Mini Facelift Techniques

Women and men from Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and throughout Los Angeles and the Central Coast who have not yet reached their 50s or 60s may benefit from a short scar facelift or mini facelift in Marina del Rey. These procedures can help rejuvenate the cheeks with a lower cost and shorter recovery than a traditional facelift. These options can be quite effective for the right patient, but they do not have as dramatic an impact as a full (traditional) facelift.

Facelift - Traceless Facelift
 Before & After Photos

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Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 1849 Front View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 1 of 8

This beautiful patient in her 50s came to Stoker Plastic Surgery for a complete facial rejuvenation treatment to restore her youthful appearance. After searching for a top plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, she found Dr. David Stoker, an expert in facial rejuvenation treatments. The patient shared concerns about having dark circles u... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 809 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 2 of 8

This 55-year-old patient sought out Dr. David Stoker for a Traceless Facelift in Los Angeles, aiming to achieve a refreshed, more youthful appearance. She wasn’t just focused on tightening her skin, but also on balancing her skin tone, eliminating sagging, and rejuvenating her overall look. To accomplish this, she turned to Dr. Stoker for his... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 810 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 3 of 8

This 55-year-old patient consulted Dr. David Stoker in Los Angeles, seeking a refined and youthful look through his specialized Traceless Facelift approach. Rather than solely focusing on skin tightening, her goals included achieving a more even skin tone, eliminating sagging, and refreshing her overall appearance. She chose Dr. Stoker for hi... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 2157 Front View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 4 of 8

This 63-year-old patient turned to Dr. David Stoker for a Traceless Facelift in Los Angeles with the goal of rejuvenating and enhancing her facial features. Like many patients, she wanted to address the common signs of aging—sagging skin and the loss of youthful contours—but with a focus on achieving natural, refreshed results.To meet... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 2219 Front View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 5 of 8

This 55-year-old patient sought Dr. David Stoker’s expertise in Los Angeles to achieve a youthful, revitalized facial appearance. With her professional background in sales, she desired a refreshed look that would enhance her confidence. Dr. Stoker addressed her goals with his signature Traceless Face and Neck Lift, complemented by Rhinoplasty... Read More
Before & After Facelift/Neck Lift (Deep Plane/Traceless) Case 2373 Front View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 6 of 8

This patient, a 59-year-old mother, chose to undergo a Facelift - Traceless Deep Plane Facelift in Los Angeles to address shifting contours and visible signs of aging on her face and neck. Her main concerns included jowling along the jawline, deeper folds near the mouth, and relaxed skin extending into the lower neck. Seeking a refreshed appe... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 796 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 7 of 8

Dr. David Stoker, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Los Angeles. I'd like to share with you a stunning Traceless Facelift result. What is a Traceless Facelift? That's one of my signature procedures that is a facelift frequently overlapping with the face and neck lift that involves pan rejuvenation in such a natural appearance with such dis... Read More
Before & After Facelift - Traceless Facelift Case 836 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 8 of 8

This beautiful 52-year-old woman came to us hoping to have a pan facial rejuvenation treatment to make her look how she felt young and beautiful. She flew in from out of town and was a previous patient of mine for other procedures. And she, most of all, wanted a natural appearance.

We did a face and neck lift with platysmaplasty, a chi... Read More

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Do I Need a Mini Facelift or a Traditional Facelift?

A mini facelift is typically best for patients with earlier, less advanced signs of aging, such as mild sagging in the midface or along the jawline. Because this procedure doesn’t address the jowls or neck as extensively as a traditional facelift, it’s often chosen by younger patients or those looking for a smaller correction with a shorter recovery.

By comparison, traditional facelift candidates often present with more significant skin laxity, deeper folds, and prominent jowls or neck banding. This more comprehensive procedure allows for a greater degree of tightening and repositioning, producing longer-lasting and more dramatic results.

In either case, ideal candidates should be in good overall health with well-controlled blood pressure. Smokers should quit prior to surgery to promote optimal healing and the best outcome.

Mini Facelift Options

I use the following primary techniques for younger patients seeking a facelift:

  • Mini facelift: This technique addresses skin laxity in the cheek area. Incisions are usually made in front of and behind the ear, but not into the hairline behind the ear. Skin is lifted and secured in a more youthful position. Surgery takes a shorter amount of time than other facelift procedures.
  • Short scar facelift: The incision for a short scar facelift is similar to that of a mini facelift. The difference between the two procedures is that, in a short scar lift, muscles and fat are elevated and secured in a more youthful position. Then, the surface skin is lifted and re-draped with minimal tension. Patients see a marked improvement in cheek laxity, as well as a reduction in jowls and neck sagging.

