Lifestyle Lift Reviews
53%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
Lifestyle Liftbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Lifestyle Lift Cost: $6,042

Learn about Lifestyle Lift

2,187 people and 100 doctors are talking about Lifestyle Lift

Get Free Email Updates

Post Lifestyle Lift Complications.

Not Worth It
Spent: $5,000 in Seattle, Washington

Comments (117)

Updated 20 Apr 2009

Posted 20 Apr 2009

I had this procedure January 29th in Seattle. I did it because I liked the idea of a less-intrusive surgery, using local anesthetic, and because all the literature given to me, plus the consultation, made it all sound as if I would heal quickly and with few (if any) complications.

I now feel that this was very misleading, as it is almost 3 months, and I have had nothing but problems and anxiety. I have lumps and ridges all along both cheeks, which showed up about a month ago, and a large lump under my chin which is hideous and has been there from the start.

My doctor, at the 1-month consultation, looked at me for about 3 seconds and said, "It'll go away." That was it! I live 4 hours away from the clinic, and it is difficult for me to get there. I am very depressed and nervous. My face is not only a mess, but it still can feel very numb, and at times, as if I were being bitten by fire ants. Is this normal this long after surgery?

I was never told anything except that I would be healed much sooner; and I was not told what the lumps were, whether to massage them, or anything else. he did say to come in for a steroid injection, but that is in another month! Is that too late? Will these things go away? How long can I realistically expect to heal?

I feel as if I've been abandoned by the clinic and that I am a nuisance to the doctor, who just sort of ignores my worries. Help! Am I going to look and feel this way forever.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Helpful review?

My Doctor: name not provided

He seems too busy and preoccupied to give proper reassurance.

Comments (117)

