Mini FaceliftBeverly Hills & Los Angeles

Name: Mini-Facelift
Brand: Dr. Kimberly Lee
Rating: 4.7 (70 reviews)

Changes in facial appearance are inevitable as we age. But if these changes leave you feeling less confident or not like yourself, there’s an elegant solution. Dr. Lee specializes in the mini facelift in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, focusing on personalized, nuanced, and elegant results that restore a youthful and rejuvenated appearance.

What is a Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift addresses mild to moderate signs of aging in the midface, jawline, and neck. This procedure involves the moderate removal of excess skin. It gently tightens the underlying facial muscles to achieve a rejuvenated and natural-looking outcome that harmonizes with an individual's features. In cases where additional cosmetic concerns, such as fat volume loss, are present, a mini facelift can be complemented with dermal filler treatments to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

For individuals experiencing other aging-related issues such as a drooping brow, sagging eyelids, or wrinkling in the neck, Dr. Lee can perform a range of corrective surgeries, including a neck lift, brow lift, and eyelid surgery, to address these concerns and enhance overall facial appearance.

What are the Benefits of a Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift is renowned for its ability to comprehensively address various age-related imperfections, making it a preferred choice for facial rejuvenation. This procedure effectively combats sagging in the midface, restores a firmer and more youthful jawline, reduces submental fat, corrects jowling, and diminishes lines, wrinkles, and folds. Furthermore, the tightening of underlying facial muscles provides a strong foundation for the skin's surface layers.

Emotionally, a mini facelift offers long-lasting changes that can lead to increased self-confidence and a positive self-image, contributing to a greater sense of security both socially and professionally.

Opting for a mini facelift surgery in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles may also prove to be a more cost-effective choice in the long term compared to undergoing numerous non-invasive treatments, as it delivers the significant and transformative results desired.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini-Facelift?

We’ve loved helping our patients hit their aesthetic goals with this simple procedure. Typically, the best candidates are:

Exhibiting mild to moderate signs of aging in the midface, jawline, and neck
Those experiencing early signs of jowling or mild sagging in the lower face
Individuals seeking to address the appearance of a "tired" or "worn-out" facial expression
Those with minimal excess skin or muscle laxity in the midface and jawline
Individuals looking for a subtle yet noticeable improvement in facial contours and definition

What Age and Skin Type Make the Best Candidate?

While every patient ages differently, most mini facelift candidates are in their 40s and 50s — an age range when the face has begun to show mild sagging but the skin still retains enough natural elasticity to respond well to a more limited lift. That elasticity comes largely from collagen, which naturally declines with age; patients with good skin quality and only mild-to-moderate laxity tend to see the most harmonious, longest-lasting results from a mini facelift.

If skin laxity is more advanced, or if aging has progressed into the neck as well as the midface and jawline, Dr. Kimberly Lee may recommend a more comprehensive full facelift to fully meet your goals — something she'll discuss candidly with you during your consultation for a mini facelift in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.

Mini Facelift Before & After Photos

Mini Facelift in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Before & After Photos

Real Patient Testimonial

I came in with personal hesitation and yet I have absolutely nothing but great things to say. Flawless experience, extremely kind and professional staff. Dr. Lee has a gentle touch and her knowledge and positive approach made it worthwhile. Happy and satisfied and already recommended my family and friends. Thank you to the entire team!

L.J.

What is the Mini Facelift Procedure Like?

The Mini Facelift Step by Step:

Step 1: Anesthesia and Comfort
- Your mini facelift begins with local anesthesia and, in many cases, light sedation to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
Step 2: Discreet Incision Placement
- Dr. Lee places incisions carefully — typically around the ears and, when needed, extending slightly into the hairline — to minimize visible scarring.
Step 3: Repositioning the Underlying Tissue
- Through these incisions, Dr. Lee lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissue, tightening the underlying muscles to restore a firmer, more youthful facial contour.
Step 4: Skin Trimming and Redraping
- Excess skin is carefully trimmed away, and the remaining skin is gently redraped over the newly repositioned structure — creating a natural, refreshed appearance without an overly tight or "done" look.

Will a Mini Facelift Leave Visible Scars?

One of the most common concerns before any facelift is scarring. Because a mini facelift uses a shorter incision and a shallower dissection than a full facelift, Dr. Lee places incisions discreetly in the natural creases in front of and behind the ear, occasionally extending slightly into the hairline. The resulting scars are typically small and settle within the hairline or the natural fold behind the ear, where hair and the ear's contours help conceal them.

Like any incision, mini facelift scars will appear pink or slightly raised in the weeks immediately after surgery, but they fade significantly as they heal over the following months. Patients with darker skin tones may be more prone to temporary hyperpigmentation, or in rare cases, keloid scarring — a factor Dr. Lee reviews with every patient during their consultation. In the vast majority of cases, mini facelift scars become virtually undetectable once fully healed, a result of Dr. Lee's meticulous, discreet approach to incision placement.

You can see examples of her results in our before-and-after gallery.

Your Private Consultation

During your private consultation with Dr. Lee, she will conduct a physical examination and thoroughly review your medical history. Dr. Lee will assess your skin quality and degree of laxity and then discuss your specific goals and desires. Additionally, she will present before and after photographs relevant to the mini facelift procedure and thoroughly explain the associated risks, benefits, recovery process, and expected results. Then, Dr. Lee will devise a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

What is the Recovery Period Like?

