Problems of Lifestyle Lift Procedure

As we age our facial skin tends to sag and wrinkle. Many people, especially women, choose to have cosmetic surgery to deter the signs of aging. These surgeries run the gamut from relatively simple eyelid lifts to full facelifts, with many procedures in between. One technique, Lifestyle Lift™, is widely advertised and apparently popular, but there are several reported problems with it.

Full Facelift Technique

By definition, a full facelift involves making incisions in front of and behind the ears, removing skin and fat tissue, moving and/or replacing fat tissue where needed, and suturing the incisions. It is almost always done under full anesthesia, and recovery time may be as long as six weeks. This procedure, when done for cosmetic purposes, is generally not covered by health insurance and can be quite costly, with the cost varying by state and doctor.

Mini Facelift Technique

The mini facelift procedure has reportedly been around since the early 1900s. According to New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Kamran Jafri, it is a somewhat less invasive technique in which the incisions are not as long or deep and no skin is removed. Another plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Schwartz, advises that mini facelifts have very limited results.

Lifestyle Lift™ Technique

The Lifestyle Lift™ procedure is sometimes generically grouped with mini facelifts, but, according to Dr. Jafri, differs in that it uses the longer incision usually associated with a full facelift. Lifestyle Lift™ claims that the procedure takes only one hour in most cases, that it can be done under local anesthesia, and that there is a very short recovery time, varying to some degree upon the patient. There are other trade names for slight variations of this procedure such as Lunchtime Lift™ and Quicklift™.

Problems/Complaints

Reports of problems with this company and its procedure abound. Some clients complain about high-pressure sales tactics and about not getting enough information prior to their surgery. Others say that the technique is not pain-free, as claimed, and that the numbing shots are very uncomfortable. Most of the complaints come from people whose procedure took longer than expected, whose recovery was slower than expected and who saw little improvement in their appearance, even after recovery time. In addition, Dr. Robert M. Freund warns that the results do not last.

Positive Comments

Lifestyle Lift™ is popular; the business is booming, due apparently to advertising and word-of-mouth. Even so, it is difficult to find positive reviews of the technique that are not directly solicited by Lifestyle Lift™. In fact, a 2009 lawsuit found many supposedly unsolicited testimonials to be fraudulent. Regardless, there must be satisfied customers or the popularity of Lifestyle Lift™ would not keep growing.

Expert Insight

Both Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Freund, along with other plastic surgery specialists, warn against temporary or partial facelift procedures. The general attitude from the plastic surgeons is that if you need a facelift, get a facelift that mini procedures provide only partial solutions, if any, and that the same problems will recur within a short time, making your time, money and pain ill-spent.

How Is Lifestyle Lift Done?

Jowls, sagging skin and wrinkles can all work together to make one feel older than our years. Or at least older than what we feel. A Lifestyle Lift is a minor face-lift that works to correct the sagging and jowling, in less time than a traditional face-lift and using only local anesthetic. Please be aware that a "Lifestyle Lift" is a trademarked type of surgical procedure, but it can be done as a "mini-face-lift" by most cosmetic surgeons.

An S-Lift is a face-lift where the skin only is lifted. The cost of Lifestyle Lift is a SMAS (sub or superficial muscular and aponeurtoic system). This means that the muscle and connective tissue are involved, helping to eliminate frown and smile lines because it is lifting the tissue that you use to make facial movements. First an S-shaped incision is made in front of and below each ear. Once these cuts are made, the skin is actually gathered and pulled to create smoothness. Excess skin is trimmed off and many times Lipo is used to reduce fat from under the chin. Then two sutures are made, one at each ear, that hold this new framework for the face in place.

Because this type of surgery takes about an hour and uses general anesthetic, the recovery time is much faster than a traditional face-lift. But it is no lunch hour procedure. It is quite a lot of surgery, involving cutting and bruising and you do need to rest for at least 48 hours before doing anything more strenuous than watching TV and getting yourself something to eat. And the results? You have to do your research to see photos and hear stories, but overall women and men seem to be very pleased with the procedure. And a look of natural beauty and of freshness can make you feel younger, so that you may project a younger appearance.

Types of Lifestyle Lift: What to choose?

Anti-Aging Procedure

A Lifestyle Lift is a registered trademark for a surgical facial-firming method that has been available since 2001. According to LifestyleLift.com, its cosmetic procedure will help minimize the signs of aging. Lifestyle Lift is described by RealSelf.com as a mini-facelift that is an alternative to more invasive facelift surgeries that require several months of recovery.

Mini Facelift

There are two primary kinds of mini facelifts according to Plastic Surgery.com. One is referred to as an anterior lift. It works best on patients who want to lift sagging skin in their lower face. The second kind of mini facelift is referred to as a posterior mini lift. This type of surgery concentrates on the neck and jowl area.

During a mini facelift, your doctor carefully pulls up facial skin from the underlying tissue, one side at a time, taking out a thin, S-shaped section of skin from the treatment area. In some cases, the surgeon performs liposuction to eliminate any excess fat.

In contrast, a full facelift, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves a surgical incision that begins in the scalp area on top of the ears and continues down the side of the face, under the earlobes and ends in the back of the ears.

Lifestyle Lift

Lifestyle lift is a relatively short surgical procedure, which takes approximately one hour. The patient sits in a reclining chair while soothing music plays.

According to LifestyleLift.com, its surgical approach to facial rejuvenation involves tightening muscles, removing jowls, wrinkles and excess fat. Although the Lifestyle Lift website doesn't provide detailed information about how its procedure is performed, a general description published by Lifestyle Lift is similar to the S-shape mini lift.

Lifestyle Lift says your doctor will insert permanent sutures to hold fundamental muscles in place to make certain that the tightening effects will remain intact for several years.

Lifestyle Lift says the doctors who perform this procedure are from highly credible institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Harvard and Stanford University.

Recovery

According to Plastic Surgery.com, mini facelifts may cause temporary discomfort, bruising, and numbness. Lifestyle Lift.com says most people are able to resume their normal activities in about a week.