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POSTED UNDER MACS Facelift Reviews

2 Years Later - MACS Lift, Neck, Fat Transfer

UPDATED FROM Sassenach_Lass
3 years post

No More Updates

$12,745
Not doing anymore updates. I have been completely and totally honest about my experiences so that others may benefit and make well informed decisions about the doctor that swindled me. But it seems now that with almost every comment I make since I am not being positive about the doctor, it is deleted. I find that suspect. Yeah, go ahead and delete this too.

Sassenach_Lass's provider

Larry Lickstein, MD

Larry Lickstein, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (3)

I'm sorry to hear that your comments are being deleted and that you've had an unsuccessful result. Your input really helped me. This Real Self site seems to be a place where doctors can showcase themselves and peddle procedures that are more experimental. I also noticed that they tell a lot of patients that they should wait a year to really see their results (3-4 is enough imo) when a year is the statute of limitations if you wanted to sue. My necklift which apparently had to include a facelift failed quickly and I would have to get a revision but I don't trust my doctor to really improve it. It's very upsetting and I went through 2 large hematomas, pain months later and all I got was a saggy neck, jowls and the same creases around my mouth.
Check out my story:
https://www.realself.com/question/valencia-ca-necklift-facelift-failed-after-months-post-op#
I am so sorry. You know I feel your pain!! My neck is so horrible again. I cannot afford to have another surgery, and like you I do not trust anyone to cut me again! I am so happy that I was able to help you. I agree with you about the "wait a year" thing and what its really about. I think 6 months is ample time to be able to tell if a revision is needed, and to give your body time to recover. Again, I am so sorry for what you've gone through, especially with the hematomas and pain. What really makes me sad is when I actually DO see good facelifts on here it literally makes me sick to my stomach. For the money and time involved, I could've flown to CA/NY to have it done, and done correctly. Please keep me updated on your progress and your decisions regarding future surgeries. I will keep my account open on here so that it will alert me when a comment is posted. Best of luck to you!
Thank you so much, Beth! I am seeing my PS on March 2, 2018 in the afternoon. I really don't feel good about it at all. He has been vague from the start. He refuses to email me answers to my questions and prefers me in office. And when I ask direct questions he half answers, talking too fast then switches to another subject or begins to scoot me out the door. I confronted him over this and he admitted he did a modified MACS and he sent me a general note describing a MACS surgery. In the beginning because he is so vague and gave a lot of promises that he can lift the neck and face etc, etc I actually thought he was giving me a SMAS "full face lift" and necklift (even his brochure says this) but he performed a "modified MACS" which, from what I read everywhere, tends to fail or look undertreated. I don't want another one. I would like it properly corrected with a better PS but he took a lot of my money and I will have to wait to save more. In truth I would like my money back but I seriously doubt he would do so. In your research have you found any PSs that you think are good? I live in Southern California.
How did it go with your PS yesterday?!
It was raining so I had to cancel. I will see him this Friday on March 16th. I have a question for you. Did your PS provide aftercare at a facility? Mine had me out of there as soon as I woke up which was about 45 min after surgery. My poor daughter had to just about carry me to the hotel I was so out of it and I stayed there for 3 days close to his office. My daughter had to handle the drainage tubes and it was too much for her because there was a lot of blood. Through it all he never visited or checked on me. I remember getting tachycardia and dizziness on my 3rd day and instead of seeing me, he asked me to come in on the 4th day. I told him I would prefer to see him ASAP while I was in town (home was 1.5 hours away) but he refused. I went home on 3rd day and had to come back the next day. As you know, traveling in a car really hurts, every jiggle of the car is painful so it was in agony to travel all the way home, come back the next day and travel home again. And he didn't really check me out (BP, Pulse, Respiration, Temp, bandage) I had huge hematomas and he didn't really do much. And within a week of my surgery he was off to a seminar leaving my hematomas mostly untreated. His nurse aspirated them because he has no backup. Is this typical?
Hi. I too had a MACS facelift which did not work at all. I had investigated a lot here, and feel cheated that the PS did not tell me that I was actually having a minilift (which is what MACS really is). I I am now 6 months post op and have consulted 4 other surgeons, they all agree the procedure need repeating. I have complained to the center where my surgery was carried out, and they offer me a free revision. However, I am now in two minds, since I have lots confidence in their skills. ....
sorry, should have said LOST confidence in their skills.
I heard that the neck can go like that if the support bandage isn’t used enough while the sutures are incorporating in with legaments ? The neck can sag so support is needed to help?
UPDATED FROM Sassenach_Lass
2 years post

