Liquid Facelift
The liquid facelift uses injectables known as dermal fillers, along with Botox, to help plump up, relax, and fill in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles.
It can restore youthful volume to the face, reduce sagging of the skin by filling it up from the inside, and re-contour drooping facial features or hollow eyes.
It is one of the latest anti-aging trends in non-invasive cosmetic procedures and is touted as a less expensive and less risky alternative to a traditional facelift.
About the procedure
Before starting, your doctor will provide a local anesthetic to numb areas like-
- The temples
- Underneath the lower eyelid
- Sagging cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Creases beside the mouth that cause jowls
- Popular fillers include:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Calcium hydroxyapatite
- Poly-L-lactic acid
- Collagen or fat
Soft tissue augmentation treatments last from three to 12 months.
Promising new treatments include platelet-rich plasma. The plasma contains platelets and growth factors that may stimulate collagen production.
The use of Botox in addition to dermal fillers can make for better, longer-lasting results. Botox blocks the nerve impulses that cause muscle contractions. When injected into specific areas, it effectively relaxes the muscles that are responsible for making certain facial expressions; these repeated facial expressions contribute to the breakdown of collagen in certain areas, leading to deep creases and expression lines.
Recovery & healing
Slight swelling and occasional bruising can be expected for 24 hours after the fillers treatment. You may also experience minor stinging in the injected area. Within two days, the swelling is usually gone and you can cover any remaining redness with makeup.
Botox injections cause almost no redness or swelling. You may drive yourself to and from the treatments and resume normal activities immediately after the treatment.
Risks
The possibility of an allergic reaction is not a factor for fat because it’s harvested from a patient’s own body. However, there is still a slight risk of infection and other infrequent complications. Uneven correction is sometimes a problem with fat injections.Very occasionally, some facial asymmetry will develop which can be treated with additional injections or will resolve on its own without treatment. Headache is a rare side-effect. Allergic reactions are uncommon, but some patients will get only a partial or minimal response.
