Dear Dr. Seckel, Can you tell if the mini face lift, this is where they put an incision, in front of the ear and around to the back of the ear and pull the skin up, this is just for the lower portion of the face. They call it the Lifestyle Lift. Can you tell me if this does really work and how long will it last? It was on television, of course all the people who they showed looked great. Their necks were firmer looking and it did seem to take about 10 -20 years off their age. I am thinking about getting this done, but not through checking this out. I need a board certified plastic surgeons advice, and this is why I am writing you. Any information you can give to me will be greatly appreciated, and will thank you in advance for your time and any information you bestow on me! Thank You, Susan, Boston, MA
Dear Susan,
Thank you for your important question. I strongly agree with your decision to seek the advice of a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery-that is the most important decision you can make.
I would urge you to read Chapter 10 of my book Save Your Face which is entitled “ Don’t Let Just Anyone Touch Your Face”. In that chapter I recommend you see 2 board certified plastic surgeons and I give you specific questions to ask them.
Terms such as Mini Lift, S-Lift, Mini Face Lift, Lifestyle Lift, Face Tuck, weekend lift and others are terms or names used to describe variations of the face lift technique used for facial rejuvenation to rejuvenate the facial appearance by lifting and tightening the facial skin using plastic surgery.
What is MOST IMPORTANT of course is the skill and experience of the surgeon who performs the lift procedure.
A plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery has the training, skills and experience to examine you and give you an expert opinion as to what face lift procedure will give you the result you desire.
Unfortunately the large array of catchy names used to describe variations of a face lift are often used as marketing ploys to create the impression that this is a simple technique with no down time and a perfect result every time. I suggest you look at the archives under ask dr seckel to read the experiences of some who have had these new procedures and have not had a good experience.
The length of the incision required for a face lift depends on how much needs to be done. In young people with minimal skin excess a short incision in front of the ear ear will suffice. In an older person who has a lot of skin excess the incision may need to be carried up into the hair above the ear and behind the ear but the scars are usually well camouflaged by the hair.
The operation can be done under local or general anesthesia.
The time required for the operation is very dependant on the skill and experience of the surgeon. Experienced plastic surgeons take from 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do a fullface lift—I have seen inexperienced less skilled surgeons take 14 hours!
You really need to do your homework.
For more information on face lifts and non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you,
Boston, Massachusetts