at day 3 and day 7. Swelling and bruising peak in the first week, sutures are removed in stages from day 7, and many patients plan two to three weeks away from desk-based work. Healing and tissue settling continue over several months.
What does short scar facelift cost in Sydney?
A short scar facelift is $33,300 all-inclusive for surgery in Sydney, about four hours in theatre, covering the surgeon, specialist anaesthetist, private hospital and scheduled post-operative reviews. There is no Medicare rebate or private health insurance benefit. The full breakdown and a fee calculator are on the facelift cost page.
Related Guides
Facelift techniques: Facelift Surgery Sydney (the facelift procedure hub), Deep Plane Facelift, Lower Facelift, Vertical Restore Facelift, Ponytail Facelift, Revision Facelift and SMAS Facelift vs Deep Plane.
Component and complementary procedures: Facial Fat Transfer, Buccal Fat Removal, Lip Lift Surgery, Upper Blepharoplasty and Lower Blepharoplasty.
Reading more: Facelift Cost, Deep Plane Facelift Recovery Timeline and Short Scar Facelift vs Mini Facelift.
