About the QuickLift® Surgery
The QuickLift® face lift is a minimally-invasive, minimal recovery surgical procedure designed to deliver superior aesthetic improvement without the downtime and risk typically associated with traditional face lift surgery. Customized to address the specific facial aging concerns of each patient, the Quicklift is not a one-size-fits-all procedure; it is a customizable surgical solution for people who want the age-diminishing effects of surgery but not the lengthy recovery.
The QuickLift Face Lift:
- Minimal Downtime, Minimally-Invasive
- Outpatient Procedure
- Can be Performed under Local Anesthesia or Twilight Sedation
- Tightens the Jowls
- Lifts and Defines Cheeks
- Smoothes the Neckline
- Natural-Looking Results
About the QuickLift Face Lift
The QuickLift face lift was developed and introduced in 2003 by Dominic Brandy, MD, board-certified cosmetic surgeon and founding medical director of The Skin Center Medical Spa. Dr. Brandy developed the QuickLift face lift, a modification of the S-Lift procedure, to meet the growing consumer demand for cosmetic facial procedures that produce noticeable, lasting results with less downtime and less risk of complications.
Having performed more than 3,000 QuickLift procedures over the last decade, Dr. Brandy has mastered the art of this minimally-invasive and minimal recovery facial rejuvenation surgery and now provides training to physicians who are interested in building their medical practice and increasing their revenue.
QuickLift Face Lift Patient Selection
The QuickLift face lift is most beneficial to men and women between the ages of 40 and 65+ years-old, who want to improve the visible signs of aging while maintaining a natural-looking, refreshed appearance. Facial aging is often marked by the loss of skin elasticity caused by diminished collagen production. The loss of collagen results in excess skin along the jowls, underneath the chin and loss of volume and fullness to the face. The QuickLift face lift addresses these aging concerns but without the downtime and recovery commonly associated with more a traditional facelift surgery.
Unlike other marketed quick-recovery face lifts, with similar-sounding names, that tighten only the skin, the QuickLift permanently suspends the underlying structures of the lower face (SMAS) with purse-string sutures firmly anchored at the zygomatic arch.
Although the QuickLift can produce significant and long-lasting aesthetic improvement for most people, it is important to educate patients that after any facial procedure, the normal aging process resumes. Lifestyle choices, bone structure, skin type, sun exposure and heredity will play a part in determining how long the desired result will last.
The QuickLift Face Lift Procedure
The QuickLift face lift is an outpatient mid- face lift procedure that may take as little as to two hours, when performed alone. However, the duration of surgery will vary based on the surgeon, the degree of surgical correction required and number of ancillary facial rejuvenation procedures performed.
Prior to surgery, oral pre-medication is generally suggested to help relax the patient. The QuickLift face lift surgery is most often performed with local anesthesia or twilight sedation.
The QuickLift facelift surgery begins with a relaxed "S" shaped incision behind the temporal hairline, extending along the tragus of the ear, around the earlobe and up to the hairline toward the nape. Meticulous attention is given to the placement of the incision line to promote an inconspicuous scar. The underlying connective tissue and facial musculature is gently lifted and tightened using a single, double or triple concentric purse-string suture technique, which immediately tightens the loose skin along the jaw line and upper neck and restores volume to the mid- face. The redundant skin is then tailored and the incision is carefully closed under magnification using a suturing technique designed to reduce tension and minimize any visible scarring.
The number of purse-string sutures used during the QuickLift surgery is determined by the degree of skin laxity along the jowls, the amount of excessive submental redundancy and the degree of volume loss in the mid-face.
When indicated, a submental tuck which further addresses skin laxity of the upper neck, or liposuction of the neck and jowl area, may performed in conjunction with the QuickLift face lift.
QuickLift Face Lift Recovery
The QuickLift face lift is often called a "weekend facelift" because some people have reported that they had the procedure on a Friday, returned to the office on Saturday for a quick follow-up appointment, and then return to work on Monday or Tuesday. Although this may be true for very few patients, depending on their occupation, the downtime associated with the QuickLift will vary from patient to patient and, in large part, depends upon the degree of skin laxity, the age of the patient and if other facial rejuvenation procedures are performed at the same time. Typically, patients can expect seven to ten days of visible swelling and bruising.
Results of the QuickLift Face Lift
As illustrated in the QuickLift Photo Gallery, the results of the procedure vary with each person. Generally, the result obtained with the QuickLift face lift is predictable and quite dramatic; offering the patient a very refreshed, more youthful-looking version of them self.
Unlike the conventional facelift that results in a "pulled back" appearance, the QuickLift offers very natural-looking results. Patients enjoy an overall firming of the lower facial area, noticeable jaw line definition and a more toned neckline. Unlike some "mini-lifts" that tighten only skin, the QuickLift involves tightening the "superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS).
Risks Associated with the QuickLift Face Lift
As with any type of surgery, there are inherent risks; including post-operative swelling, bleeding and visible scarring. However, the risks are minimized when the Quicklift is performed on non-smoking patients who are committed to following the pre- and post-operative surgical instructions.
