Quick Lift For Men

Not like a Facelift in San Diego a QuickLift™ is a revolutionary procedure that tightens loose skin in the cheeks, jaw line, and neck in a less invasive way. The procedure, first performed in California by Dr. Alexander in 2004, delivers impressive results similar to a traditional facelift with fewer complications and a quicker recovery. Alexander Cosmetic Surgery is the only practice in San Diego licensed to perform the QuickLift.™

For more information about our our QuickLift™ procedure, please contact us online or call us at 888-463-9532. We look forward to helping you look your best.

Understanding the San Diego QuickLift™ Procedure

Facelifts and other facial rejuvenation techniques have been around for over a hundred years. Over this time procedures have become more advanced, offering more and more options to those who want to look younger and more vibrant as they age.

In the last ten years, a new development that achieves quick, effective tightening of the deeper facial tissue has spawned a new breed of mini-facelift. In years past a mini-facelift just meant “doing less,” and it was common for surgeons to tell patients, “If you do a mini lift, you will get mini results.” However, today mini-facelifts have the ability to provide similar, long-lasting results that previously could only be obtained by a full facelift.

One such procedure is the QuickLift,™ a less invasive procedure that provides similar results as a traditional face-lift, but with a quicker procedure and quicker recovery time. Sound too good to be true? A consultation with Dr. Alexander and Dr. Kaplan will help you understand more about how the QuickLift™ differs from traditional facelifts helping you decide if a QuickLift™ is right for you.

Thirty years ago, face-lift procedures basically entailed tightening just the skin. In time, plastic surgeons recognized that longer-lasting and more natural results could be obtained by tightening the superficial muscles of the face, the SMAS. These procedures are effective but require much more technical skill and time, and there is a greater risk of complications.

The QuickLift™ offers a less intrusive method for tightening these same SMAS tissues. The procedure takes only about 90 minutes to perform, and most patients find that they can recover in about a week. The natural appearance results from modern tightening of tissues, but without the same risks, swelling, and recovery time associated with traditional facelifts.

A QuickLift™ doesn’t stop the aging process, but turns back the clock on your face and age. Once healed, the face continues to age at a normal pace. If you look ten years younger after a QuickLift™, it will take about ten years or more for your face to age back to the preoperative condition.

Procedures often performed in conjunction with a QuickLift™ to rejuvenate the face are Brow Lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, Eyelid Lift to rejuvenate aging eyes, and chemical or laser peels to smooth sun-damaged skin.

A QuickLift™ can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments, such as peels or fillers, cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift in San Diego becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery. Thread lifts, also known as Feather Lifts and Contour Lifts, have proven to be very ineffective, because no skin is removed. These procedures have not stood the test of time and have essentially been abandoned.

ASK OUR SURGEONS

Before You Decide…

The Consultation

To ensure the most natural looking results, it’s imperative for a surgeon to recommend the procedure which most appropriately matches the patients’ needs and to offer realistic expectations for post-surgery outcomes. When you meet with a surgeon, you should expect a full discussion of the surgically appropriate options for your face, which is uniquely yours.

I have found that most patients are pretty satisfied with how they look, they’re just not happy with the changes of age. Patients don’t want to look different, or changed, just fresher and younger. Most just want to turn back the clock several years. Many patients comment that they look older than they feel, but are wary of cosmetic surgery, especially if they’ve seen poor outcomes in others. We often hear, “I don’t want to look funny, weird, or pulled.”

A good surgeon goes through a series of examinations and observations that are individual and dependent upon your specific situation and goals, but also factor in the surgeon’s expertise, training and experience. If a surgeon specializes in a particular type of facelift procedure, don’t be surprised if it is recommended over other options. Be wary of the “one-size-fits-all” approach.

This is particularly important because as medicine has advanced, patients have more options available. The availability and affordability of options in facelift procedures has made it possible for many more patients to benefit from facial rejuvenation surgery. But it has also made it possible for candidates considering surgery to form some mistaken impressions about procedures.

The success of your QuickLift™ depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. We will ask you questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be prepared to discuss:

We may also:

Other procedures can further enhance the outcome of a QuickLift™. They include:

Who is a good candidate?

