The Liquid Face Lift?
The Liquid Face Lift? Not really liquid and most likely not a lift.
Facial rejuvenation must necessarily address three separate components of the aging process in order to be effective. Textural skin changes — frequently the result of sun damage. Loss of volume occurring at multiple levels including bone and fat. Gravitational descent manifested as sagging skin.
It has often been quipped that the easiest way to rejuvenate the face is to simply have the patient stand on their head thus reversing the direction of gravity. While illustrative and humorous – far from a practical solution.
As more patients opt for non-surgical treatments, the idea of the “liquid face lift” has gained traction and carved itself into the conscience of the client. While it’s a catchy phrase, I do think it’s a far too ambitious idea for clients who demonstrate the multiple stigmata of aging.
Liquid facelifts are offered as a non-invasive alternate to traditional surgical face lifting but is it an effective and cost-efficient strategy to produce acceptable facial rejuvenation? The liquids referenced in the moniker “liquid face lift” are in fact semi-solid gels or fillers (Restylane, Radiesse, Juvaderm etc) that most of you are familiar with.
I use HA fillers extensively in my practice. In fact, they are an effective way to restore volume, correct lines and folds, and can even create a modest lift. However, from a practical standpoint, they achieve these results in a group of clients within a certain age range and present a recurring cost. I use HA fillers to create brow lifts, malar augmentation, correct tear troughs, unfolding lines, and restoring volume to deflated areas of the face. The best results are obtained when specific fillers are applied to correct specific deficiencies – for example applying a filler such as Radiesse to restore lost bone volume followed by a HA filler to reconstitute fat compartments is an effective strategy.
When correctly deployed, the results are highly satisfying and last up to a year. However, for clients beyond it a certain age, it is simply not feasible to achieve a facelift with injectable treatments alone. Often times, I observe clients have been over-filled to the point of changing their look – an example of iatrogenic dismorphism with no rejuvenating effect. In fact, the effect is akin to creating a caricature of the subject.
Fillers are undoubtedly effective for some aspects of facial rejuvenation and as part of a broader maintenance plan; however, they cannot rival a surgical facelift. If your goal is complete facial rejuvenation, it’s best to consult with a specialist who is expert in non-surgical and surgical techniques. In this manner, you can be advised of the full spectrum of options depending on your goals and expect to achieve an effective, natural, and durable result. It is my opinion that the liquid facelift, while an effective marketing term, fails to achieve the results of a properly performed surgical facelift.
P. Pravin Reddy, MD
Dr. Reddy is a Board Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon with an interest in craniofacial surgery, facial rejuvenation, and reconstruction.