BOSTON -- Modern technology has made cosmetic surgery easier, safer and less invasive. Now there's an alternative to the facelift -- a mini version for people who want to freshen their features without going the whole way.

Is a facelift for you? Frequently Asked Questions Facial And Cosmetic Surgery Center

Judy Giordano said that as an aesthetician, she has to look good. So six years ago, she had a full facelift and loved the results.

"And now I'm just having a tune-up," Giordano said.

The tune-up is a mini facelift. She had it couple of weeks ago. The stitches came out except for a little discoloration and swelling. She said that it was a cinch.

"I had it on a Friday and was back at work on Monday," Giordano said.

A mini-facelift is done in the office, with a local anesthetic. There are two different procedures. Both take about two to three hours.

"One is called the anterior mini face lift which is for this area. The other is called posterior mini facelift which is really more for the neck and jaw line," Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Dr. Mack Cheney said.

That's what Janice Finn's is getting.

"To get rid of my predisposition of a turkey," Finn said.

Cheney marks where the incision will be. After, he cuts he'll pull up the skin like taking a tuck in a fabric.

A full facelift lasts for 10 to 15 years, the "mini" about half that.

"Usually there's very little bleeding with it because we let the local anesthetic work long enough that it really controls that part of it," Cheney said.

A full-face lift lasts for 10 to 15 years, the "mini" about half that.

"If you maintain your skin, do all the basic things such as avoiding sun, and you know, really watch your general health, usually it's about five to six years," Cheney said.

For Giordano, it was just the subtle pick-me-up she was looking for.

"People say that I look good, that you're looking good," Giordano said. "I don't think they know why."

The mini-face lift costs between $1,300 and $1,800 -- that's about half the cost of a full-face lift. Like most cosmetic surgery, it's not covered by insurance.