Liquid Facelift

Liquid facelift implies creating a result typical of a surgical facelift using only the injectable products such as various fillers and/or DYSPORT® or Xeomin, without an actual surgery. Various areas of the face affected by aging may be improved by liquid facelift; it is most beneficial in restoring lost volume in cheeks thus lifting the cheekbones, redefining the jaw-line, minimizing the appearance of jowls, lifting sagging brows, removing dark circles under the eyes, and diminishing facial lines and wrinkles.

Liquid facelift often involves the use of “thicker” fillers, such as Radiesse, Voluma or Perlane deeper within the skin close to the facial bones to offer significant contouring to the facial structure, while other fillers, such as Restylane or Belotero are used synchronously to fill in superficial wrinkles. Additionally, Injectable products (Dysport®, Xeomin) may be used to relax certain muscles in the face, providing a reduction in lines around the brows, eyes and even the cording or “vertical bands” in the neck. Often a combination of these treatments is used to enhance the overall look of the face, tailored to perfectly suit the patient’s particular goals and needs.

Aging changes are often readily noticeable in the midface; they result in loss of midfacial volume, flattening of the cheekbones and drooping of the cheek skin, prominent nasolabial folds, and the face being shaped more rectangular than triangular. Liquid facelift helps restore the volume to the midface and shape up the bony structures to the more youthful form. The filler injections are usually placed deep over the cheek bones, supporting the face more than if just injected into the skin. Dr. Ovchinsky prefers to use Radiesse, Perlane, Voluma or Sculptra in the cheeks as these fillers tend to be denser and more supportive than other products.

As part of the “liquid face lift” the jowl and jawline can be lifted with a combination of supportive filler Injections. The jawline can be supported by using deep fillers over the jawbone underneath the jowling area. The marionette lines that begin at the corner of the mouth and end at the chin in front of the jowl are also filled just under the skin. They are further improved by injecting DYSPORT® or Xeomin into the muscle called the depressor anguli oris. This muscle pulls the corner of the mouth down, so when it is released the corner of the mouth lifts. A weak chin may be improved by injecting a volumizing filler deep over the central jaw area.
Thick bands on the front of the neck called platysmal bands can be softened with Injectables as well.

Non-surgical eyelid lift is commonly a part of liquid facelift. It involves raising up and changing the shape of the brows, improving dark circles and the appearance of lower eyelid bags, and smoothing the wrinkles in the corner of the eye, so called crow feet (please see more detailed description of this under “non-surgical eyelid lift” section).

As the fillers used in liquid facelift are temporary, the results will last approximately one year. However, this too is dependant upon the patient’s skin, lifestyle habits and the treatments used. . Many patients can also maximize their new youthful appearance by scheduling touch-up appointments over time. The end result is a rejuvenated appearance that can look 5 to 10 years younger without surgery or significant downtime.

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