Lifestyle Lift Reviews: Does the Procedure Work?

Lifestyle Lift is advertised as a way to quickly remove years from your face. Today we look more closely at Lifestyle Lift and seek reviews from those who have undergone the procedure.

What is Lifestyle Lift?

Lifestyle Lift is a type of face lift which does not require general anesthesia, and appears to focus on the lower face and neck. Some doctors refer to it as a “mini-face lift.” This means that incisions are made, and because of this, the skill of the doctor performing the procedure is of utmost  importance.

The Lifestyle Lift Commercial

Television commercials featuring spokeswoman Debby Boone have run for the past several years. These include glowing testimonials, claiming that Lifestyle Lift can restore a youthful face in as little as an hour.

One recent advertisement features Ms. Boone stating the following:

Today we’re letting you know about Lifestyle Lift, a breakthrough process that really does turn back the hands of time. Imagine waking up, going to the mirror, and seeing yourself the way you looked years ago. You can transform your appearance thanks to a breakthrough medical process than can take years of wrinkles, frown lines, and sagging skin off your face and neck. It’s called Lifestyle Lift. Look at these amazing transformations of just some of the over 150,000 people who have already had a Lifestyle Life. Everyone is talking about it.

The first thing you may notice in the commercial is that there is a microscopic disclaimer that is still difficult to read even on an HD television. A closer look at the commercial on their official website allows you to read the entire disclaimer:

Patient had Lifestyle Lift facial, neck and eye firming procedures, Las Vegas NV center. Lifestyle Lift offers surgical procedures which take about one hour, but more time may be required to achieve better results. many patients return to normal activities in a week but some need extra healing time.

Mixed Results

In writing this article we have managed to contact several people who had gone through the procedure and the results have been mixed. While one person informed us that they were completely satisfied with Lifestyle Lift, another claimed the procedure left her scarred and required additional surgery. Some have claimed that they were able to get back to work right away, while others have complained of being in terrible pain for over a week.

Cost

The cost of Lifestyle Lift varies, depending on location and the nature of the work being done. From what we have learned, it appears that the average patient spends around $3000-$8000 for the procedure.

Cautions

• If you’re considering getting a Lifestyle Lift, we recommend you investigate your doctor thoroughly before taking the plunge.
• Once you find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable, be sure the doctor is actually the person performing the procedure, and not an assistant or intern.
• Some users have reported high-pressure up-selling tactics, where they try to convince you to add extra procedures which can end up more than doubling your initial price quote.
• It is unclear if all of the doctors performing this procedure are actually plastic surgeons.
• Detractors have said that such “mini face lifts” are not at all a “breakthrough” as the commercial claims.

If you’re on the fence about Lifestyle Lift, we suggest that you visit surgery.org, which is the official website for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, or plasticsurgery.org which is the website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Be sure to read their 2009 article which discusses these “quick fix” surgeries in an article entitled “Branded Surgery Is Not Always the “Quick Fix” it is Advertised To Be.” In this article, we read the point of view that a treatment should be tailored to the patient on an individual basis. It is also written that these procedures are sometimes performed by “…untrained or inadequately trained practitioners, some of whom are not medical doctors…”

“All Hype, Little Substance”

Below is a still photo of a presentation which airs in the waiting room of a renowned plastic surgeon here in Las Vegas.

This slide appeared during a presentation which answered common patient questions about plastic surgery. The graphic reads:

• The Lifestyle Lift does not last very long, with the face quickly drooping back.
• Despite their claims that patients can look good in one or two days, it takes just as long as any other facelift to look presentable after this surgery.
• This company was fined over $300,000 by the FTC for false claims
• All Hype, Little Substance

2009 FTC Fine

Lifestyle Lift agreed to pay $300,000 in fines for posting fake consumer reviews which were actually written by employees of the company. The State Attorney’s office described fake reviews as a “growing problem” and released several fake employee-written reviews as examples. One review stated, “After researching and eventually undergoing the Lifestyle Lift, I find it fairly easy to describe: incredible!”

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a statement, which stated, “This company’s attempt to generate business by duping consumers was cynical, manipulative, and illegal.”

Lifestyle Lift claimed to be the victim of false and malicious internet attacks, with the implication that these fake positive reviews may offset those attacks.

Google Trends Report

The trends report below shows the popularity of Google searches for Lifestyle Lift over the past 10 years. It appears that interest in the procedure experienced a sharp decline in 2014.

Bottom Line

It appears that the cost and the satisfaction with Lifestyle Lift vary greatly, often depending on the location and the doctor performing the procedure. The procedure appears to be sound, but problems can arise in its implementation. It probably isn’t a good alternative to visiting a true plastic surgeon who has a wealth of procedures in his arsenal. The plastic surgeon’s office we visited here in Las Vegas included criticism about The Lifestyle Lift in its waiting room presentation.

We’d like to hear from you

Let us know if you have any experience with Lifestyle Lift. Let us know which location served you, what you had done, the cost, and if you felt it was a worthwhile investment.

Updated October 16, 2014
Originally posted October 2013