So Disappointed, and Cannot Afford a Third Surgery

I had a consultation with Dr. Michael Cohen, founder and director at Belcara Health, to correct my platysma bands. He recommended his colleague Dr. Larry Lickstein, who also worked at Belcara, to perform my neck lift surgery. Dr. Michael Cohen sang his praises and confidence in Dr. Lickstein, so I agreed to meet with him. I had 2 consultations with Dr. Lickstein, who was quite confident about his experience and talent and he assured me that it would be easy to give me the results I desired. The first surgery did not fix my bands. At subsequent follow ups with Dr. Lickstein he assured me that a second surgery would fix my bands. He said that he would "tie them together". Instead, he cut them. They grew back together pretty quickly. And to make matters worse, he attached my earlobes to my neck, giving me "pixie ears". Soon after my surgery Dr. Lickstein quit. I met with Dr. Cohen again who seemed frustrated with my results. He stated they had a new surgeon now who would do the surgery again, for a discounted price. I met with him, and it was obvious he was not impressed with Dr. Lickstein's work, stating the bands should've been 'tied'. He did not have my chart with him (not prepared) and I explained to him that is exactly what Lickstein said he was going to do, but did not. He explained to me that he would try to tie the bands together, but that they were now 'uneven' (no kidding), and that he would also repair my earlobes. After I received the 'estimate' of what Dr. Michael Cohen's Belcara Health was going to charge me for the THIRD surgery, I declined. I'm out of money. I have attached pictures to show, 2 years later, how my neck now looks. Belcara Health and Dr. Michael Cohen, In my opinion, should be ashamed of what happened to me and should repair my neck at no cost. But they will not. I feel scammed. If you think you would like your neck to look like mine, see someone at Belcara, or Dr. Larry Lickstein at his new office in Virginia.

Replies (4)

