Explaining the QuickLift™: What it Does and Who it’s For

The QuickLift™ is a revolutionary procedure that tightens loose skin in the cheeks, jawline, and neck in a minimally invasive way. It delivers quick and effective tightening of the deeper facial tissue.

Dr. John T. Alexander is a triple board-certified surgeon who leads Alexander Cosmetic Surgery alongside an excellent, caring, and compassionate team. They focus on delivering natural-looking refinements with meticulous attention to detail. To explore how this innovative procedure can refresh your facial aesthetics, contact us online or call our office directly at (858) 667-7717 to schedule your personal consultation.

What Does a QuickLift™ Procedure Do?

The QuickLift procedure is a minimally invasive type of mini facelift designed to lift the mid-to-lower face, tighten the jawline, and improve the appearance of the upper neck. It can dramatically improve visible signs of aging by lifting loose, sagging skin on the mid-to-lower region of the face, tightening the underlying facial muscles, and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, the QuickLift is performed by elevating the SMAS layer with a particular type of suture that attaches to the deep tissues in the front and upper portion of the ears. ⁽¹⁾ Specifically, this process creates a structural and anti-aging tissue suspension that rejuvenates the lower half of the face, and instead of pulling the surface skin tight, it lifts the structural foundation of the face from deep within the skin layers. This procedure has the ability to provide similar and long-lasting results that previously could only be obtained by a full facelift.

Benefits

As natural aging occurs, you may begin to notice natural skin sagginess and loss of elasticity, which create wrinkles and noticeable signs of aging. A QuickLift procedure can alleviate these concerns and bring benefits such as:

Who Is The QuickLift™ For?

If you are experiencing loose skin and elasticity from natural aging in your neck, jawline, or cheeks, in your 40s and 50s (or older), and at a stable weight, this procedure is ideal for you. Ideally, you should also retain some natural skin elasticity, be a non-smoker, and have realistic expectations for your procedure. The QuickLift can also be ideal if you have a busy schedule and want refreshed and natural-looking results and prefer a minimally invasive option with less downtime and a faster recovery than a traditional full facelift. ⁽²⁾ However, if you are experiencing advanced aging and severe laxity, you may need an alternative treatment.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Alexander will evaluate your medical history and discuss your overall goals for your procedure. He will also perform a physical examination of your face to determine the severity of your skin laxity and determine your target areas. Dr. Alexander will address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your QuickLift procedure. After gathering all of the necessary information, he will create a customized treatment plan that includes the exact procedure steps and your overall cost. His goal is to allow you to feel confident and knowledgeable before undergoing this procedure. Contact us online or call our office at (858) 667-7717 to schedule your personal consultation.

Preparation

To effectively prepare for your procedure, Dr. Alexander advises that you:

Procedure

At the beginning of your procedure you will receive local, twilight, or general anesthesia, depending on the technique Dr. Alexander will utilize and the scale of the procedure. Next, he will make a small, well-hidden incision that starts at the temple inside the hairline, continuing down along the tragus (cartilage in front of the ear canal) and wrapping around the earlobe. He will gently lift and reposition the deeper subsurface layers and facial muscles vertically to restore a youthful contour on the jawline and cheeks. ⁽³⁾ Additionally, he will remove excess fat from the jowls or chin area via laser-assisted or traditional liposuction, which may then be transferred to the cheeks or tear troughs. Dr. Alexander will either tighten the muscle layer through plication, which is the folding and pleating of muscle layers with sutures, with purse string plication, where he will tighten the muscle layer with suture loops, or by undermining, which he will do by lifting the muscle layer up as a second layer and then removing the excess and closing it with sutures. Lastly, he will remove excess skin carefully to re-drape over the uplifted contours and carefully close the incisions with removable sutures. Removable sutures improve healing and minimize scarring, and you will not need any surgical drains, but he may provide you with a bandage around your face to minimize swelling and bruising.

Recovery

Immediately after your procedure, you will experience swelling and mild bruising around the lower face and neck area. For the first three days, you must rest your head elevated and use cold compresses or a cooling mask as advised. After a week, your sutures will be removed during a follow-up appointment with Dr. Alexander, and you will notice subtle results. By the second full week of your recovery, visible swelling and bruising will fade significantly, and you may return to work and resume your light daily routine. Your final four to six weeks of your QuickLift procedure recovery will allow you to safely resume strenuous exercises, heavy lifting, and intense physical activities.

Results

Your QuickLift procedure results may deliver a more defined jawline, reduced jowls, and a smoother neck with a natural and youthful appearance. ⁽⁴⁾ Your results can reverse signs of aging and provide visible and lasting improvements for five to ten years. The longevity of your results will vary based on your genetics, skin quality, lifestyle habits such as smoking, diet, and sun exposure, and the overall surgical techniques.

Cost of the QuickLift™ in San Diego

The total cost of your QuickLift procedure will vary depending on the severity of your facial skin laxity and the surgical techniques Dr. Alexander will utilize. He will provide you with a detailed cost outline during your personal consultation and provide you with further financing plan details if you qualify. Contact us online or call our office at (858) 667-7717 to learn more about your cost at your personal consultation.

FAQ

References

1. Whitney ZB, Jain M, Zito PM. Anatomy, Skin, Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) Fascia. PubMed. 2020. Accessed August 31, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519014/
2. Tarallo M, Toscani M, Di Taranto G, Sorvillo V, Fino P. New lift: the art of facial rejuvenation with minimal incisions rhytidectomy. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2016;20(21):4416-4425. Accessed August 31, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27874959/
3. DELCAMPO A. Update on minimally invasive face lift technique. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2008;28(1):51-61. doi:10.1016/j.asj.2007.06.006
4. Rousso D, Brys A. Minimal Incision Face-Lifting. Facial Plastic Surgery. 2012;28(01):76-88. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1305792