“Lifestyle lift nightmare!”
Lifestyle lift: NOT worth it
Pain: Worst possible
BEWARE
! I was very disappointed in what was advertised versus what I wound up with. I wanted to freshen my eyes and they talked me into a mini-lift. (The consultant indicated that I could save this much $$$1200 if I signed today.)
Both eyelids were cut differently, one was not even in the crease of my eye. One eye was cut like a cat eye with a curve on the end and the other eye was cut straight across and a pocket of fat was left to hang over the straight cut. My EARS GREW much longer and hurt constantly. The pain was intolerable. My face stayed swollen black and blue for 3 weeks. The pain, the crunching noises, the smell, there is no way to describe how horrible the experience is. When I complained about my eyes after they started to heal up and you could really tell how different they were, LSL kicked me to the curb. Their suggestion was for me to have a brow lift... that would have only made the scar on the eye that was not in the crease look even worse. The surgeon did not like being questioned on my visit to remove my sutures (which they left 1/2 of them in) about why he cut me twice behind one ear. He told me to grow up.
In the beginning I only wanted them to fix my one eye that was cut straight across & remove the fat bag. I refused to see Dr. KK after his hateful 1st visit antics. I had no idea that he did not work for LSL and that he was/is a freelance surgeon and he has his own practice closer to me than LSL in Marietta. (He also offers his own version of the “One Hour Lunch Hour Lift”) I returned to the home office thinking I signed up for the surgery with them, they would be the ones that would help me. They refused to do what I ask for. So, I asked for my money back to have my eye fixed by another doctor, again, excuse, excuse and more excuses. They kept having me drive over 100 miles to see them (5 times for follow ups + 2 original visits) to see if there was any improvement and they never took any notes nor pictures until I showed up with my husband. When my husband was with me, the General Mgr. joined in along with Dr. W. I asked for my after pictures to be taken at this time and they were.
My ears continued to hurt like a toothache. The skin felt like it was wadded up behind my ears and my lobes were stitched to my face. I could not stand to wear earrings at all for the first 5 months. I could not sleep on my side, it hurt to talk on the phone, It hurt to wear my glasses for any length of time. I just cannot explain the kind of pain, searing, stabbing and burning all at the same time. I searched for other surgeons to redo the work. Most of the doctors just shook their heads (like you big dummy). How was I to know????
I picked the LSL office due to the advertising and what the brochure promised. The before and after pictures that are shown and the endorsement of ABC, CBS, NBC and others. The endorsement of Oprah and others + Dr. K, the founder and all his talk of how safe the procedure is. The doctors credentials looked good (I did look him up on the net), the advertising was excellent but as far as the procedure, it was pure hell. Dealing with the front office and the home office was hell after the surgery. I had to have the surgery REDONE completely by a competent surgeon. I could not believe the difference! I woke up, my eyes looked almost completely normal on the 3rd day and they look the same. My ears no longer hurt and they are not long anymore and they look like they use to.
I think if I had not found this new surgeon I would have sunk into a deeper depression and no telling what I would have done to myself. I just can't believe that a company that is as large and as well know as LSL can get away with this kind of treatment of their clients. This just can't go on. I have read real horror stories and have heard even more from women too embarrassed to post. It seems like they can do whatever they want and there is no way to stop them and everybody is afraid of them. One woman told me that she was threatened with a lawsuit if she even mentioned the Dr.s name.
If I can stop one woman or man from going through what I went through, I figure that I have done them a big favor. The big selling point of not being put to sleep and that makes it so much safer is complete BS. I will never forget the stench of my own skin burning and hearing the surgeon saying over and over he was late for another appointment. My one hr. appt. took over 3 and 1/2 hours.
I FEEL like I will forever be scarred by what LSL did to me and if they offered to redo everything for free in 10 years and give me a million dollars too, I would leave the country on that day!
1-19-09 I would also like to add as of the CBS TV 46 interview that aired recently, they too are being sued by LSL. (As of right now, the videos are still up, email me if you need the link) They are saying that CBS is harming their good name they have worked so hard to build. Well, LSL, did you ever stop to think HOW HARD all of us had to work to save the money to have your lift done. And the main thing is that everything that you say in your commercial is untrue for most of us. Your lift is not CHEAP by any means. And the help I was suppose to get from the LSL founder personally, well, that did not happen either. He wound up asking me a whole lot of questions about things that were not related to my Lift at all. I will let you know more about this situation and exactly what he was asking me about at the appropriate time.
Dec 1, 2008Comments and replies (169)
377 posts
22 May 2009
Every time I turn on the TV and see another 30 min. infomercial on LSL I am amazed. I cannot believe that these folks are still in business especially the way they treat the patients. So many unhappy people. I think many of the folks that post "HAPPY" have not had the time to recover and to see the final results. As of yet, HAPPY folks are still NOT posting the photos so everyone can see the results and I do not mean the touched up photos posted by LSL. Lately I have noticed that many of the before Happy posters have been recanting and telling that the results did not last. I still think that many people are embarrassed and will never admit to what happened to them. The truth is the truth and it may take a while to catch up to LSL but just like everything else in this world, Karma will get even with you. At some point some one with some power will take notice or one of us will finally get some one to listen. I just hope it happens before too many people have been destroyed with the lies that LSL tells. As always, hoping to stop just one woman from going through what I did.
377 posts
23 May 2009
This answer was just too good to pass up, ALL should read this:
1 month ago
You maybe happy with the info, you may not be happy with the result: Don't get "Shamwowed"
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answer by Stephen Prendiville, M.D.
Ft. Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
I am happy that this patient has raised a point about one of the strengths of Lifestyle Lift: the marketing and sales pitch.
I would like to remind this patient of one basic concept: if performance of a unique, revolutinary procedure was feasible "in about an hour", don't you think every Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and every Board Certified Plstic surgeon would be doing it?
I would certainly prefer if I was able to get the same results in 1 hour as I do in 3-4 hours ( typical for my facelift procedures). However, it just isn't technically possible to perform the necessary steps for a facelift and get good results in this time frame.
Secondly, I would like to ask anybody to do a PubMed search on the founder of Lifestyle Lift (David M Kent DO) and look at what his contribution to the literature on facelift has been. I couldn't find anything. The point is that Lifestyle Lift is not a revolutionary procedure, because there is no published surgical breakthrough to the technique. Lifestyle Lift is a marketing company, and a very good marketing company; the equivalent of a Hair Club for Men. The results I have personally seen and those comments/ photos posted on the internet are not results I would want representing my work.
Don't get "Shamwowed"!
THANK YOU Stephen Prendiville, M.D for being so honest with your answer. I wish there were more doctors like you that are not afraid of the LSL spin mill.
105 posts
25 May 2009
I just met with another ENT this week and he told me that he is always receiving "form" letters from companies like LSL, offering the lure of "great extra money" doing this procedures. Because he is a reputable ENT/Surgeon..he THROWS THEM INTO THE GARBAGE!!! Buyer Beware!
unregistered guest
25 May 2009
My girlfriend has always believed in some kind of face lift. I had not, but at 64 considered a lifestyle lift. After reading the negative outcomes I am definitely not ever going to have it done. Thanks so much for your post.
unregistered guest
28 May 2009
Thanks soooo much for your feed back, I went for a consultation and it was quite cut and dried. You need this, this, and this, and it will be $5000.00. The tv ads say LSL will finance, but in real life, they refer you to go through Capital One credit card. I then wondered if LSL and the credit card company wasn't in cahoots together. As with you Crystal, I learned that 'someone else' would be doing the surgery. I also asked for the opportunity to talk to others that had had the surgery done, but LSL said that they did not allow that. I will just except the way that GOD has made me and realize that we are all going to change and shift w/gravity. I figure it's just GOD'S way of humbling us all. Thanks a million !!
377 posts
28 May 2009
Ulli, it is not that plastic surgery is bad, it just so happens that this particular company does not have the experience, truthfulness, or the ethics to perform surgery on Gerbils. I honestly in good faith would never recommend to my worst enemy to walk through the doors of LSL. There are good doctors out there but you have to find them. LSL is selling an idea of what we want and then cannot deliver. Read the above post by Dr. Prendiville. He sums it up nicely. You have to be really careful and realself has done a good job here of listing only Board Certified Plastic Surgeons with credentials to prove it. I lucked up and after going through 3 surgeons, found one here in Atlanta with enough fortitude and brains to be able to fix what had been done to my face. And here is the real kick in the shin: I paid him exactly $2,300 more than what I paid LSL. The $2,300 was for being put to sleep. And it was worth every penny not to hear my flesh being ripped and cut from my face and the sickness that it still brings to my stomach every time I think about it. So for a few dollars more... And another point that Dr. P. makes is the time angle: one hour, even at LSL I was in for 3 and 1/2 hours. So I was awake and squirming, too scared to say anything, honestly, it was torture.