We’ve found that the QuickLift™ works best for people in their 40s and 50s, and sometimes those who are a little older. However, the procedure can be modified for patients who have more loose skin or fat, especially in the neck. The more challenging the neck area is, the more likely we are to recommend a more traditional face and neck lift, which requires more extensive loosening of the skin and removing more fat. But because every case is unique, the only way to accurately determine which procedure is best for you is to consult with Dr. Alexander Dr. Kaplan. Also, bear in mind that there is a whole spectrum of options between the QuickLift™ and a traditional facelift – it doesn’t have to be one or the other, and sometimes a combination of techniques works best.

The QuickLift™ is a good option for you if:

What does it cost?

Cost is always an important consideration in elective surgery. However, when choosing a plastic surgeon for a Facelift, remember that the surgeon’ s experience and your comfort are just as important as the final cost.

A quote will be provided to you after your consult with Dr. Alexander and Dr. Kaplan. Be sure to ask about our patient financing plans.

Cost may include:

The QuickLift™ Procedure

Prior to surgery, we will have you:

During a preoperative appointment, usually 1-2 weeks before surgery, we will:

Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include local anesthesia, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. We will recommend the best choice for you based on your personality, your desires, and the complexity of your procedure.

How We Do It

The procedure typically takes about 90 minutes, depending on the individual face and certain surgical variables. It is a surgery, and not something you can do on your lunch hour. There are four basic steps to a QuickLift,™ which are the same steps with other types of facelifts. However, steps 2 and 3 are less complex and are the secret to the QuickLift.™

Step 1 – Incisions
A QuickLift™ incision begins in the hairline at the temples, continues in front of the ear and around the back of the ear and ends in the hair of the scalp. The incision is like a seam in clothing. It is impossible to remove the extra skin without an incision. The more skin that needs to be removed, the longer the length of the incision. Incisions normally heal extremely well and are nearly invisible. The QuickLift™ incisions tend to be in front of the hairline at the temporal area, because the lift is more vertical, thus, the hairline can be preserved.

Added step: If the neck is a problem or concern, sometimes a small incision is placed under the chin to remove fat and tighten loose muscle bands.

Step 2 – Undermining, or loosening the skin
Next, the surgeon gently loosens the skin from the underlying muscle (SMAS). Much less loosening is required for a QuickLift™ than a traditional facelift. Less loosening means less time, fewer complications, less bruising and swelling, and quicker healing.

Added step: Fat may be sculpted away from the neck and jowls, and fat might be transferred to cheeks or tear troughs.

Step 3 – Tightening the Muscle (SMAS)
The muscle layer is tightened with up to three purse string sutures, creating a quick but natural tightening to the entire muscle layer of the face. This suturing technique is what makes the QuickLift™ possible.

Step 4 – Closing
This is the final tailoring step, where the skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours, excess skin is trimmed away, and the incisions are meticulously closed with removable sutures. We use removable sutures to improve the healing process and minimize scarring. No drains are needed.

Informed Consent

Pain from the QuickLift™ is usually minimal. Patients usually experience tightness in the cheeks and neck and some soreness in the jaw for the first few days while eating or opening the mouth. Pain pills are provided, but are usually not required after a couple of days. It is uncommon for patients to have significant pain.

The decision to have a QuickLift™ is extremely personal, and you will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks are acceptable. In general, the overall risks are very small for QuickLift™ surgery. In addition, there may be a different procedure more suited to your needs, such as a nose lift or chin reshaping.

We will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo including the risks.

Risks include:

It’s very important to ask our surgeons questions about your QuickLift™ procedure. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with us.

Important Terms to Know

Local Anesthesia: the surgical area is numbed up, but the patient is awake. Sometimes a patient will be given an oral medication, like Valium, to help with relaxation.

Sedation (Twilight) Anesthesia: The patient is given an IV, and is made sleepy with medications given through the IV. The level of sedation can be adjusted, from barely sleep to very sleepy. Sometimes sedation is given by the surgeon, and other times it is administered by an Anesthesiologist.

