How does Lifestyle Lift work?

Much has been written about Lifestyle Lift, the cosmetic surgery company that recently folded.  Lifestyle Lift was the marketing brainchild of Kris Kent, a doctor of Osteopathy and dermatologist in Troy, Michigan. It launched in 2004 as a company that provided low cost cosmetic surgery on a nationwide basis. Centers quickly sprung up around the country and Lifestyle Lift was marketed as a facelift ‘in about an hour’. Infomercials and TV advertising showed remarkable results and a lower cost option appealed to the average person. However, reports surfaced that doctors without plastic surgery training or board certification were recruited to perform the procedures. Patients complained they felt rushed by high-pressure sales tactics and that procedures were performed by unqualified doctors in unlicensed clinics. For many, it was the equivalent of a McDonald’s assembly line for plastic surgery. Investigative reports by CBS news suggested corporate profits were placed ahead of patient safety. Moreover, the Lifestyle Lift procedure itself had not been described in the medical literature.
The Lifestyle Lift procedure was not a true facelift and many wondered how it works. It was a quick, skin-only face tightening surgery without addressing the muscle layer. The tenets of established plastic surgery (muscle tightening, hidden incisions, qualified anesthesia providers, resuscitation equipment, etc.) were not followed and negative reviews accumulated with complaints of scarring, complications, problems, and deaths. Attorneys General investigating complaints from several states levied fines against the company for false advertising, astro-turfing, and unethical business practices. Medical malpractice lawsuits as well as negative publicity took a toll with the company filing bankruptcy in 2015, leaving many unhappy patients with complaints of permanent scarring and disfigurements. Experts in the field suggested Lifestyle Lift failed due to the fact that plastic surgery does not lend itself to commoditization, franchises, or assembly lines. A senior author stated, “nothing takes the place of a solid doctor-patient relationship built on trust and transparency, which Lifestyle Lift apparently disregarded”. 
Our approach to facelift surgery is consultative, educational, and informative. It starts with a 1 hour consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon during which a detailed physical examination and Computer Imaging are performed. Realistic expected results are shown to the patient and Before and After results reviewed from previous patients. Goals, benefits, limitations, risks, and expectations are discussed and a fee quote and patient reference list are provided. A second consult is scheduled to cover informed consent, prescriptions, and supplies need for after care. Surgery is performed in our state licensed, nationally certified surgery center with a anesthesia provide by a qualified CRNA. The doctors cell phone number is provided and there is close monitoring post operatively by the RN, PA, and doctor to ensure a good outcome.
 When considering facelift, mini lift, or neck lift in Orlando, follow the above recommendations to achieve the best outcomes from a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon.