What is the durability of a Weekend Lift?

Question

I have heard before that surface facelift procedures like the Weekend Lift / Lifestyle Lift / etc will often see a return to pre-surgery within two or three years. Is this a common experience?

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. What you want to avoid are those skin-only lifts that focus solely on removing excess skin without repositioning the underlying tissue and muscle. This approach provides minimal improvement that doesn’t last for the long term, and most surgeons do not recommend it. Perhaps, what you are seeking is a mini facelift, which refers to the minimally-invasive surgical procedure that’s less aggressive than a traditional facelift (rhytidectomy) or a neck lift with platysmaplasty. A mini facelift might be your best choice if you have early signs of aging, such as slight jowl formation and mild to moderate skin laxity. Mini facelifts have a variety of names, which vary by doctor and marketing strategy. You may also hear mini facelifts referred to as Awake Mini Lift, Micro lift, Lifestyle lift, Feather lift, or S lift. Specific techniques and steps for performing a mini lift can vary from surgeon to surgeon, just like the name of the procedure. It is essential to find the most skilled and experienced facial plastic surgeon to perform your surgery and make the lasting improvements you want. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Such experts solely perform procedures on the face, and their knowledge of facial anatomy and refined techniques ensure you enjoy the best possible results from your procedure.

George Volpe, MD · Answer

In general, a weekend lift or one of the many very small lifts that have many different names, are modifications of mini facelifts. They are most suitable for those who have mild changes with some jowling and skin flaccidity. If your surgeon is suggesting a small excision of skin and then just sewing it up, the results do not appear to last very long as the skin will just grow in result of the tension. Different surgeons have different techniques even when performing these very small lifts. Most of us feel that adding deeper sutures to help elevate will help prolong the results as the deeper tissue allows elevation of the cheek tissue near the jowls. It is probably most important to discuss with your surgeon what the exact technique entails. These weekend lifts offer less costly approaches although results should not be as dramatic or comprehensive as more involved facelifts which a number of patients require.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Just like the lifestyle lift there are many claims of lesser involved facelifts that work just as well with shorter recovery. Any facelift that takes less time cuts corners and leads to dissatisfied patients. There are no
miracles out there so be careful in deciding to do something like that

James Shire, MD · Answer

The types of facelifts you are referring to are basically skin lifts. They are an advertising gimmick and  do not address the underlying problem that must be corrected. There are a number of techniques and names of facelift procedures. However, without addressing the  underlying cause, the results will not last and only leave you the possibly of unsightly scars, hair loss and a funny-looking ear. Please consult with an experienced facial plastic surgeon to discuss all of you potions.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

The longest lasting results from a facelift occur when the deeper structures of the face, the SMAS, which is the fascial layer of your face, is elevated and sutured into its new position after elevating the skin. The reason skin only facelifts do not last as long is that the skin is not a support structure, it is a covering. If you try to use the skin as a support for smoothing the jowls and the platysma bands of the neck,, the skin will eventually relax and the areas of concern recur earlier.  The SMAS is the support structure of your face so it can be lifted and sutured and straightens the jawline and smooths the muscle bands in the neck.  After this is healed, it results in a longer lasting result from a facelift.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Achieving a long-lasting and natural appearing facelift with the shortest recovery time requires customizing the approach to the individual. Certainly not everyone needs an extended deep plane facelift, but "one size fits all" quickie approaches frequently lead to disappointment and relapse. See a plastic surgeon experienced with the various facelift techniques so you can learn what is best for your specific case.

J. Simon Ivey, MD · Answer

The names of the procedures mean very little. You need to ask your facelift surgeon specifically what they will be doing underneath the skin. 
Any good facelift technique does something to manipulate the SMAS layer or sometimes this is called deep plane. 
Important for two reasons - it reshapes the deeper tissue and perhaps even more critical is that it avoids placing all the tension on the skin thus getting a better scar. Most patients who come in with poor scarring did not have a properly performed lift and surgeon placed tension on the skin.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Mini lifts tend to give mini results, and we rarely ever perform them. The goal of a lower face and neck lift is to tighten loose facial and neck skin, tighten loose facial and neck muscles, lift the jowls, more moves that deposits above and below the platysma muscle in the neck along with the platysma plasty procedure.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Less than 6 -12 months, that is why it is called "weekend Lift". Why not go a little further to aa mini Face/Neck Lift w SMAS plication?? At least this last 3-5 years. If you had posted photos it would have helped....

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

You are correct in that the branded mini facelifts generally las a mini length of time and give a mini result when compared to a more proper facelift. Each surgery must be customized to the patient and minis tend to be cookbook procedures.