Is a liquid facelift right for you?

If you enjoy keeping up with the latest trends in skin care and anti-aging treatments, you may have heard the term liquid facelift. "Liquid facelift" is the phrase used for a combination of injectable procedures that can address some of the issues associated with aging – like loss of volume or the appearance of wrinkles – without going through invasive surgery or recovery.

Liquid facelifts are not all alike – there is a myriad of combinations available to combat the skin and soft tissue issues unique to your face so that you leave your board-certified plastic surgeon's office looking and feeling refreshed and beautiful.

What is a liquid facelift?

Liquid facelifts feature a combination of injectables to address common problems that arise as your skin ages, including:

• Lines on your forehead, as well as around your eyes, nose and mouth
• Sagging brow lines, corners of your mouth or jawline
• Loss of volume in your temples, under your eyes or in your cheeks or lips

Several options for both wrinkle reducers and dermal fillers, and will customize your treatment to address your specific concerns. Among the products commonly used include:

• Wrinkle Reducers: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau
• Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers: Juvederm Ultra XC, Juvederm XC Ultra Plus, Juvederm Voluma XC, Juvederm Volbella XC, Juvederm Vollure, and Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refine and Restylane Defyne products as well as Belotero Balance
• Collagen-Boosting Fillers: Radiesse and Sculptra

The results of your liquid facelift are visible almost immediately, and depending on the injectables you choose, the effects can last for at least a year and longer. Your plastic surgeon will work with you to create an individualized treatment schedule to ensure that you continue to look refreshed and rejuvenated.

Are you a candidate for a liquid facelift?

Ideal candidates for a liquid facelift include patients who have mild signs of aging (fine lines and wrinkles or minimal volume loss) and do not have excessively sagging skin or developed jowls.

The thing to consider when thinking about a liquid facelift is that the treatments require maintenance, and are designed to give you a boost in volume or smooth out wrinkles.

Keep in mind that there are limits to what fillers can do while still preserving your natural look. If you have jowls or loose excess skin on your face and neck, fillers can't effectively address that completely.

If you choose an untrained and inexperienced individual to inject you with fillers, the result may be a puffy, unnatural look that ends up distorting your natural facial definition. Be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon that has additional extensive training and has the experience and expertise you require.

Liquid facelift results and recovery

Because liquid facelifts are minimally invasive, they are performed in the office. Most of the time, it takes under an hour to complete, though you may choose to break up the process into more than one session. A liquid facelift is virtually painless, not only requiring no anesthesia, but most contain a numbing agent or cooling device to make your experience more comfortable.

There is minimal, if any, downtime required and minimal noticeable signs that you have undergone a cosmetic procedure that can be covered with light make-up. You may experience minor side effects, including mild swelling, bruising, redness or hardness at the injection sites, but they are temporary issues that will resolve themselves within a couple of days.

Ready for a liquid facelift?

If you have tried injectables on an individual basis, but are ready to try a more complete approach to addressing signs of aging on your face, a liquid facelift may be the answer you're looking for. Meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon and discover the combination of injectable treatments that will leave you looking younger and more refreshed.