Post a Comment Sort:
Mr. Bill 23 Apr 2009
Birdlegs, I had my surgery the same day in Santa Ana, CA. I too was very anxious as one would expect when you have surgery on your face. I fortunately live about 20 minutes from the office and went back a half dozen times before my first month check up just to make sure everything was going as planned. I delayed my formal check up until (2) months just to get a better feel for how the healing was going before I threw them under the buss I had similar bumps on my face but mostly behind and below the ear that are slowly but surely going away. I too am displeased with the chin area and have (2) pockets, one on each side of the cut where they do the turkey stiching as they call it to get rid of the jowls. The doctor told me the neck would continue to tighten as it has and that I should come back in six months to correct the lumps with another minor procedure. My numbness is slowly going away but I still have the itching which drives me nuts at times but I gather from others on this site this could last for a year or more. If they correct the lumps under my chin and the itching goes away I will call it a success because the facelift for all intensive purposes worked. But of course those are still big if's...
cory (unregistered guest) 29 May 2009
whatI don't get is if they are going to do this incesion in your chin why they can't at least make it a small STRAIGHT one? My c-section incesion is straighter then this 2 inch incision which I still cannot understand why it had to be so big? AND I don't even know that they did down there!?? Was taken by the "you will heal in 3 to 5 days" speal!!
mcjrotcmom 9 Jan 2010
but will you have to pay again when you go in to correct the lumps? I had my consultation on Dec 28, then I started doing my research and have decided to not to go through with it. I had told them i would have to wait at least a year, bc i just had two stints put in my heart and my doc said I can't go off Plavix for at least a year. They said they would tell "the company" that i was a medical exclusion for 1 year, so evidently they have to have some sort of reason if you do not sign the day you go in for your consultation. this was in Huntersville, NC. I did meet with the doc, he was very nice seem well informed about the meds i was on, remicade for arthritis, but the "nurse" or whatever she was did not have a clue about remicade and it basically leaves you with no immune system, then I started reading about infections so i called them yesterday and told them i would not be interested even in a year. Plus i asked could they not put me to sleep, as i do not do well with surgery in which i am awake. they explained to me i would be in a twilight state, and i informed them that due to the fact i have had so many surgeries, that what they told me they would put me in a twilight sleep, i told them with that cocktail i would still be able to drive. I am so glad that i found this website before I did something i would regret. hope all goes well and that you will be pleased with the end result
chellamia 21 May 2010
Glad you didn't fall for the LSL. Too many horror stories and with immune system issues, I think this is something we need to really research as I too have immune system that always has to struggle with Hep C and fibromialigia and while I have to get a release form from my doctors, I want to put the question out here to hear from several doctors as I got pnemonia one time 13 days just being in a hospital for hysterectomy I should NEVER have let them talk me into as well. Ruined my life forever. Please pick a doctor with lots of experience and look at all their before/after pictures. Don't feel pressure to sign on the dotted line no matter how good the offer is that day. Many of these women living with serious deformity and they need to organize and get on TV show and expose this. Several doctor's here would love the opportunity to let people see the risks of this.
Birdlegs5 23 Apr 2009
Hi, Mr. Bill, Thanks for replying. These sites are so helpful; if only I'd read them before! It helps to know that I'm not alone in what I am experiencing. I'm going back to see the doctor in a couple of weeks and he'll hopefully have some answers for me. I am trying to be calm and patient...(NOT easy!) Keep me informed on your progress, and I hope you continue to heal well!
Nana King 25 Apr 2009
I had the same surgery about the same time and because I have had several plastic surgeries in the past 19 yrs. and am a nurse myself I knew what to expect. I think when you celebrate the one yr. mark you will be very happy you did this and should try to relax. All the scary issues you have experienced are normal and will either leave completely or lighten up enough that you are not aware of them most of the time,ie: the numbness. They DO cut nerves after all. Try to relax and smile more...the sooner you do those things the sooner you will be back to your norm. and w/ a fresher face to boot! ps the literature you were given to go home should have warned that it usually takes 6 to 12 mos. to get the edema and wierd feelings to abate. Sorry but this is one the best things I have done for myself next to the breast redux.!!
cory (unregistered guest) 29 May 2009
i could handle 6 to 12 months BUT when they tell you it will heal in 3 to 5 days and after 6 weeks I am still crying myself to sleep and my husband I am sure thinks I am over exaggerating because this certified PS said it would be only 5 days! My c-section was quicker and easier to recover from then this! I guess I was lucky in that I think I had a PS do the prcedure but now I am beginning to doubt it? Last time I wanted to see them I had to threaten to go to the emergency room! They finally got me in. When I waited for over 2 hours to do the surgery I should have left!!
mcjrotcmom 9 Jan 2010
as a nurse, do you think they should have known what remicade was? I called the 800 number from a TV commercial, I told the guy on the phone that I had just had stints put in my heart in August, & have several other health problems including arthritis so I didn't know if i would be a good candidate. I wanted them to just send me info bc i didn't want to waster their time or mine, he assured me i could probably still do it. when i was talking to the "medical asst" I explained to her about the Plavix and remicade, then told her i would have to see the doc, he did come in and he was very nice, then said they would tell "the company" that i was a medical exclsion due to heart problems, but i am so glad now that i didn't set a date b/c i didn't think about infection or the fact they weren't going to put me to sleep, no IV's or anything, that was another deal breaker. I am glad that yours turned out well,i guess it depends on the doctor some people seem to get really good docs and others seem to get quacks. yo must have gotten a good doctor
