There is no such thing as a mini lift. Usually when a prospective patient refers to a mini lift this could mean all sorts of different things. It is very important to clarify the length and specific location of the incisions needed to accomplish a patient’s goals. I spend a significant amount of time with each prospective patient discussing and reviewing where and why I recommend their face lift incisions to be made during surgery. Compromising the incision length in certain patients will compromise their final results. The majority of my recommended face lift incision will be very well concealed. A patient’s hair style, hair density, prior incision (if present), skin pigmentation, ear height, ear width and ear lobule are taken into careful consideration when advising the face lift incision design. If a modified incision to shorten the length of the incisions is appropriate I will make that recommendation to certain patients. I avoid confusing terminology like, “mini” or “traditional” because I find it unhelp in conveying what a patient will need to achieve their goals.