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The search continues: the lost city of Atlantis, Aztec gold, and the minimally invasive facelift that delivers good results.
Capitalizing on the quest for that most elusive of cosmetic surgery prizes include those who market a dizzying array of mini facelift procedures: QuickLift, Thread Lift, Weekend Facelift, Lifestyle Lift, MACS lift, S-lift and other mini lifts of all kinds.
Caught up in—and sometimes victimized by—the hoopla and confusion are women and men who, understandably, would like to rejuvenate their appearance with minimal downtime and cost.
For the average person wanting to find the balance of investment and payoff that makes sense, it’s nearly impossible to sort out fact from hype. Where do you start? Here are a few suggestions.
First, get a basic understanding of the traditional facelift technique. Learn terms like “undermining” (loosening tissue from the underside), “plication” (folding tissue over on itself), “SMAS” (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, an important facial membrane) and “platysma” (a key muscle in the lower face and neck). Read several descriptions of the way a full facelift is performed and how these techniques and structures are involved.
Second, study the “shortcut” procedures, branded and not. Find out how the incisions compare to those of a traditional facelift, how much undermining of skin happens and what the surgeon does to tighten both underlying tissues and surface skin. Satisfy for yourself that enough lifting will occur to suggest noticeable results are possible without too much tension in critical areas like incision sites.
Then, consider that these mini lifts generally yield a more modest effect than a full facelift. Moderate results may be all you need if you’re young or if your face has not suffered much environmental damage. A mini lift may also be worthwhile if you want to avoid general anesthesia. If you’re leaning toward a mini facelift, just know that while the price will be lower and the downtime probably shorter, results will be more modest too.
As you do research on the various options, be sure to look for patient reviews. You can probably discard at least a couple of the procedures that seem to cause patients the most problems. Most plastic surgeons have stopped offering the Thread Lift, for example, due to complications and disappointing results. There are other branded lifts that are often panned by men and women who have tried them; you may want to cross a couple of those off your list as well.
Finally, begin researching board certified plastic surgeons or board certified facial plastic surgeons you might work with. Avoid clinics that seem more like high-pressure sales operations staffed with non-board certified surgeons.
Once you have found at least two, preferably three, plastic surgeons with excellent credentials who offer more than just one kind of facelift, schedule consultations. Be sure to ask each one to:
- Explain your options clearly and make a recommendation
- Describe the operation in detail and how it achieves good results
- Tell how many of these procedures they have done
- Describe the recovery process and time frame honestly
- Give you cost/benefit input, including how long results may last
David Stoker, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon, put it this way: “Any type of facelift is a delicate operation with the potential for poor results and big problems. It is the quality of the surgeon that determines the results, not a procedure with a compelling name.”
Do your homework and choose a great plastic surgeon who will tailor surgery to fit your exact needs. Then you can name your mini facelift after yourself!
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