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Short Scar Facelift

Dr. Weintraub is in his surgical prime with the quiet calm of success — mature in his aesthetic judgment and technically seasoned with more than two decades of experience performing cosmetic plastic surgery in NYC. He employs cutting-edge approaches to treatments, using the latest minimally invasive, non-surgical and short-incision techniques to provide the maximum benefit to his plastic-surgery patients.

Home/Facial Plastic Surgery/Short Scar Facelift

What is a Short Scar Facelift?

Traditionally, facelift incisions extend from the temple to the area in front of the ear, then continue behind the ear and into the scalp, often producing an easily visible scar when your hair is worn up. With the advent of the Short Scar Facelift, sometimes called a “mini facelift,” or “mini lift,” the incision is, as the name implies, shorter. It begins at the top of the ear and is then disguised inside the ear, with the remaining excess well concealed in the crease behind the ear. No unsightly scars show when the hair is worn up. The long-term added support is secured by plicating the deeper layers of the SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system). Compared to traditional facelifts, the operation and the post-op recovery period take less time.

Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Barry M. Weintraub, prefers Short Scar Facelifts and has perfected the technique, closing all wounds in layers with tiny, precise micro-sutures that are woven under the skin, camouflaging any telltale signs of surgery.* Highly sought after for his expertise and innovation in facelift surgery, Dr. Weintraub was selected as one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons 2023 by Newsweek for the category of Facelift. This elite status demonstrates his dedication to providing exceptional care and staying at the forefront of advancements in facelift surgery.

Am I a Candidate for the Short Scar Facelift?

Generally, men and women who are beginning to exhibit unwanted signs of aging may be candidates for a Short Scar Facelift. Ideal patients are in overall good health with realistic expectations of their surgical outcomes. They are typically interested in achieving the following improvements from a mini-facelift procedure:

  • Correcting mild-to-moderate signs of aging in the mid-face region
  • Elevating tissues in the cheek area
  • Revolumizing the midface
  • Softening nasolabial folds
  • Improving marionette lines
  • Decreasing jowling
  • Sharpening the jawline
  • Reducing lines and wrinkles around the mouth

During an initial consultation, Dr. Weintraub will provide an assessment and recommended treatment plan in order to achieve the most attractive aesthetic result for each patient.

What Are the Goals of a Short Scar Facelift?

The result of a Short Scar Facelift should not show any signs of awkward tugging or tightness, and no distortion of the corners of the mouth should be present! Rather, the skin should be gently and naturally resuspended, with no artificial traction. The cheekbones will be highlighted and the nasolabial folds and marionette lines will fade.

In addition, the normal aging process can produce unwanted excess skin and fat of the neck, especially under the chin, creating the dreaded “double chin.” This issue can also occur along the jawline, referred to as the “W Effect,” when excess fat deposits and tissue descend below the jawline. With pencil-thin micro cannulae and precise surgical techniques, Dr. Weintraub can streamline the neck and jowls in conjunction with a Short Scar Facelift, producing an overall effect that is harmonious and cohesive. When finished, the face should look rejuvenated from every angle, and the skin not too tight or saggy, but elegant, redefined, and refreshed.

How Should I Prepare for a Short Scar Facelift?

Dr. Weintraub and his team will provide specific instructions in advance to prepare patients for their Short Scar Facelift surgery and recovery, allowing ample time to ask questions and plan accordingly. These instructions include guidance on hydration, what medical clearance is required and when to schedule it, which medications/foods/supplements to avoid, if a post-operative nurse is required, what to expect in regard to swelling, the downtime involved, and what medications will be prescribed.

For those patients who live beyond a 50-mile radius of New York City, Dr. Weintraub advises a two-night post-operative stay at The Mark or The Carlyle Hotel, where his patients are given a special reduced rate, and where he will visit you after your procedure. A private nurse can also be provided.

What Does the Short Scar Facelift Procedure Involve?

The Short Scar Facelift procedure is Dr. Weintraub’s preferred technique for a refreshed, more youthful-looking appearance. As with every procedure that Dr. Weintraub performs, he takes great care to customize each surgery based on the patient’s unique anatomical characteristics, musculature, ethnicity, and tissues. Short Scar Facelifts are performed as outpatient procedures under twilight anesthesia administered by one of Dr. Weintraub’s team of board-certified anesthesiologists.

This mini facelift begins with incisions that are hidden just above, then inside the ear, behind the tragus. Through this small “access area,” Dr. Weintraub will manipulate several different planes for the most natural result: the deep plane to provide the “strength” to improve the marionette area of the mouth, as well as the SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system) layer and then finally, the subcutaneous layer. The incision can often extend to a crease hidden behind the ear. Next, Dr. Weintraub will lift and snug the deeper layers before repositioning the SMAS, creating a sharper jawline, then will gently redrape the skin to prevent any unnatural or “pulled” aspects of the result. As noted by the name, the incisions utilized for a Short Scar Facelift are smaller in size, resulting in minimized recovery time and less noticeable incisions as compared to a traditional facelift.

Where is the Short Scar Facelift Performed?

All of Dr. Weintraub’s patients receive the highest level of personalized surgical care at his private facility in New York City, which is licensed and fully accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (QUAD A). Dr. Weintraub is committed to providing the utmost in patient comfort, safety, and discretion in a setting that adheres to the highest standards. This ideal location and environment allow patients to feel at ease and confident while undergoing their Short Scar Facelift procedure with a superior level of comfort.

What Can I Expect After My Short Scar Facelift?

There will always be a short period of minimal swelling and sometimes bruising. You must carefully follow all instructions provided by Dr. Weintraub in order to achieve the best results possible. He is a firm believer in early showering, because, in his own words, “Clean wounds make for narrower incisions.” He will advise you as to when you can return to your normal lifestyle and exercise routine.

How Much Does a Short Scar Facelift Cost?

Each patient is individual in his/her own makeup and anatomical configuration. Therefore, in order to give an accurate quote, it is best to schedule a consultation that will allow Dr. Weintraub to appropriately judge what is involved. For those patients who live overseas or outside the New York metropolitan area, photographs can be emailed or sent to the office, and a phone consultation can then take place.

How to Choose the Best Short Scar Facelift Surgeon

Facial aesthetic surgery is complex and nuanced and should only be entrusted to a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon. Choosing the best surgeon for a Short Scar Facelift should be guided by a rigorous research process. It is recommended that you consider the following qualifications:

  • Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • Active memberships and affiliations with medical/surgical associations such as ASPS and ASAPS
  • Surgeries performed in a surgical facility licensed and accredited by QUAD A
  • Upstanding reputation and award recognition declared by medical professionals
  • Positive patient reviews and testimonials
  • Exemplary before-and-after photos
  • Experiencing a sense of trust and comfort with the surgeon (i.e., a “good fit”)

One of the most important steps in choosing the best plastic surgeon is to schedule a consultation with the doctor. A consultation provides the opportunity to ask questions, share your individual concerns and aesthetic goals, inquire about the surgeon’s experience and surgical techniques, and to learn more about their overall approach to patient care. During this meeting, you should gain a better understanding of the surgeon’s knowledge and expertise as well as what to expect from the procedure and recovery process. Most importantly, you should feel comfortable. The lasting impression of the surgeon, staff, and office environment should be that of trust, support, availability and safety.

Why Choose Dr. Weintraub for Your Short Scar Facelift

Dr. Weintraub has always been blessed with a strong aesthetic sense. He possesses a unique blend of medical science and artwork, as it truly is artwork that he performs on the human form. His attention to detail ensures that he gets the best results possible, and he is meticulous about everything he does, from pre-op to post-op care and beyond.* His dedication to being the best at his craft is apparent through his awards and recognitions. Dr. Weintraub has been named a Best Plastic Surgeon by several media outlets over the years, including in the specialty of Facelift by Newsweek in 2023.

He studied medicine at Cornell during a time when core values were emphasized, and it is on these values that he bases his practice. He believes that physicians should be humble and respectful, and should never lose sight that the person they are operating on is exactly that: a person possessing real-life issues and concerns. The chairmen of the department of general surgery at Cornell at the time, Dr. Tom Shires, along with another luminary, Dr. Leon Morgenstern of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, taught Dr. Weintraub that “The operating room is a sacred place. It’s a very serious place. Never be cavalier about surgery.”

During his surgical residency training, Dr. Weintraub regularly visited Mexico to donate his time operating on deformed children and adults who couldn’t afford proper healthcare. In less-than-optimal conditions, he learned how to perform surgery with the basics, and received great satisfaction in making profound differences in people’s lives by restoring their faces and bodies. Similarly, when he was Chief Resident at the New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center, and later when he was Chief Resident at the Reconstructive Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, he found that his compassion for patients, along with his skill and precision as a surgeon, could change lives and bring people joy they never thought possible.

Dr. Weintraub believes that surgery is never a race. The patient is always number one. He keeps in his wallet a piece of paper that is his motto in the operating room: “Always demand what is right, and never accept second best.” He likes to consider himself a “thinking surgeon,” and does not enter the operating room with a mechanical series of steps to execute robotically, but likes to remain alert and ready for whatever intraoperative challenges might spontaneously arise. Although many notable surgeons openly listen to music while performing surgery, Dr. Weintraub does not, preferring the mood of the operating room to remain serious and focused.

Over 60% of Dr. Weintraub’s practice is comprised of complex redos of surgeries performed by other offices. Such procedures always involve difficult issues, since there exist not only the limitations of a patient’s own anatomy, but also the limitations of another surgeon’s aesthetic, and the scar tissue that has developed as a result. Patients seek Dr. Weintraub from all over the world to correct their aesthetic problems. He takes great pride in getting the best results, and always enjoys the challenges of such procedures.

Last, Dr. Weintraub will not hesitate to turn patients away if he feels they are not good candidates for surgery. If a surgery is not in someone’s best interest, he will be the first to say so. However, when a patient is a good candidate, the results produced by Dr. Weintraub can be magical, and he feels that it is an honor to give patients a gift they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Schedule Your Short Scar Facelift Consultation

Dr. Weintraub and his staff will be happy to discuss a Short Scar Facelift with you. Please call our office for a private consultation. We hope you look forward to our warm welcome and the opportunity for us to help you make an educated and confident decision.

Contact our office today to set up your consultation for a Short Scar Facelift.