Short Scar Facelift at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) |
| AHPRA registration | MED0001654827 |
| Procedure category | Structural facelift through a limited incision pattern, using deep plane or high SMAS technique beneath the skin |
| Incision pattern | Limited (front of ear and around earlobe, no extension into posterior hairline) |
| Areas treated | Lower face, jowls, jawline |
| Areas not directly addressed | Midface descent (limited reach), brow, eyelids, significant neck laxity |
| Anaesthesia | General anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital |
| Surgical time | 2 to 3 hours |
| Hospital stay | Day surgery or 1 night |
| Return to desk work | 2 weeks |
| Final result visible | 6 to 12 months |
| Longevity | Long-lasting, with individual variation based on age, skin quality and lifestyle |
| Typical candidate age | Late 30s to early 50s (candidacy depends on anatomy, not chronological age) |
| Sydney clinics | Bondi Junction (39 Grosvenor Street), Manly (Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade) |
| Surgery performed at | Bondi Junction Private Hospital, Delmar Private Hospital (Dee Why) |
| GP referral | Required (Medical Board and AHPRA requirement) |
| Medicare and private health rebate | Not applicable for cosmetic facelift surgery |
| Indicative cost | From $25,000 all-inclusive |
| Alternatives if not suitable | SMAS Facelift, Deep Plane Facelift, Vertical Restore Facelift |
What is a Short Scar Facelift?
A short scar facelift performs the structural work of a facelift through a more limited incision pattern. The incisions are confined to the front of the ear and around the earlobe, without extending into the posterior hairline behind the ear.
The key point is what happens beneath the skin. A short scar facelift performed by Dr Turner uses the same deep plane or high SMAS techniques as a standard-length facelift. The retaining ligaments are released (if deep plane is used) or the SMAS is elevated and re-suspended (if high SMAS is used), and the deeper soft tissue composite is repositioned upward. The skin is then redraped over the lifted structure and excess is trimmed.
What changes with a short scar approach is the access pattern, not the technique. Because the incisions do not extend into the posterior hairline, the amount of skin that can be redraped and repositioned is limited. This is the reason short scar facelift is suitable for early-to-moderate changes rather than advanced ones.
Short Scar Facelift vs Mini Facelift
The terms “short scar facelift” and “mini facelift” are often used interchangeably in cosmetic surgery marketing, but they describe different procedures depending on which surgeon is performing them.
Most procedures marketed as a “mini facelift” or “weekend lift” elsewhere are skin-only operations. The skin is elevated, pulled tighter, and re-sutured, without addressing the SMAS or deeper anatomical layers. This produces a temporary tightening effect that does not address the structural cause of facial ageing.
A short scar facelift performed by Dr Turner is structurally different. The incisions are similarly limited in length, but the work performed beneath the skin is the same deep plane or high SMAS technique used in a standard-length facelift. The retaining ligaments are released or the SMAS is elevated. The repositioning is structural, not surface.
If you are researching short scar or mini facelift options, the question to ask any surgeon is what is being done beneath the skin. The incision length describes the access. The technique beneath the skin determines what the procedure can actually achieve.
How Short Scar Facelift Compares
| Feature | Short Scar Facelift (Dr Turner) | “Mini Facelift” (skin-only marketing) | SMAS Facelift | Deep Plane Facelift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incision pattern | Limited (front of ear + earlobe) | Limited | Standard (extends into posterior hairline) | Standard (extends into posterior hairline) |
| Beneath-skin technique | Deep plane or high SMAS | Often skin-only | SMAS layer | Sub-SMAS with retaining ligament release |
| Structural correction | Yes | Variable, often minimal | Yes | Yes |
| Reaches midface | Limited | No | Limited | Yes |
| Skin redraping extent | Limited (by incision pattern) | Limited | Full | Full |
| Surgical time | 2 to 3 hours | Typically 1 to 2 hours | 2 to 3.5 hours | 3.5 to 5 hours |
| Return to desk work | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Best suited for | Early-to-moderate lower-face changes (late 30s to early 50s) | Patients with minimal changes seeking the simplest procedure | Mild-to-moderate jowling without significant midface descent | Moderate-to-significant midface descent and jowling |
| Indicative cost | From $25,000 | Variable | From around $25,000 | Around $35,000 (with neck lift) |
Who is a Suitable Candidate?
