Your Questions
Your Questions
Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a “QuickLift” on March 17th 2014. This did not include a submentoplasty however the Doctor did address the platysmal bands during surgery. Photo number 3 is how I looked post surgery 7 days. I was elated. Since then there is now lax skin under my neck along with very slight jowling. (See following emails for photos taken about a week ago) I approached the Doctor and was he agreed I was in need of a revision and wants to do a submentoplasty using a 4 to 5 inch incision. I can’t do it and am hoping for revision with a small incision under my chin. Then I found you. The last thing I wanted to think about was more surgery. I am praying a submentoplasty with a small incision will address the issues. My goal is to look like my early after surgery picture with a firm neck and jowls with a youthful contour. What are your thoughts?
A: While I do not have any idea as to what you looked like before your Quicklift, the neck problem that you now have is excessive skin and prominent platysmal bands. This has occurred for one main reason…you had excessive neck skin initially and the Quicklift has merely unmasked this issue. (and maybe even made it worse) As the neck was defatted by liposuction (which I assume you had done) the hope was that your skin would shrink back down and tighten and no formal neck work would be needed. That unfortunately has not happened.
What I know unequivocally is that no form of a submentoplasty, regardless of the incision size, will significantly improve your neck. The only method to get your neck like you would like (smooth neck and jawline) is to do the one thing that you have tried to avoid from the beginning…a formal lower facelift. Anything less will be a waste of surgery and money.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in the Quicklift procedure for my aging face. Can you tell me if this procedure works and whether it would be good for me?
A: When someone inquires about highly marketed and franchise type facial rejuvenation procedures like the Quicklift or Lifestyle Lift, the first question I always like to ask is what has drawn one to these type of facial surgeries. The answers are almost always going to be because promote a quick to minimal recovery, lower cost or avoid the use of a general anesthetic. While there may be some truth to all of these claims, that is only so because they are ‘minimal’ type facelifts that are limited in the extent of surgery and thus limited in the kind of result that can be achieved with them. This is fine as long as one has the type of facial aging problem that is likewise not extensive and would respond well to this approach. There is considerable unhappiness with these types of facelifts and that is because often the patient’s problem exceeds what the operation can do under the circumstances in which it is being provided.
As a result, it is important to know the degree of one’s facial aging concerns to see if there is a match or whether a different type of facelift would be more appropriate. This can easily be done by sending me a few pictures for my assessment.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana