Mini-lifts and eyelid lifts are becoming very popular, even in the midwest, and it’s no wonder why. They offer:
- Dramatic, beautiful results
- Reduced surgery time and fewer risks than a full facelift
- Less scarring and shorter downtime than a full facelift
- A range of anesthetic choices including valium, local anesthesia, or light sedation — determined by each patient’s comfort levels
- Less expensive than a traditional facelift
- Incisions are easy to hide
And it is popular. A 2020 survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) asked more than 1,000 participants — who never had plastic surgery — if they were interested in some form of cosmetic or dermatologic treatment: 49 percent of them said yes. The most popular procedures they discussed were facelifts, nose jobs and breast augmentations.
Why is that?
We sat down with one of our newer patients, Cherie, and she let us know about her personal decision and walked us through her experience. You can follow Cherie and her journey below.
How did you decide to get plastic surgery?
Cherie said that deciding on a minilift was a process, it wasn’t something she decided to do overnight. “I felt that my face was always sliding forward and, like I told Dr. Campbell, everytime I walked past a mirror or saw my reflection I would use my thumbs to push up my skin.”
One day in particular, she was watching a casual, cute video where she was recorded playing with her family dog and laughing. She just kept thinking, “Wow, this is me. And I did not like looking at myself, at all.”
Photographed: Cherie, 43 weeks post-op
What kind of people get plastic surgery?
“I am just like you are, another run of the mill suburban mom. I’m not made of loads of money, and, yes, it was an investment but we decided it was worth it — for my mental health, for my self-esteem. I’m not an Instagram influencer on a beach somewhere. I work. I have a life and I want to make the most of it,” Cherie said.
It determined how she felt, how she dressed, how she interacted with other people, how she didn’t have the self-confidence. “It’s about feeling your worth. If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it really does impact every other aspect of your life.”
Does cosmetic surgery “fix” everything?
Cherie says that if you’re thinking about doing any sort of cosmetic procedure, you have to be realistic and know it isn’t going to magically solve all of your problems. “It’s not going to fix your job or your marriage or your relationships. You have to do the inside work, you have to prepare — but maybe it will give you the confidence to address those things!”
How do you choose the right plastic surgeon for your minilift?
Cherie said that as a nurse, she probably did too much research.
“I would have gone as far as Chicago if I found someone to serve me better. But I kept circling back to Dr. Campbell. All the reviews said, ‘He’s the face guy, he’s the face guy.’ ”
It was important to find a trusted, local provider who was well known and well-reviewed for the procedure she was interested in. “This is my face. It’s like my business card! I care about how that looks, can’t mess that up. That’s why I did so much research and literally months of digging.”
Is it scary to have a surgical cosmetic procedure, like a minilift?
Cherie says she felt the whole range of emotions.
“I was excited. I was nervous. I had to reassure my 12-year-old. I did not want to look like a Barbie doll. I did not want to look surprised all the time. I did not want to look like I had work done. I wanted to look like me.”
From the consultation on, she says the Quintessa team kept her very informed. They were always emailing back and forth with questions and updates. She said they discussed every single scenario so she always knew what to expect.
During the procedure, she said she was surprised by how little pain and drainage she experienced. “To me, the strangest thing was the sound, being able to hear the sutures go in behind the ear, but I was awake the whole time and we even held a conversation the whole time — we talked about our kids, mostly!”
Is post-operative recovery difficult for minilifts?
Cherie has one word of advice: ice will be your friend.
“You have to have faith in the ability of your team and their skills, but you also have to have faith in your body’s ability to heal itself. I had to be patient and trust the process. Getting through it was rough — there was swelling and it’s very public. I can’t NOT show my face. But I kept saying to myself, ‘It’ll get better, it’ll get better — and it did.’ ”
Photographed: Cherie, 8 weeks post-op
What were the results of your minilift like? Would you do it again?
“I wish I would have done it sooner, honestly. It would have been nice to have more years feeling good, because for years I have been beating myself up. If I had the procedure even five years ago, I could have saved myself feelings of so much chronic, low self-esteem,” she explained.
Have more questions about minilifts or eyelid lifts? You can visit the Minilift page or give us a call at 1-800-499-4309.
“I am just like you are, another run of the mill suburban mom. I’m not made of loads of money, and, yes, it was an investment but we decided it was worth it — for my mental health, for my self-esteem. I’m not an Instagram influencer on a beach somewhere. I work. I have a life and I want to make the most of it.” – Cherie
