The so-called “liquid facelift” is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure using injectables for the restoration of facial volume, reduction of wrinkles, and rejuvenation of the face to help it appear more youthful. For those who only have light to moderate wrinkles, and little sagging, a liquid facelift can even make an appropriate, and less expensive, alternative to a facelift procedure.
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What is a liquid facelift?
The “liquid” part of the liquid facelift is an injectable facial filler, which is normally a hyaluronic acid filler like Juvederm or Restylane. These fillers can even be used in conjunction with Botox injections to both minimize the appearance of wrinkles and relax facial muscles that cause deep wrinkles and folds, particularly in the forehead area.
- Plumps the skin to reduce lines and sagging
- Takes between 15 to 30 minutes for one session
- No time necessary away from work, as little to no downtime is required
What it Treats
The purpose of the liquid facelift is to reduce wrinkles and sagging, as well as:
- Plump the lips
- Fill in hollowed or gaunt cheeks
- Reduce prominence of scars
- Reduce hollowed areas under the eyes
- Minimize wrinkles around the lips, forehead and eyes
The most appropriate candidates for liquid facelift are those who have relatively few wrinkles and a minor degree of sagging skin. If you have a lot of sagging skin, you may want to go with a surgical facelift instead.
What it Contains
Most liquid facelifts involve the injection of something called hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance produced by the body itself. You may already be familiar with hyaluronic acid as a common ingredient in a growing number of topical skin care products.
Getting older means less hyaluronic acid production and more wrinkles. That’s because hyaluronic acid absorbs moisture into skin tissue, for a plumping and hydrating effect. And the opposite is true when hyaluronic acid levels are depleted in the skin.
How it Works
Liquid facelifts normally work by either filling in lines and wrinkles around the face with hyaluronic acid, or temporarily minimizing the activity of injected facial muscles, or both if fillers and Botox are used during the same treatment.
No matter what type of liquid facelift that you undergo, your results will not be permanent. At some point, your body will have broken down the injected substances; so you would need to undergo another treatment session at that time to maintain the results of your previous treatment session.
Liquid Facelift Cost
The cost of a liquid facelift ranges from $400-$1,800 per treatment session, depending upon the type.
To learn the cost of your own liquid facelift, consult with your dermatologist or provider at your initial consultation.
What to Expect
When it comes to liquid facelifts, the treatment itself is quite simple. You may first be provided with a local anesthetic to numb the site of injections. Your provider will then inject your face with the type of liquid facelift that you agreed upon at your consultation. The injections may sting a bit. The process should only take a few minutes for each injection, and you can receive all of your injections in a single treatment session lasting anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes.
Liquid Facelift Recovery
Although far less bruising will occur after a liquid facelift than with a surgical one, you may still experience some minor bruising, particularly if your fillers were injected around the eyes where the skin is thinner.
Your bruising may be worse if you are on any blood-thinning medication at the time of your injections. So be sure to inform your provider about all medications, including nutritional supplements and herbs, that you’re currently taking, even if it’s only a multivitamin.
Since the liquid facelift is a minimally invasive procedure, your recovery should be rapid and smooth. You may experience some minor swelling and redness at the site of injections, which should fade within a day or two at the most. If these normal side effects should linger beyond that time, contact your provider right away.