During your personal consultation, we’ll discuss your options. My years of experience working with thousands of facial rejuvenation patients enable me to recommend a surgical plan that fits your needs. Achieving a natural-looking result will be one of our goals.

Why choose Dr. Stoker?

The Dr. Stoker Difference

For Your Facelift:
He has performed thousands of cosmetic procedures to rejuvenate the face.
He is adept at all modern techniques and customizes surgery for each individual.
He is recognized nationally for research on the facial nerve and face lifts.
He has been a guest on the Dr. Phil show as an expert in facial surgery.

At What Age Should You Get a Mini Facelift?

Candidates for a mini facelift or a short scar facelift can be as young as in their 30s or well into their 70s and beyond. Many factors play a role in the way our faces look, including chronological age, sun exposure, environmental factors and genetics. It’s best to choose the procedure that is most likely to achieve your goals, and we will decide that together in your consultation.

Dr. David Stoker

Dr. David Stoker

Educated at some of the most elite institutions in the country, Dr. David Stoker uses his highly advanced knowledge to ensure that each patient achieves beautiful, harmonious results — whether it's through a simple non-surgical procedure or a more advanced surgical transformation. Learn more about his unique credentials and his approach to plastic surgery.

Why Choose Dr. Stoker
Professional Resume

Liquid Facelift: A Nonsurgical Alternative

Some patients may be good candidates for a liquid facelift, a nonsurgical technique that uses dermal fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic for full-face rejuvenation.

For those considering a mini facelift, a liquid facelift can often address many of the same early signs of aging, such as mild skin laxity, fine lines, and loss of volume in the cheeks or around the mouth. This nonsurgical facelift does not require the downtime of surgery.

While results from this procedure are temporary and do not tighten the skin, a liquid facelift can restore youthful-looking contours and smooth wrinkles in patients who want a more subtle improvement or are not ready for surgery. This approach is especially appealing to patients seeking a nonsurgical option, a shorter recovery, or an opportunity to explore how facial rejuvenation might enhance their appearance before considering surgery.

Mini Facelift Recovery

Mini facelift and short scar facelift patients usually take a few days to a week off work. Most people look good within a few days, with most swelling gone by 6 weeks.

Mini Facelift Surgery Risks

Complications from facelift surgery have been uncommon in my experience. Infection, bleeding, slow healing and nerve damage are possible risks.

Start With a Consultation

Dr. Stoker is one of the best facial plastic surgery specialists in the Los Angeles area, and he’s happy to discuss your options for a mini facelift or a traditional facelift. Simply request a consultation online or call us at  (310) 300-1779 to schedule an appointment.

If you are traveling from Santa Barbara or Montecito for a mini facelift, we have created a special page just for you. Visit our “To Our Neighbors” page for guidance on visiting us from the Central Coast. Visiting from outside of California? Check out our fly-in program for more details.

A Reputation Built on Results

Brittany at Dr. Stoker’s office is absolutely amazing. From the very beginning, she has taken the time...
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Nonsurgical Procedure Treatment Planner

Non-Surgical Enhancement


Our expertise extends beyond plastic surgery. We offer an extensive range of non-surgical treatments administered by our talented, experienced team of aesthetic providers under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker.

If you have a treatment in mind, review our complete offering of non-surgical services. If you need a little help deciding, narrow down your options with our interactive treatment planner.

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Are you a candidate?

Bikini Body Lift™
Cellulite, sagging skin, and lower body laxity are some of the most stubborn concerns for women — especially after weight loss, pregnancy, or menopause. While skin tightening treatments and traditional thigh lifts often fall short, Dr. David Stoker’s Bikini Body Lift™ delivers natural, long-lasting results by lifting, tightening, and reshaping the thighs and buttocks to restore a youthful, smooth contour.

Traceless Deep Plane Facelift
For patients seeking facial rejuvenation, Dr. Stoker’s Traceless Deep Plane Facelift is designed to achieve powerful, natural-looking results without visible signs of surgery. This advanced technique repositions the deep facial layers to restore youthful volume and definition while ensuring incisions remain virtually invisible. The result is a refreshed, balanced appearance that looks entirely your own.