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Let Me Clear Up the Confusing Namesthat describe a
Face Lift and Neck Lift

MACS Face Lift, Mid Face Lift, Face Lift, Mini Face Lift, Endoscopic Face Lift, Feather Lift, Thread Face Lift, Subperiosteal Face Lift, Quicklift, S Face Lift, Life Style Face Lift, Ribbon Neck Lift

Make a Complimentary Consultation to see Plastic Surgeon and Specialist of Southern California, Dr. Costanzo of Thousand Oaks for your Face Lift, Neck Lift.   Can be combined with Forehead Lift, Brow Lift and Blepharoplasty.

Before and After Photos of Face Lift, Neck Lift, pics of Mini Face Lift performed by Chris Costanzo MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon serving Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Encino, Calabasas, Ventura, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Riverside County, Agoura, Simi Valley, Westlake Village

Minimal Incision Face LiftMinimal Incision Face LiftMinimal Incision Face LiftMinimal Incision Face Lift

Minimal Incision Face Lift
Lower Blepharoplasty
Atrium Implants to Lip

Face Lift - Neck Lift

Is a surgical procedure design to correct the aging or sagging areas of the face, specifically the cheeks, jowls and neck area to create a younger and fresher look.


FAQ / My Opinions & Recommendations


Why are there so many names for a Face Lift?

The Face Lift procedure has been transformed over the years to include multiple and confusing names. Different Plastic Surgeons may refer to aFace Lift, as a Mini-Face Lift, a Mid-Face Lift, a Full Face Lift, an S-Lift, a QuickLift, a MACS Lift, a Lunch Time Lift and more.

Below I will try to sort through these confusing terms give you my opinions and what I think works the best.


Which Type of Face Lifts I Like the Best!

I like theShort Incision, Minimal Incision Face Lift, MACS Lift or Limited Incision Face Lift for most all persons.

For several reasons:

  • First, you will see maximum tightening of the jowls, cheeks and neck
  • The incisions are limited to the area in front and just behind the ear.
  • This Limited Incision Face Lift gives me the ability to tighten your supportive muscle system of the neck and face (SMAS) with minimal risk to the nerves of the face.
  • I can give you back a natural, youthful look that your looking for.
  • This vertical lifting technique is especially good in younger, less wrinkles persons.

I also like theTemporal or Transblepharoplasty Mid - Face Lift using the Endotine bioabsorbable implant for some of the younger persons who want no facial incisions and who have no need to tighten the neck.

For the following reasons:

  • The mid- face or cheek area is lifted through a Temporal Scalp incision or a Lower Eyelid incision.
  • I use the Endotine B or Endotine ST biodegradable implant by Coapt Systems to raise the cheek and eyelid. This dissolves completely in 8 - 12 months and anchors the tissue while it heals in a higher position.
  • It corrects the hollowing of the lower eyelid, by raising the cheek fat pad. This gives a freshening and younger look.
  • Limited down time - Minimal scarring - Minimal risk to facial nerves



Coapt Systems - Endotine Implants


What is a Contour Thread Lift and Feather Lift?

Sometimes called the Lunch Time Face Lift, this procedure uses small incisions in the hair to passed barbed sutures into the face, that when pulled upwards hook on to the tissue under the skin to lift it upward.

I do not recommend this procedure because it suffers from the following disadvantages

  • Very costly, with minimal changes to the face.
  • Not a good procedure for correction to the jowls or neck.
  • It is not long lasting- sometimes only months or until the swelling resolves
  • The barbed sutures may break, stretch or work their way through the skin requiring additional minor surgery to remove the visible barbed end.
  • Difficult to move a large area of tissue with a suture to get more than subtle results.

What is a Macs Face Lift?

TheMACS-Face Lift has an incision in front of the ear and then uses a purse string suture to pull up on the SMAS layer over the muscles of the face. Used to tighten the lower 2/3rds of the face.   This is a good Face Lift and best used in a younger person with little need for neck tightening.


What is a S Face Lift?

TheS-Face Lift has an incision in front of the ear and also tightens the supportive muscle system (SMAS), but unlike the Limited Incision Face Lift does not have the ability to pull this SMAS both an upward and backward for better muscle tightening.


What is a Quick Lift?

TheQuick Lift Face Lift is a modification of the S Lift.  A similar incision is made and then the tissue pulled up and held in place with a purse string suture. The Quick Lift Face Lift has the limitations of the using sutures to hold up rather heavy facial tissue.  The sutures can sometimes stretch, break or come loose.  I would rather use the biodegradable Endotine Implants for holding up the tissue.  They are much stronger and supportive.


What is an Subperiosteal Face Lift?

TheSubperiosteal Face Lift is an elevation of the soft tissue and muscles off the bone and the elevation of these structures.   I would rather elevate the subcutaneous tissue and skin, along with the SMAS layer, as I mentioned above.   I believe this operation is more prone to having problems after surgery.


What is an Mid-Face Lift?

You should consider theMid-Face Lift if you have early signs of aging, such as a sagging mid-face which means the cheek and lower eyelid area. You might see a deepened of the folds of the lower cheeks called the nasolabial folds.

If you have no significant jowl or neck sagging, then I can use the Endotine bioabsorbable implants with hidden incisions to give you a natural, refreshed look.

This type of Face Lift is most commonly done on women in their early 40's.  More commonly, however, women need the Minimal or Limited Incision Face Lift to tighten the jowls and neck skin.


What is an Mini-Face Lift?

This is probably the most confusing term, because it has a different meaning for each person and plastic surgeon. If theMini- Face Lift means minimal incisions then some refer to it as the Short Incision Face Lift. Others, suggest it is minimal surgery.

This could include a Face Lift done with an endoscope through hairline and through the mouth incisions only. The endoscope is a lighted camera attachment with special instruments introduced through these incisions to elevated the specific areas of the face. Some plastic surgeons also refer to the elevation of the cheek through eyelid incisions is a Mini- Face Lift.

In the above cases the Mini-Face Lift is generally used on early stages of aging where you are mainly interested in a freshening look since it does not address the loose neck and jowls very well.  Unless you are getting the Short Incision Face Lift or Minimal Incision Face Lift.


What is an Non-SurgicalFace Lift?

Poor substitutes for a surgical Face Lift, as they do not tighten the face, jowls and neck area like surgery.

Generally, these areLaser, Thermage or Chemical procedures called a Face Lift by doctors who are untrained to do a real surgical Face Lift.

Used as a marketing or sales tool to entice you to call- such as 60 minute Face Lifts, Lunch time Face Lifts.


Facts about Face Lift and Neck Lift Surgery

For More Information on Face Lift and Neck Lift Surgery - a Free Consultation Call - Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Christopher Costanzo MD

805 373-9919    818 / 706-2070     1-866 922-0212 toll free outside (805 & 818)
2190 Lynn Road, Suite 380, Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360

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Disclaimer - The information about Cosmetic surgery contained in this web site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Call to schedule an appointment with Los Angeles area Plastic surgeon Dr Costanzo