I'm sorry you had to go through this. Very frustrating. How's your face resulrs? Try to stay positive and have consultations with a couple of doctors. I'm sure you can find an experienced surgeon to help you. I like Dr. Mark Glasgold. He is in NJ though. Good luck and please keep us posted.
Hello. Sorry for the late reply. My neck is back to where it was when this horrible journey began, but as I said in my other comment, my bank account is not. Indeed I have seen other surgeons. Three to be exact. They all said that he used an outdated technique, made my incisions WAY too wide (I have to cover the scars all down the front of my ears with heavy concealer), and that because of what he did my bands are now most likely too far apart to fix (to tie together, as in the corset I believe its called). Also, they all 3 said the fat transfer procedure he used (spinning it, etc) was outdated by about 5 years. So now I know that is why if did not work. As for finding another surgeon, I'm too scared and too broke. All I know is that I hate Dr. Larry Lickstein and wish he would man up and admit it (better not be too specific b/c this comment will most likely be deleted if I elaborate) and return my money. Good luck to you too.
I feel your pain my friend. I'll keep you in my prayers. Thanks for your honest review. I'm sure you helped many by posting your experience. It is too bad that honest comments are being deleted. I think negative reviews are even more important than positive ones. Stay strong!
Thank you for your.kind words. I really appreciate it! Best of luck to you.
I honestly can't see a problem vvith your neck, it looks great, the ear looks bad but the neck looks vvonderful, I vvould be very happy vvith it .
Old pic. Not how I look today.
My next is now back to where it was before. But my bank account is not. The 3 other surgeons I consulted all said the procedure he did was outdated, and that he cut the bands incorrectly and that it will be difficult to correct. Not to mention expensive. Would YOU be happy with that outcome?
Thank you for sharing but i am sorry for you how disappointing and expensive so wrong
Thank you. Yes, a hard lesson learned. :(
You really have helped so many of us, Beth. I saw that person trolling you (LL) and I thought they were so insulting. I see other people, as you have, with successful face and necklifts and it kills me too. So much pain and money for the same neck and jowls.
Thank you so much for letting me know that I've helped you. I do hope that I've helped others too. Yes, I do believe that person that was trolling me is LL or someone from that office. If I were a surgeon and left a patient looking like me, I would be so upset and would try to rectify the situation, bc I would take pride in my work, and I would be devastated that a patient had lost faith in me. A small consolation- I know for a fact that I've talked at least 3 women out of using LL. Didn't take much. Just a look at my neck did the trick. I know that you and I will never receive any 'satisfaction' as far as our PS giving us our money back for a horrible job. That is indeed hard to swallow. I feel so guilty. That money could've gone in my kid's college fund. I remember at my follow up visits every time LL would brag about his kids' private schools. I wanted so badly to say "yes, they attend on my money you swindled me out of". Wish I would've. Sigh... oh well. I do believe in karma :).
UPDATED FROM Sassenach_Lass
1 year post

MORE Surgery and ANOTHER Fat Transfer

Two year depressing, frustrating, disappointing and expensive Journey. Second MacsLift, Second fat transfer and necklift. All done by Dr. Larry Lickstein. 6 months post op and $1000s and $1000s of dollars later...here are the end results. Pictures speak for themselves.

Replies (5)

I think you should have gotten another doctor.
Ya think? The second surgery (Macslift w/fat transfer redo and this time the neck lift I was promised in the first place)- I had to pay for anesthesia and use of the operating room, but not his "fee" since I was not happy with first surgery. Thought I'd give him (Dr. Larry Lickstein who was at Belcara Health at the time) another chance instead of investing thousands more in another doctor. Now I don't trust any of them, as in the past I've had otoplasty twice (years ago, 2nd was pretty successful) and breast implants twice (wasn't happy w/the first ones and felt he didn't listen to me the first time) with a surgeon who has excellent credentials.

With these current surgeries I did my homework (hours and hours), but apparently I chose the wrong doctor. I've spent almost $30,000 and still hate the way I look. I don't trust any doctors at all anymore. I'm done.
how very disappointing I am sorry too thank you for sharing your experience
Thank you and you're welcome!
You face has soften, after the surgery, you look younger to me the only issue is your neck, but still you look beautiful.
Thank you!
I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time. What will you do?
Thank you. I have an appointment at the same place with the new surgeon who is going to inject botox into the bands (for free). It will last about 3-4 months. He said then it will about 10 months post op, then we will talk about what to do next. He said something about going back in and excising muscle. I have another appointment/consultation with a surgeon closer to home. I plan this time to see at least 3 surgeons. I gave Lickstein almost $13,000 and didn't even get a jar of vaseline.
At this point though I really do not trust anyone else (nor do I have any money left to just throw away or give to another snake oil salesman). I am so depressed over all of this. I probably will not have the surgery done a third time for a couple of years or more. However, one surgeon I just had a consultation with told me that it absolutely can be corrected very easily. He said my incisions were done too wide and that cutting the bands without doing anything else was, ahem..... "half @$$ed".
I do not know how old you are but you look really good to me.
Thank you. 48 in April.
I should also add that the one pic I have with the makeup on is after I had Juvederm by another provider. I wanted to add a pic where I looked half way decent. It was also taken before my second failed macslift where he sewed my earlobes to my neck.
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