General Anesthesia: The patient is asleep, requiring that the airway be protected, either by a standard breathing tube, or by a laryngeal mask (LMA), an inflatable mask that goes in the back of the throat but doesn’t go down the trachea. Through the airway, an anesthesiologist gives gases to put the patient asleep. Drugs may also be given through the IV.

Tear Trough: A groove below the lower eyelids extending from the nose across the upper cheek.

Nasolabial Fold: The crease that extends from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth.

Mesolabial Fold (Marionette Lines): The crease that extends from the corner of the mouth down the side of the chin.

Jowls: Soft bulges that sag along the jaw line, usually caused by loss of muscle tone in the lower face.

SMAS: The Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System, the superficial layer of muscles in the face just below the skin and subcutaneous fat.

Hematoma: An unwanted collection of blood under the skin.

Hypertrophic Scar: A hyperactive, usually temporary scarring process that makes a scar raised and red, sometimes called a “baby keloid.” This is more common in patients with pigmented complexion and more common on the chest, trunk, and shoulders, and very uncommon on the face and neck

Recovery

Although our society is increasingly geared toward instant gratification, rushing the healing process is never a good idea. It’s easy for patients to get a little too active too quickly. The body has its own pace, and your body’s recovery speed is unique to you. As with any procedure, we have specific guidelines for preparation and recovery.

The Specifics

Recovery times vary from patient to patient. Quicklift™ recovery, which tends to take about 4-10 days, with the average patient looking very good at about one week. Traditional facelift recovery takes an average of 8-20 days. Bear in mind, however, that these are averages. Some individuals may heal much more quickly, while others may take longer to fully recover. A patient who tends to have more bruising and swelling than normal will take longer to heal. For the QuickLift,™ most patients should allow one week before returning to work and other normal day-to-day activities and about two weeks before working out.

Following your doctor’s instructions regarding medications and other post-operative measures is key to a quick recovery. Herbal medications are available to reduce swelling, bruising, and to speed your recovery.

It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Avoid wearing any clothing that must go over your head. We will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

When your procedure is completed, a bandage could gently be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising. Although a bandage is not absolutely necessary, it greatly decreases swelling and speeds your recovery time. It is also a reminder to take it easy for the first day or two.

It is normal for the face to feel tight. If one side is significantly more painful or swollen than the other side you should call the office.

You will be given specific instructions that include:

We will see you the day after surgery, then on the 4th or 5th day to remove some sutures, and again on the 7th day to removed the remainder of the sutures. At one week you can resume normal activities. At two weeks you can begin light exercise, and at three weeks there are no restrictions.

Results

It’s natural to feel impatient about seeing the “new” you, but you’ll need to be patient as your face heals from the surgery. The visible improvements of a Quicklift™ appear as swelling and bruising subside. It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to 6 months for incision lines to mature. Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.

Because I have worked with so many patients, I can look at someone relatively early in their recovery and say, “You look great,” even though that patient can only see how they look that day — not how they will look a few weeks later. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.

After a few months pass it is not uncommon for patients to become so used to their new appearances that they barely notice the change. This is similar to when you get a new haircut and can’t help but notice your reflection every time you pass a mirror. After a few months, your self-image resets, and you may not recall how drastic the change is until you happen upon an old photograph.

The same phenomenon occurs with facial rejuvenation, and is one of the main reasons we take “before” pictures. Patients quickly forget how they used to look! For the first few months after a procedure, the change is dramatic, and the mind is constantly noticing and comparing the younger look to the older face. After a few months, the mind has reset the new look as the new self-image. Once this becomes the new norm, it is easy to look in the mirror and still see some signs of aging. However, when the patient looks at old pictures, they are often surprised they have forgotten what they used to look like, and how much they have improved.

If our patients tell us they’re receiving a lot of compliments, but nobody knows they’ve had surgery, we feel like we’ve achieved our goal. And one of the ways we do this is by keeping things very simple and conservative. Some surgeons overplay their artistic ability and make recommendations that really change a person’s face and make them look quite a bit different than they used to. Our goal is to not change a person’s face, just to give them a better version of what they already have. In general our patients are very pleased with their Quicklift™ results. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another