Difference Between Quick Lift and Standard Lift?

. Here are the basic differences between a Standard (also called full or traditional facelift) and a Mini Facelift (such as "Quick Lift", "Lite Lift", "S" lift, MACS lift, etc)

 

A full or "traditional" facelift addresses the sagging upper and lower neck skin and (platysmal) vertical neck bands, jowls,  lower and mid nasolabial folds and marionette lines. It involves incisions from the temple scalp, along the front of the ear (inside the mid part for women), behind the ear in the crease then along or into the scalp hair behind the ear towards the back of your neck with undermining of the skin and  tightening of underlying support tissues.

A mini-facelift, or "short scar facelift" such as a Quick Lift  or as I call it in my practice a LiteLift addresses all of the above except for the lower neck. The difference is that the incisions are shorter - basically the same description in front of the ear and temple scalp but ending at the level of the earlobe (in front or in back) - as much as 40% less scarring. We do most of these procedures with oral sedation and local anesthesia without IV's or general anesthesia

Unlike a "conventional” traditional facelift which often involves more extensive surgery and pulls more horizontally, the QuickLift is a more abbreviated facelift that addresses the mid to lower portion of the face as well as the upper neck by lifting the face in a more upward vector.  The QuickLift lifts the underlying musculature of the lower face the (SMAS).  By lifting the mid to lower portion of the face, fullness and volume is restored to the cheeks, the jawline is tightened, improving the appearance of sagging jowls and excessive skin under the chin (turkey neck).    One benefit of the QuickLift procedure is that it can be performed in about an hour or two using local anesthesia as opposed to more complex sedative anesthesia which increases patient risk and short term recovery.  In my experience, patients in general who choose the Quicklift find the surgery to be simpler and faster, and the recovery process to be easier compared to my traditional facelift surgery as there is typically less swelling and bruising and post recovery issues. 

However, as with any plastic surgery procedure, the QuickLift is not one size fits all. The patient’s physical characteristics, areas of concern and expectation play a major role in what selection of procedures that I might recommend. For example, if additional facial rejuvenation procedures are added, such as a brow lift, lower neck lift or cosmetic eyelid procedure, both the surgical time and recovery time will increase. However, as any qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon should tell you, it is the end result which is of prime importance while still addressing the core concerns and wishes of the patient.