Recovery after a mini facelift procedure typically involves a relatively short downtime, with most patients returning to their regular activities within one to three weeks. While individual recovery experiences may vary, following post-operative care instructions provided by Dr. Lee can contribute to a smoother and more comfortable recovery process.

Medical References:

Kimberly J. Lee MD, Azizzadeh B. Short-Flap Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) Rhytidectomy. In: Murphy MR, ed. Master Techniques in Blepharoplasty and Eyelid Reconstruction. Springer; 2011.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0067-7_28
Kimberly J. Lee MD, Azizzadeh B. Asian Rhinoplasty. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. 2009. https://www.facialplastic.theclinics.com/article/S1064-7406(09)00152-7/abstract
Kimberly J. Lee MD, Lam SM. Modern Advances in Asian Blepharoplasty. In: Murphy MR, ed. Master Techniques in Blepharoplasty and Eyelid Reconstruction. Springer; 2011. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0067-7_14
Kimberly J. Lee MD, Cutri RM. Dimple Creation Surgery. Facial Plastic Surgery. 2025;41(5):628-631. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2626-9299

Why Choose Dr. Kimberly Lee for my Mini-Facelift?

What to Look for in a Mini Facelift Surgeon — and How Dr. Kimberly Lee Meets Each Standard

Selecting the right surgeon is the most important decision in any facelift journey. Here's what to look for — and how Dr. Lee's credentials measure up:

Board Certification. Look for a surgeon certified by a board recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Dr. Lee has been Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery since 2011.
Specialized Fellowship Training. Beyond residency, look for dedicated fellowship training in facial plastic surgery specifically. Dr. Lee completed her Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Beverly Hills, sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).
Academic and Hospital Affiliations. A surgeon's academic and hospital appointments reflect ongoing peer oversight. Dr. Lee serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA and as an Attending Physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Professional Society Membership. Active membership in national societies signals a commitment to continuing education and current best practices. Dr. Lee is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and serves as a committee member of Women in Facial Plastic Surgery.
Track Record and Recognition. Dr. Lee is a Stanford University–educated, UCLA-trained surgeon and a multi-year Patients' Choice and Compassionate Doctor award recipient, recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise, attention to detail, and artistry in facial rejuvenation.

To learn more about Dr. Lee's complete training and credentials, visit her full CV or meet Dr. Lee.

Mini Facelift FAQs

How does a mini facelift differ from a full facelift or a targeted lower facial procedure?

Can I combine a mini facelift with midface and perioral enhancement procedures?

How does Dr. Lee address age-related volume loss during a mini facelift?

Can upper facial surgeries be performed simultaneously with a mini facelift?

Are structural facial enhancements like dimple creation or rhinoplasty compatible with a mini facelift?

How does a mini facelift differ from a full facelift or a targeted lower facial procedure?

While a full facelift restores the deep structural layers of the entire lower two-thirds of the face, a mini facelift focuses specifically on early signs of midface laxity and mild jowling with shorter incisions around the ear. Depending on your aesthetic goals, it can be seamlessly combined with a neck lift for enhanced cervical definition, or procedural options like buccal fat removal to contour full cheeks.

Can I combine a mini facelift with midface and perioral enhancement procedures?

Yes. Patients seeking comprehensive lower-face harmony often choose to combine their mini facelift with targeted structural refinements. For example, pairing the procedure with a chin augmentation improves profile projection, while a lip lift or long-lasting lip implants can restore youthful volume and proportion around the mouth.

How does Dr. Lee address age-related volume loss during a mini facelift?

A mini facelift primarily repositioned sagged muscular tissues and removes excess skin, but it does not intrinsically replace lost facial fat. To restore youthful fullness to hollow temples, under-eyes, or cheeks, Dr. Lee frequently incorporates autologous fat grafting alongside the mini facelift to achieve naturally balanced, three-dimensional rejuvenation.

Can upper facial surgeries be performed simultaneously with a mini facelift?

Yes. Addressing multiple facial zones during one surgery ensures cohesive aging outcomes and unified recovery timelines. Many patients choose to refine tired-looking eyes by combining their mini facelift with upper or lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to complement their newly refreshed jawline.

Are structural facial enhancements like dimple creation or rhinoplasty compatible with a mini facelift?

Absolutely. Structural and reconstructive procedures can easily be planned concurrently with a mini facelift. Whether you are interested in refining central facial balance via a custom rhinoplasty or adding distinctive lower-facial accents like custom dimple creation, Dr. Lee tailors a surgical masterplan during your private consultation.

Mini FaceliftBeverly Hills & Los Angeles

What is a Mini Facelift?

What are the Benefits of a Mini Facelift?

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini-Facelift?

What Age and Skin Type Make the Best Candidate?

Mini Facelift Before & After Photos

Real Patient Testimonial

What is the Mini Facelift Procedure Like?

Will a Mini Facelift Leave Visible Scars?

Your Private Consultation

What is the Recovery Period Like?

Medical References:

Why Choose Dr. Kimberly Lee for my Mini-Facelift?

Mini Facelift FAQs

How does a mini facelift differ from a full facelift or a targeted lower facial procedure?

Can I combine a mini facelift with midface and perioral enhancement procedures?

How does Dr. Lee address age-related volume loss during a mini facelift?

Can upper facial surgeries be performed simultaneously with a mini facelift?

Are structural facial enhancements like dimple creation or rhinoplasty compatible with a mini facelift?

TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP

Schedule Your Consultation