A short scar facelift suits patients with early-to-moderate lower-face changes who do not yet have the degree of skin excess, neck laxity or midface descent that requires the full incision pattern of a standard facelift. Typical candidates are in their late 30s to early 50s, though candidacy depends on anatomy rather than chronological age.
Considerations assessed at consultation include:
- Pattern of ageing. Early-to-moderate jowling and lower-face laxity, without significant midface descent or substantial neck involvement.
- Skin quality. Adequate elasticity for redraping through the limited incision pattern.
- Skin excess. Limited rather than substantial. Significant skin excess requires a longer incision to allow proper redraping.
- Neck involvement. Minimal to mild platysmal banding or submental fullness. Significant neck changes are not addressed adequately through the short scar approach.
- General health. Suitable for general anaesthesia.
- Smoking status. Non-smoker, or willing to cease nicotine for at least six weeks before and six weeks after surgery.
- Realistic expectations. Understanding that the short scar approach addresses the lower face and jowls, not the brow, eyelids or significant midface.
- Recovery time available. Minimum of 2 weeks for desk-based work return.
A face-to-face consultation following GP referral is required to determine candidacy.
When a Short Scar Facelift Is Not the Right Choice
The short scar approach is not suitable for every patient considering facelift surgery. It is not the right choice when:
- Midface descent is significant. A short scar approach reaches the midface only to a limited degree. A deep plane facelift is more appropriate.
- Skin excess is substantial. Substantial skin excess requires the full incision pattern (extending into the posterior hairline) to allow proper redraping without creating bunching or distortion.
- Neck laxity or platysmal banding is significant. A formal neck lift component requires additional incisions and is incorporated into a SMAS or deep plane facelift, not the short scar approach.
- Changes extend to multiple facial zones. When ageing involves the brow, eyelids, midface, lower face and neck together, a Vertical Restore Facelift is a more appropriate single procedure.
- The patient is seeking a “quick fix”. A short scar facelift is a structural procedure performed under general anaesthesia with a real recovery period. Patients seeking minimal recovery may be better suited to non-surgical options or should reconsider whether surgery is right for them at all.
Selecting the right procedure is more important than selecting the procedure with the shortest incision or recovery. The wrong procedure (whether too small for the patient’s anatomy or too large) does not produce a good result.
Optional Combined Procedures
A short scar facelift can be combined with complementary procedures in a single operation, where the additional procedures are anatomically compatible with the short scar approach.
- Upper blepharoplasty. Addresses excess upper-eyelid skin. Compatible with the short scar facelift in the same operation.
- Lower blepharoplasty. Addresses lower-eyelid changes. Compatible in the same operation.
- Limited neck work. For minor platysmal banding, a small submental incision may be added. More significant neck work requires a standard facelift incision rather than a short scar approach.
- Facial fat grafting. Volume restoration to the midface and temples. See facial fat transfer.
If multiple facial zones require correction, the Vertical Restore Facelift is typically a better-integrated single procedure than combining several add-ons with a short scar facelift.
Recovery Timeline
Recovery from a short scar facelift is typically faster than recovery from a standard-length facelift, because the surgical area is smaller. Individual recovery varies based on age, general health and adherence to post-operative instructions.
- Day 1. Day surgery or 1 night in hospital. Head elevation maintained. Mild discomfort managed with prescribed analgesia.
- Days 2 to 3. Light walking encouraged. No bending or lifting.
- Days 4 to 7. Peak swelling and bruising. Sleeping upright remains important.
- Day 7 to day 14. Sutures removed in staged fashion. Swelling settles.
- Week 2. Most patients return to desk-based work. Mineral makeup may be used to camouflage residual discolouration.
- Weeks 3 to 4. Visible bruising resolves. Light exercise resumed with surgeon approval.
- Month 3. Most of the swelling has settled.
- Months 6 to 12. Final tissue settling, scar maturation and the long-term result become apparent.
Risks and Complications
All surgery carries risk. The risks of a short scar facelift are the same general categories as a standard facelift, although the smaller surgical area may modestly reduce the magnitude of some risks. Risks discussed at consultation include:
- Haematoma. A collection of blood beneath the skin, most common in the first 24 hours.
- Facial nerve injury. Temporary or, less commonly, permanent weakness of the muscles of facial expression.
- Wound healing complications. Increased in patients who smoke or have poorly controlled medical conditions.
- Infection. Uncommon in clean facial surgery but possible.
- Scarring. Incisions heal over months. Hypertrophic or keloid scarring is uncommon but possible.
- Asymmetry. Minor asymmetry may persist after surgery.
- Hair loss near incisions. Usually temporary.
- Sensory changes. Numbness around the ears and cheeks is normal in the early post-operative period and typically improves over months.
- Under-correction. Because the short scar approach has a more limited reach than a standard facelift, patients with more advanced changes than were apparent at consultation may achieve less correction than they hoped for. This is mitigated by careful patient selection at consultation.
Risk is reduced by smoking cessation, optimisation of general health, careful surgical technique, accredited private hospital setting and structured follow-up. Detailed risk discussion is part of every consultation.
Short Scar Facelift Cost in Sydney
The indicative cost of a short scar facelift in Sydney with Dr Turner is from $25,000 all-inclusive. A short scar facelift combined with blepharoplasty, fat grafting or limited neck work will be higher, with the final fee depending on the combination selected.
The all-inclusive fee covers the surgeon, assistant surgeon, anaesthetist, accredited private hospital fee, garments and standard post-operative care. Final fees are quoted after consultation. Medicare and private health insurance rebates do not apply for cosmetic facelift surgery. A consultation fee applies.
A complete cost breakdown including comparison with SMAS, deep plane and Vertical Restore Facelift pricing is available in the Facelift Cost Sydney 2026 guide.
Consultations in Bondi Junction and Manly
Short scar facelift consultations with Dr Scott J Turner are available at two Sydney locations.
The Bondi Junction clinic is located at 39 Grosvenor Street, a short distance from Bondi Junction station and Westfield. The Manly clinic is located in Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade, close to Manly Wharf.
A GP referral is required before booking a consultation, in line with Medical Board and AHPRA requirements introduced for cosmetic surgery in Australia. Dr Turner conducts a minimum of two consultations before proceeding with surgery, both personally, with no patient representatives.
To request a consultation, contact the practice on (02) 9387 3900 or [email protected], or visit the contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a short scar facelift?
A short scar facelift is a structural facelift performed through a shorter incision pattern, confined to the area in front of the ear and around the earlobe without extending into the posterior hairline. Despite the shorter incision, the work performed beneath the skin uses the same deep plane or high SMAS techniques as a standard-length facelift, releasing the retaining ligaments or elevating the SMAS to reposition the deeper soft tissue. Dr Scott J Turner performs short scar facelift surgery at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.
Is a short scar facelift the same as a mini facelift?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different procedures depending on which surgeon is performing them. Most procedures marketed as a “mini facelift” or “weekend lift” elsewhere are skin-only operations, where the skin is elevated, pulled tighter and re-sutured without addressing the SMAS or deeper layers. A short scar facelift performed by Dr Turner is structurally different: the incisions are similarly limited in length, but the work beneath the skin is the same deep plane or high SMAS technique used in a standard-length facelift. The question to ask any surgeon offering either name is what is being done beneath the skin.
How does a short scar facelift differ from a full facelift?
