What Are the Advantages of a Liquid Non-Surgical Facelift?

While surgery is an effective way to make a cosmetic change, not everyone wants to undergo a procedure to enhance their facial appearance. The good news is that if you’re not ready for or interested in a surgical facelift, there are other, less invasive alternatives for extensive facial rejuvenation. In what’s known as a liquid facelift, Burnett Plastic Surgery’s team based in New Jersey combines BOTOX^® with dermal fillers to reduce the visual changes caused by aging and take years off of a patient’s face. Many people find this to be an effective way to restore the natural contours of the face while also softening the look of wrinkles in key areas.

BOTOX^® and dermal fillers have very different but complementary functions. BOTOX^® is a neuromodulator that is meant for wrinkles caused by muscle contractions in the face (dynamic wrinkles), which appear when the face is in motion. It is FDA approved for three areas in the upper third of the face, addressing forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. BOTOX^® contains small amounts of purified botulinum toxin, and when it is injected into carefully chosen tissues, it interferes with communication between nerves and muscles in localized spots. Patients are still able to make facial expressions, but their faces appear younger and less wrinkled.

Dermal fillers, on the other hand, are intended for restoring or adding volume to areas where it is needed in the face after moisture and collagen have been depleted. Fillers can help re-create facial structure that is lost over time. These gel-like products don’t inhibit muscle movement, but simply fill out areas beneath the surface. They are mainly applied to the mid and lower part of the face. Most fillers have a hyaluronic acid base, including the range of Juvederm^® options. Some types of Juvederm^® reduce moderate to severe static wrinkles, which are lines that appear even while the face is at rest. Others can enlarge the lips and cheeks for a fuller, more youthful look. Certain fillers work for both deeper, pronounced creases and fine lines on delicate skin.

Sometimes, when more advanced aging sets in, an individual BOTOX^® or Juvederm^® session may not be enough, since signs of aging can appear in multiple areas and have multiple causes. A liquid facelift can’t replicate the results of traditional facial plastic surgery, but it is a less costly method of rejuvenating the face, with less down time required.

Ideal candidates for a liquid facelift are people who don’t have a significant amount of flabby skin and sagging fat on the lower part of the face and neck, such as a double chin, jowls, or turkey wattle. A liquid facelift is versatile and customizable, which makes it ideal for practices that treat each patient’s concerns as unique. The ways dermal fillers and other injectables are used in conjunction for a liquid facelift vary depending on an individual’s needs. Some of the areas that may be injected include the temples, tear troughs, cheeks, and region around the mouth.

The outcome from a liquid facelift is more comprehensive than what could be achieved by a standalone procedure. It also saves time for patients, as they can address multiple signs of aging simultaneously. To add to that, it is believed that patients can prolong the benefits of neuromodulators and dermal fillers by applying them jointly.

It’s always preferable to choose a licensed, board-certified, and highly experienced physician or physician-led team for a liquid facelift. Qualified and experienced injectors usually prefer to take a conservative approach and not use too many treatments at the same time in order to avoid a “frozen” or “overdone” appearance.

Want to find out more about the Burnett Plastic Surgery team’s approach to liquid facelifts? Get information about BOTOX^® and other injectables by contacting the practice in New Jersey: call 908.233.0200 or visit the website to send in a contact form.