Mini-Lift Downsides

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Narrator
What are the downsides of mini-lifts?

Robert Kotler, MD
The so-called mini-lift, which goes by a lot of names, some doctors name their particular brand after themselves, and that's fine, first of all is not new. We who have been in this work for decades have seen these types of procedures, perhaps under different names come and go. They are predicated upon trying to achieve a certain amount of lift through a less-invasive surgical procedure, indeed done through shorter or hidden incisions.

Robert Kotler, MD (cont.)
The disappointment, which is pretty consistent I must say, has been that it doesn't last. So the old saying is that a half hour operation or an operation that lasts less than 4 or 5 hours is probably going to last less than 6 months. And there's a disappointment and for a very sound reason. Unless you free up enough skin, and slide it, and tighten it up and stitch it, you're not going to get long lasting results.

Robert Kotler, MD (cont.)
There really are no shortcuts here. So basically, the reason why the operation is appealing, yes, short incisions, less swelling, less down time, perhaps less discomfort. But the flip side is less of a result and you'll be back a lot sooner than if you had a standard, traditional well accepted well performed, face and often neck lift. Because the big victory in face and neck lifts, it's in the neck. It's where the jaw line meets the neck line. That's where the age starts to show.

Robert Kotler, MD (cont.)
So yes, it seems nice to have a little tightening here in the cheeks and perhaps in front of the ears, but that doesn't do anything for the more critical area far away from the operative site. So, it sounds good, but the reality is that most people are disappointed.