Birdlegs5 26 Apr 2009
God! Thanks so much! I can't tell you how much you have just helped me!
Birdlegs5 26 Apr 2009
But I STILL would never do this procedure ("Lifestyle Lift") EVER AGAIN. And I still will warn others against it. It's a barbaric,primitive surgery, and the Lifestyle Lift franchise misleads it's "Victims." "Tarred and Feathered" is too good for them, but they'll be shut down soon enough. They have caused a lot of suffering.
KICKINMYSELF 6 May 2009
This looks like too agressive liposuction to the area and an inexperienced hand. Perhaps you could look into the new Artesense if you can afford it - it is supposed to be a permanent injectable which might smooth out the face. Here is the info on it: ArteSense® is a new type of injectable implant used for skin augmentation, the long lasting correction of wrinkles and other skin depressions. ArteSense is composed of tiny microspheres called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) which are suspended in a collagen solution with lidocaine for the relief of mild post treatment tenderness. PMMA microspheres are 32-40 µm, about 4-5 times the size of a red blood cell. PMMA has been used since the early 1930s in such common procedures as dental prostheses, eye lenses, bone repair, orthopedics and in pacemakers. These microspheres are well tolerated by human tissue (no rejection). Details ArteSense utilizes the body’s natural ability to encapsulate foreign bodies by the formation of connective tissue surrounding the PMMA microspheres. The process of encapsulation of the microspheres by the body’s own connective tissue (collagen) is complete in about 3 months. Absorption (phagocytosis) and/or dislocation of the microspheres are prevented by the encapsulation of each individual microsphere with connective tissue. It is possible that after swelling has gone down, your wrinkles may temporarily return after a few weeks. This is a normal occurrence and they will start to disappear again over the next few months as the body forms its own connective tissue. The implanted PMMA microspheres stimulate the growth of connective tissue (fibroplasia) and collagen synthesis to increase the volume of soft tissue beneath the depression for cosmetic enhancement.
JoJo 1 Apr 2011
you sound like you work for the company that makes ArteSense??
until a product is tested and on the market for a few years I wouldn't touch it!
Chrystal Eckes (RealFriend) 30 Apr 2009
Birdlegs, I am so sorry for your problems. I see from your pictures that this does not look right. I too had the LSL but I did not have anything that looked like your problem show up. I would suggest a 2nd opinion. Is the areas hard???
OCBRIT (unregistered guest) 4 May 2009
I too am not happy with the results. Have the lumps and bumps under chin. Acquired a couple of scars which, according to another dr. I consulted, says looks like the scalpel slipped!!! Luckily I wear my hair long so it is not easily noticeable. My advice TO NOT PROCEED WITH THIS PROCEDURE! RUN GIRLS!!
Birdlegs5 4 May 2009
Yes, hard and quite painful. I just had some steroid injections and I am hoping this helps. I am trying to be more positive and to believe my doctor who keeps saying that this will all go away eventually; we shall see. I will keep posting until this ordeal is over.
Birdlegs5 4 May 2009
Chrystal, I am glad that you didn't have problems. Could you tell me how long it took for you to heal and to feel better? One of the worst things about all this, besides the discomfort, has been the anxiety and fear, mixed in with embarrassment about having been vain enough to have done this in the first place! I've actually started taking an antidepressant because of this. :-( My doctor was encouraging this time, though, and I'll try to believe this will all be over in time.
JoJo 4 May 2009
I have a friend who had this & it does take some time to heal, however I am personally against this LSL, I think it should be shut down as it has caused so many ppl so much grief and results are mimimal at best....good luck to you* JoJo
Birdlegs5 5 May 2009
JoJo, can you tell me how long it took your friend to heal?
J K in VA 14 May 2009
notice the one positive input is from an 'unregistered user'. LSL employees regularly read this site and post 'positive' information. UNFORTUNATELY - waiting 12 months for results is ridiculous, the lift looks best usually in the first month or two due to swelling making things smooth and tight.... after that, everything starts to relax and find it's new 'normal'. For the pain, try the HOT/COLD application techniques to work on the nerves. Apply moist heat/ then cool/cold, then heat and keep alternating hot/cold (to your comfort levels - be careful not to overdo the hot or cold as it could damage tissue that has nerve damage and may not respond to too much hot or cold to let you know the skin is in trouble) . do this for at least 10 to 20 minutes a day a few times a week, and it should help out.
Bits 16 Jul 2009
How true your comment was. LSL was fined for telling employees to write good things on this site. It's a matter of public record..
Birdlegs5 17 May 2009
Here is my latest Update! Three and an half months later, 2 steroid shots, and untold anxiety... One side of my face still looks like a pleated accordion, and is now bruised as well from the shot. The bumps are all still there. The chin is still quite gruesome. I still brush my hair to hide these ridges and bumps. On the plus side, there are times when I can forget about the tightness and tingling. MAY THIS LAST! I am still warning others NOT to do this procedure!
Diane Aguirre 27 Jun 2011
Well I hate to burst your bubble, but after three years and four months I still feel tightness and tingling. I have a feeling being this was a Dirty Operation my medical doctor explained when she saw what Doctor young did to me.

I had this done shortly after I heard of my mother's illness. Two months later my mother died. I recommend to never tell anyone to go to life style lift. I know when I am an old lady I will find a real doctor and have a real face lift done. I do not want to be old looking also.
J K in VA 19 May 2009
God Bless you. How awful! I think you certainly have a lawsuit or medical malpractice claim against them.
nine to five 23 May 2009
I have an appoint,ent to check into this but am getting cold feet. Has anyone out there been to the Dallas,Tx office. Your opinion? Thanks 9 to 5
Bits 1 Jun 2009
yea, don't do it. There are many docs here on this site that are more than willing to give a free consult. Most are real Plastic Surgeons& have fixed LSL. Look undr 'Find a Dr' & search your area for a facial plastic surgeon. Please!

Post a Comment

used for verification

Read more Lifestyle Lift reviews