unregistered guest
31 May 2009
THANKS FOR YOUR INFO. I WAS CONSIDERING HAVING THE PROCEDURE DONE; BUT AFTER YOUR EXPERIENCE, I AM DEFINITELY NOT CONSIDERING IT AT ALL ANYMORE! NO, NO WAY! HOPE EVERYTHING IS BETTER FOR YOU NOW.
377 posts
2 Jun 2009
W. Bramlett & Debbie -- to both of you, I am glad that I could help in some small way and just know that I could possibly save someone any of the pain & suffering that I have gone through just makes my day. Good For Both of You!!! Not that does not mean that there aren't good surgeons out there -- you just have to find them. There are some ethical, good American Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons. I had to have the work redone, so I am very familiar with having to FIND a doctor that would listen to me about my concerns especially after what I had just been through with LSL. So being armed with information is first and foremost on your list. Don't leave one question unanswered and if you feel the least bit uneasy, follow your gut. My new surgeon spent over 2 and 1/2 hours on my first visit just talking to me about what we could do to fix what LSL did to me. He did not seem the least bit concerned about how long he was taking with me and he was not hurried in the least. I did have to pay a consultation fee of 125 which was taken off my surgery once it was done. My surgeon also offers informative consults for groups in the evening which are free. Kind of a Q&A for potential clients or Meet & Greet kind of thing. They serve coffee & tea and you get to meet the Dr. and ask questions. So, if you are interested in a potential surgeon and don't want to pay just to see him up front, you could always ask if they offer something like a Q&A session for groups. Thanks for the kind remarks. Chrystal
377 posts
3 Jun 2009
Hello everyone, I posted this on another page but wanted all to see this and ask "WHY"???? Dr. David Kent, the "Inventor" of the LSL is not board certified to teach this procedure any longer (LSL). Look it up for yourself: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/free/publicinfo.asp?rb_name=ON&rb_facility=&l_person_id=7706&l_profession_id=51&l_license_id=484354&Last_Name=KENT&First_Name=DAVID&License_number=&Facility_Name=&DBA_Name=&profession=51&offset=0 Osteopathic - Educational Limited: Null & Void. I think that means he no longer can teach -- so who does the teaching??? Maybe this is why the results are all over the place with no consistency at all. Then if you look at his Medical License, he is not listed at all as having any formal training in Facial Plastic Surgery. He is listed as Osteopathic Physician specializing in Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery. Kind of hard to argue with the license posted at the web site in the State of Michigan. I am telling everyone, Lifestyle Lift is a well oiled Marketing Machine. Please, do your homework on the your doctor. Keep in mind that if you choose a Dr. that is not Board Certified in Facial Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction, you are taking the chance that you will wind up like 63% of the unhappy clients of LSL. Which leads me to ask the question of the 37% who say they are happy... Is the 37% accurate? For many women who posted after a week or 2 only to have their face return to pre-surgery status. I can't help but wonder. Keep the faith, Chrystal.
377 posts
4 Jun 2009
Just to be fair, if I am going to post his license, I guess I should post his accomplishments. Here is a list: A) Degree of Doctor of Osteopathy from Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1991 B) Botsford General Hospital, Intern from July 1, 1991 - June 30, 1992 (Intern in Osteopathic Medicine) C) Botsford General Hospital, Resident in General Surgery, July 1, 1992 to June 30, 1993, Osteopathic Medicine D) Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 4 weeks of residency training in Management of Facial Nerve Disorders and Endonasal Endoscopic Sinus Surgery from Nov 20,1995 to Dec. 15, 1995 E) Certificate of Specialization in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery from American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology & Otorhinolaryngology, May 6th, 1997 F) Member of American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (certificate awarded for Otolarynology/Facial Plastic Surgery ((member)) )May 10 1997 G) Associate Membership in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, January 22, 2003 H) Member of American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2005 Here is a link to the degrees: http://www.lifeAAstylelift.com/media/doctors/Michigan-Detroit/Kent/KentBio.htm I would not want to be accused of not being fair.