If you've been following beauty influencers on Instagram or reading cosmetic treatment blogs, you may have come across the terms liquid facelift. It's a popular procedure that promises to make you look younger appearance surgery. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about liquid facelifts, including how aesthetic providers use advanced techniques to perfect the contours of your face and give you beautiful, natural-looking results.
What is a liquid facelift?
A liquid facelift is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive, anti-aging cosmetic treatment. It is a customized procedure in which aestheticians use a combination of neuromodulators such as botulinum injections (Botox) and dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane to help you maintain a youthful appearance and age gracefully.
It is an office-based treatment with essentially no downtime and very few risks and complications compared to a facelift surgery. Unlike a surgical facelift that requires incisions (cuts), a liquid facelift involves injections with fine needles in specific locations. The injections are planned depending on your facial anatomy and aesthetic goals. Skilled injectors use neuromodulators and facial fillers to add volume and refine the contours of the face as well as smoothen fine line and wrinkles, giving you more energized, refreshed, youthful, and naturally beautiful look.
What products are used in a liquid facelift? Is it Botox? Is it dermal fillers?
A liquid facelift is a highly individualized procedure in which board certified providers use a combination of injectable neuromodulators like Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin®, and facial fillers like Restylane (Restylane Silk, Lift, Refyne, and Defyne), Juvederm (Juvederm Plus, Volbella, Voluma), Sculptra, Radiesse, and Belotero in precisely targeted areas of the face.
Who is a good candidate for a liquid facelift?
The ideal candidate for an injectable liquid facelift is someone who has just starting developing aging concerns such as lost volume in the cheeks, thinning lips, fine lines and wrinkles, crow's feet, frown lines, marionette lines, laxity of the facial skin, and mild jowls. The procedure is typically recommended to people in their 30s and 40s because skin elasticity is still good in this age group and a surgical facelift can be delayed.
Older individuals or those with severe sagging skin, severe jowls, and deep folds and wrinkles are candidates for surgical facelifts because a liquid facelift cannot address these concerns adequately. Also, liquid facelifts are not recommended in women who are pregnant or nursing. Since the filler products contain lidocaine, people with an allergy to lidocaine cannot undergo liquid facelifts.
What happens during a liquid facelift procedure?
Consultation
Your aesthetic provider will see you in consultation to assess your skin type and facial structure and discuss your aesthetic concerns and desired results. You will have a chance to ask questions at this appointment. Your provider will then develop a customized treatment plan to help you achieve the results you want with a combination of high-quality injectables.
Day of Treatment
You should block 1 hour for your liquid facelift appointment. There is essentially no downtime after a liquid facelift. That's why it is sometimes called a lunchtime lift, based on how quick and convenient it is. In contrast, a facelift surgery has a weeks long recovery period.
Your aesthetic provider will clean your face and mark the injection sites. They will target areas with volume loss and fine lines and wrinkles. A topical anesthetic (numbing cream) may be used for enhanced comfort. Dermal fillers already contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic.
Once the target areas are numb, your provider will inject the liquid facelift products. A combination of products will be used to address your specific concerns. For example, thinner fillers are suitable for under the eyes while thicker ones work well to fill deep nasolabial folds. After injecting the facial fillers, your provider may gently massage the areas of the face to help the filler settle. Following this, they may inject Botox or other neuromodulators to treat wrinkles. Other complementary procedures may also be performed.
Keep in mind that your aesthetic provider may not inject everything all at once. Your liquid facelift may be spread over several appointments for the best results.
Recovery
You might have some side effects such as mild bruising, swelling, and tenderness in the injected areas. Most people return to normal activities in 24-48 hours. You can resume exercising and other routine activities the next day.
How much does a liquid facelift hurt?
The injections can sting a little but they are not excruciatingly painful. As noted, filler products contain lidocaine which is a local anesthetic that numbs the area and reduces any discomfort from the needle pricks.
How soon will I see results from a liquid facelift?
You will get immediate results from your liquid facelift (within a few days, as soon as the side effects of mild swelling and bruising resolve). You should schedule a liquid facelift a least two weeks before a big event such as a wedding, vacation, or class reunion.
How long does a liquid facelift last?
The effects of full correction with a liquid facelift can last for up to two years. Keep in mind that not all fillers are equally long-lasting. Over time, the body gradually absorbs hyaluronic acid and other biocompatible fillers. Neuromodulators like Botox also require maintenance treatments. Some fillers stimulate collagen production and produce more long-term results and improvement in skin quality. How long your liquid facelift lasts will therefore depend on the specific products used for your treatment. Periodic touch-up treatments can help prolong liquid facelift results.
Is a liquid facelift safe? What are the risks?
A liquid facelift is far less risky than a traditional facelift plastic surgery. Many fillers used during liquid facelifts, such as Juvederm, are biocompatible and consist of substances found naturally in the body. Therefore, the risk of an allergic reaction is low. Botox is similarly safe when performed by qualified board certified practitioners. Common side effects such as bruising and swelling are usually mild and temporary and can be easily managed with cold compresses or ice packs.
What are the pros and cons of a liquid facelift?
Pros
- Ideal for younger patients with less advanced signs of aging.
- No two liquid facelifts are alike. The treatment is a highly individualized for a patient and uses a combination of fillers and injections to address the patient's specific concerns and meet their aesthetic goals.
- Non-surgical procedure with no anesthesia, no stitches, minimal downtime, and fewer risks than facelift plastic surgery.
- Natural-looking, subtle results that do not make you look "worked on" but help you look rested, refreshed, and youthful.
- Immediate results that can last up to 2 years.
- Less expensive than a traditional facelift.
Cons
- The results of a liquid facelift are temporary. You need maintenance treatments to retain the facial rejuvenation.
- Liquid facelifts cannot adequately treat patients with advanced signs of aging or more severe loose skin.
- Costs can add up over time.
How much does a liquid facelift cost? Is it worth it?
Given that a liquid facelift is a customized treatment, the cost can vary greatly, ranging from $400 to $8,000. Your liquid facelift cost will depend on the type and amount of fillers and neuromodulators used and whether you have any complementary procedures. The average cost of a liquid facelift is $2,400.
What are the alternatives to a liquid facelift? Do I need a surgical facelift?
A liquid facelift will immediately make you look younger. It's a nonsurgical procedure that can be done quickly in the office. There's no recovery period or downtime. However, the cost of injectables can add up over time, running into thousands of dollars. A surgeon can perform a surgical facelift and give you more permanent results with a one-time cost.
Is a liquid facelift right for me?
A liquid facelift is considerably less invasive than a conventional facelift surgery. It utilizes injections in the desired areas of the face to create a tighter, smoother, more rejuvenated and youthful appearance. The results are almost immediate and can last for a year or more.
Ultimately, the decision will rest on the severity of your aging concerns and your aesthetic goals. If you have severe sagging skin and jowls, a traditional facelift is your best bet to improve your appearance. If you have less severe signs of aging, a less invasive cosmetic treatment such as a liquid facelift may be a good place to start. A liquid facelift is also an ideal solution for patients who don't have time for a long recovery, or those who have medical conditions that prevent them from having surgical procedures.
Finding a provider for your liquid facelift
Feeling self-conscious because of fine lines, wrinkles, and lost volume in the face? A prematurely aging face can make a big dent in your self-confidence. A liquid facelift is a quick, safe, office treatment that can make you immediately look younger. However, it's important to choose an experienced board certified provider who has an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy.
The MeTime app makes it easy to find providers who offer liquid facelifts near you. You can chat with experts, send photos across, set up a video consult, and book an in-person appointment when you're ready. Download the MeTime app today and say hello to a younger version of yourself.
