Starting to notice your very first signs of aging but uneasy about getting a full facelift just yet? There’s a new lift in town, and it doesn’t require surgery or extensive downtime. For some people who experience aging related to the loss of volume in the face, the liquid facelift may be their new best friend. Wondering if you may be one of those people? Dr. Konstantin explains how to determine what procedure is best for you.
What is a liquid facelift?
Providing a non-surgical alternative to a facelift is the quick, minimally-invasive liquid facelift. In place of cutting away excess skin, a liquid facelift uses dermal fillers to plump up the face that is aging. Fillers are liquid (hence the name) injections that literally fill up space under one’s skin. When the facial volume is restored, fine lines are reduced, and the appearance of exhaustion is diminished. With the fillers providing support, skin will have far less laxity, and is less likely to form wrinkles or droop.
Unlike a facelift, the liquid lift is a fast, outpatient procedure– taking under an hour– and requires little to no downtime. However, it has its drawbacks: the results of a liquid facelift are not as long-lasting as and are more subtle than those of a facelift. The liquid facelift is a temporary solution for the face that is aging due to loss of volume. While it does not have the intensity or effectiveness of a surgical facelift, a liquid lift can make a significant difference to the look of your skin and the appearance of your face.
What areas does a liquid facelift target?
The areas targeted are slightly different from those of a surgical facelift. While a traditional facelift mainly focuses on the cheeks and jowls, a liquid facelift can hone in on several other areas. This is due to the ability of your skilled facial plastic surgeon to make strategic injections in several places around the face. These areas are individualized for each patient depending on their needs. Some common areas include under the eye region, cheeks, temples, the area around the jowls, and folds between the nose and mouth.
It is important to consider that the effects of a liquid facelift are temporary results, and that to maintain them, follow-up treatments will be necessary about every year or two.
Before and after photos of one of Dr. Konstantin’s dermal filler patients. This patient’s cheeks were enhanced with Voluma.
How safe is a liquid facelift?
When performed by a qualified, board-certified facial plastic surgeon, one can expect the procedure to be very safe. There is no cutting involved during a liquid facelift, just fillers. Sometimes, a local anesthetic will be used, making the process even more comfortable. If an anesthetic is not used, the sensation will most likely feel like a momentary pinching for each injection. Afterwards, there is a short window of downtime to recover from the liquid facelift. While not to the degree of a surgical counterpart, it is not uncommon to experience some swelling, bruising, or redness of the face. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work/daily activities the day after their procedure.
How long does a liquid facelift last?
A liquid facelift will typically last from six months to two years. The longevity of your results can depend on which fillers are used, which doctor performs it, and how you maintain it. A good, healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular skincare will go a long way to making your liquid facelift last. General health maintenance includes keeping yourself properly hydrated, nourished, staying active, abstaining from smoking and drinking in excess, and limiting exposure to the sun. However, even when performed by the top facial plastic surgeon, the duration of your results may vary from patient to patient.
This is a procedure to be repeated should one wish to maintain the effects of a liquid lift. When your results start wearing off, the injections can be repeated by your surgeon. However, it is important to not get carried away; attracted by the natural-appearing results, the simplicity and safety of the liquid facelift, many people feel that doing twice as much does would mean looking twice as good. Going overboard with injections is not an uncommon mistake, and it can result in an overfilled face and a less aesthetically pleasing appearance, rather than a rejuvenated one.
Is liquid facelift right for me?
If you are someone with early signs of facial aging, a liquid facelift may be a viable alternative to a surgical facelift. The liquid facelift can make you look more youthful without needing to undergo surgery or commit to the extensive downtime that a surgical facelift requires. If, however, your signs of facial aging are more advanced– deep lines and heavy wrinkling, sagging skin, jowls– a surgical facelift, mini or full, will likely be the most appropriate solution for you. In addition, one has to consider the longevity of the results: with a liquid facelift requiring constant upkeep of additional injections, and a facelift being a far longer-lasting solution for your aging changes.
Contact a board-certified facial plastic surgeon to determine which procedure is best for you. If you are in the New York area, Dr. Konstantin would be happy to see you and discuss your options. Contact our Manhattan-based facial plastic surgery practice to schedule your consultation. For more content, visit Dr. Konstantin on Instagram and YouTube.
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