Ever heard of a liquid facelift?

One of our more advanced treatments that is gaining in popularity is the "liquid facelift" also known as the liquid lift.  During this unique treatment, we combine Botox and Juvederm to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, as well as smooth out and lift the area around your eyes, cheeks, and mouth.  If you've ever considered getting a traditional facelift, but the idea of going under the knife isn't too appealing, then a liquid lift may be just what the doctor (or in this case ... nurse) ordered.

How Does A Liquid Facelift Work?

To fully explain how a liquid lift works, let's first dig into how Botox and Juvederm work since each of these two products are used in a liquid lift.

Botox, also known as OnabotulinumtoxinA, is an FDA-approved injectable used for the temporary treatment of frown lines and brow furrows.  If you've never heard of Botox ... where have you been living?!? A quick look at the Botox Cosmetic web site reveals that Botox has been used by over 11,000,000 men and women and is one of the most popular cosmetics treatments in the world today.

During a liquid facelift, Botox is used to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and lines between the eyebrows and on the forehead.  When Botox is injected into the muscles that are causing the wrinkles, the Botox reduces the ability for these muscles to move, which is the underlying cause of the wrinkles.  It's critical during a Botox treatment, to only use enough Botox to minimize the muscles movement and alleviate the look of wrinkles because too much Botox can cause a loss of expression that looks unnatural.  That's why we like to say that "a little Botox goes a long way."  It's better to use less than more to retain a natural appearance while also reducing lines and wrinkles.  A Botox treatment usually lasts about 4 months.

Juvederm is a dermal filler, and even though these two products are manufactured by the same company, Allergan, they are vastly different in the way they reduce the signs of aging.  Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid which is a smooth gel that can be directly injected into a line or wrinkle, filling it in and raising the skin, causing the wrinkle to disappear.  It's FDA approved to treat lines and wrinkles for up to a year.

When you combine Botox cosmetic with Juvederm, you can eliminate wrinkles on any part of the face and effectively "lift" area with sagging skin.  This gives the impression of a facelift without have to undergo surgery.

Who Should Consider A Liquid Facelift?

First, anyone who is considering a facelift but isn't positive that they will like the results.  Because the effects of a liquid facelift will eventually wear off, this could give you a pretty good indication of whether or not a surgical facelift will work for you.  Keep in mind the the results from a surgical facelift are going to be more dramatic, and of course... permanent, but a liquid lift may be able to give you a good indication of whether or not you'll be happy with a surgical lift.

Second, anyone who is afraid of general anesthesia or plastic surgery.  Some people react differently to general anesthesia and one bad experience can often be what drives people to our office for a liquid facelift.

And last, anyone who just needs a quick fix.  With a traditional facelift comes a lengthy downtime involving stitches, cutting, bleeding, bandages, and bruising.  It's hard to come by this kind of free time to sit around in your pajamas, waiting for your face to heal enough to reenter society.  With a liquid facelift, there's no downtime.  You can quite literally come by the office, get your treatment, and go right back to work.  Occassionally, the injections will cause some slight bruising, but it's not nearly as dramatic as the bruising you would get from a facelift, and can usually be covered up with a little makeup.

So let's wrap this up ...

The liquid lift can be a great alternative to the traditional facelift, but it's not the only thing to consider.  Even less invasive is a bellanina facelift massage.  This works by massaging and exercising the muscles on your face, causing the skin to tighten as the muscles firm up.  It can take up to twelve massages to get optimal results, but it really works and it's hard to beat a massage that makes you look younger.

There's also laser skin resurfacing, which is a more invasive procedure, but can get some dramatic results.  This treatment is best for people who want to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, tighten skin, and eliminate signs of aging like sun spots.  It only takes one treatment to get good results, but this one comes with about a week of downtime while new skin forms on the treated area.

For more information about a liquid facelift, or any of the procedures listed here, please call our office at (615) 321-0445 to schedule a consultation so we can point you in the direction of the best available treatment.