The difference is the incision pattern, not the technique beneath the skin. A full facelift uses a standard incision pattern that extends from the temporal hairline, in front of and around the ear, and into the posterior hairline behind the ear. This allows more extensive skin redraping and access to the lower face and upper neck. A short scar facelift uses a more limited incision confined to the front of the ear and around the earlobe, without extension into the posterior hairline. The shorter incision limits how much skin can be redraped, which is why the short scar approach is suited to early-to-moderate changes rather than advanced ones.
Who is a suitable candidate for a short scar facelift?
A short scar facelift suits patients with early-to-moderate lower-face changes who do not yet have the degree of skin excess, neck laxity or midface descent that requires the full incision pattern. Typical candidates are in their late 30s to early 50s, though candidacy depends on anatomy rather than chronological age. Suitability is assessed at consultation based on the pattern of ageing, skin quality and quantity, neck involvement and overall health.
Does a short scar facelift treat the neck?
A short scar facelift addresses the upper neck only to a limited degree, through the same incision area used for the lower face. It does not address significant platysmal banding or submental fullness. Patients with notable neck laxity or banding are better suited to a SMAS facelift with neck lift, a deep plane facelift with neck lift, or a Vertical Restore Facelift, all of which include formal neck work through additional incisions.
Do short scar facelift results look natural?
Because the technique beneath the skin uses the same deep plane or high SMAS principles as a standard-length facelift, the appearance after a short scar facelift performed by Dr Turner is structurally repositioned rather than skin-pulled. The result aims to restore the position of the deeper tissues rather than tighten the skin surface. Individual outcomes vary based on starting anatomy, skin quality and healing. Realistic expectations are part of the consultation discussion.
Are short scar facelift scars visible?
Incisions are placed in natural creases around the ear and at the earlobe. The pre-tragal or post-tragal incision in front of the ear and the incision around the earlobe are designed to be camouflaged once healed. Scars appear pink initially and typically fade over months to become difficult to see with normal hair styling. The shorter incision pattern means there is no incision extending into the posterior hairline behind the ear. Individual scar healing varies, and hypertrophic or keloid scarring, while uncommon, is possible.
What is the recovery timeline for a short scar facelift?
Recovery from a short scar facelift is typically faster than recovery from a standard-length facelift, because the surgical area is smaller. Day 1 involves day surgery or a single night in hospital. Days 4 to 7 show the peak of swelling and bruising. Sutures are removed in stages between day 7 and day 14. Most patients return to desk-based work at around 2 weeks. Visible bruising typically resolves by weeks 3 to 4 with the assistance of mineral makeup. Final tissue settling continues over 6 to 12 months.
What does a short scar facelift cost in Sydney?
The indicative cost of a short scar facelift in Sydney with Dr Turner is from $25,000 all-inclusive. A short scar facelift combined with blepharoplasty, fat grafting or limited neck work will be higher, depending on the combination selected. The all-inclusive fee covers the surgeon, assistant surgeon, anaesthetist, accredited private hospital fee, garments and standard post-operative care. Final fees are quoted after consultation. Medicare and private health insurance rebates do not apply for cosmetic facelift surgery. A consultation fee applies.
Where does Dr Scott J Turner perform short scar facelift surgery?
Dr Scott J Turner consults from two Sydney clinics, Bondi Junction (39 Grosvenor Street) and Manly (Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade). Short scar facelift surgery is performed at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why, both accredited Sydney private hospitals. Dr Turner also consults from Brisbane (Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill) and Canberra (Campbell), with surgery performed in Sydney for patients travelling from interstate.
Related Guides
Compare facelift techniques: Facelift Surgery Sydney (the hub covering all eight techniques), Deep Plane Facelift, SMAS Facelift, Vertical Restore Facelift, Lower Facelift, Endoscopic Facelift, Ponytail Facelift and Revision Facelift.
Component and complementary procedures: Facial Fat Transfer, Buccal Fat Removal, Lip Lift Surgery.
Reading more: Facelift Cost Sydney 2026, Deep Plane Facelift Recovery Timeline and Difference Between Vertical Restore and Deep Plane Facelift Surgery.
