What Is a Liquid Facelift?

About

• “Liquid facelifts” involve dermal injections to the face.
• These fillers plump up the skin, reducing lines and sagging.

Safety

• Discuss your medical history with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon before the procedure.
• Common side effects include bruising, swelling, and redness after the procedure.
• It’s a medical procedure and must be done by a licensed, experienced professional.

Convenience

• The procedure can be performed in your dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s office.
• It usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes and can be done in one session.
• You don’t need to take any time off work as it requires very little recovery time.
• You can find a professional provider online.

Cost

• Liquid facelifts are cheaper than surgical facelifts.
• The exact cost will depend on the type of filler you use and your doctor’s rates.
• It’s unlikely that medical insurance will cover a liquid facelift.

Efficacy

• Liquid facelifts are more subtle than surgical facelifts. The results won’t be as dramatic.
• However, they can make your skin look more plump and youthful.
• It is effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging.

A liquid facelift involves injecting dermal fillers into the skin to plump up the skin. It differs from a surgical facelift in that it doesn’t involve cutting into the skin.

The goal of a liquid facelift is to reduce sagging and wrinkles. It can also:

• plump up lips
• reduce the hollow areas under your eyes
• fill your cheeks if they look gaunt
• tighten wrinkles around your lips, eyes, and forehead
• reduce the appearance of scars

The ideal candidate for a liquid facelift is someone with relatively few wrinkles and a small amount of sagging. If you have a lot of sagging skin, or if you want dramatic results, a surgical facelift might be better for you.

In general, liquid facelifts cost less than surgical facelifts. The cost of a liquid facelift depends on a number of factors, including:

• where you’re located, as dermatologists and plastic surgeons charge differently in different cities
• the type of dermal injections you choose (Botox, Juvederm, etc.)
• how many injections you have

In order to find out the exact cost of a liquid facelift, it’s best to talk to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area to determine exactly what you need. Since it’s a cosmetic surgery, it’s unlikely that your insurance will cover it.

You probably won’t need any time off work after a liquid facelift, other than the day of the procedure. So it’s unlikely you’d lose out on any income due to the procedure.

The connective tissues in your skin — such as collagen and elastin — break down as you age. You might also lose fat in your face, which can lead to your face looking gaunt. Many people feel that this makes them look older, and they look for a procedure that will “reverse” this effect.

Fillers work by literally filling up space in the layers of the skin. This plumps it up to reduce the appearance of wrinkled and sagging skin.

After you find a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who can do the procedure, you’ll talk to them about your desired results. They’ll examine your skin and face and talk to you about the procedure.

At the beginning of the procedure, the doctor may provide a local anesthetic to numb the area that will be injected.

They will then inject your face. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, the injections can sting a little. The injections usually take a few minutes each, and all of the injections can be done in one single session. The entire session usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

Liquid facelifts generally target the face, but you can also use dermal fillers on your hands.

If you’d like to focus on your face, there are many areas that your dermatologist or plastic surgeon might target. This includes:

• under the eyes
• near the eyebrows
• the cheeks
• the temples
• the jowls
• folds between the nose and mouth
• around scars

However, everybody’s procedure is different, and the areas that are injected will depend entirely on your desired results.

While there will generally be less bruising with liquid facelifts than with surgical facelifts, you might still bruise a little after the procedure. You’re more likely to bruise if the fillers were inserted around your eyes.

If you use any blood-thinning medication, your bruising could be worse. It’s essential that you tell your doctor about all the medication and supplements you take, even if it’s just a multivitamin.

Some pain, swelling, and redness can also occur after the procedure.

Beyond those common side effects, there are some rare cases where people have had more serious adverse effects. According to a 2013 paper, these side effects can include:

• allergic reactions
• bacterial infections, such as staph or strep infections, which enter through the needle puncture
• triggering herpes simplex virus (HSV) flare-ups
• filler that may enter the blood vessels in the injected areas of the face, which can lead to skin necrosis

While these cases are very rare, it’s important to keep an eye on your skin and let your doctor know if you have any flu- or allergy-like symptoms.

You should be able to go back to work the next day. However, you might want to take a little time off if the bruising is bad.

Your dermatologist will advise you on skincare after your fillers. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, your doctor might advise you to ice your face immediately after the procedure to reduce swelling. You will probably be advised to avoid strenuous exercise for the next day, and to avoid the sun and tanning beds.

You might have to massage the area that was injected if your dermatologist used a filler called poly-L-lactic acid. Unless your dermatologist advised you to massage your face, avoid touching the injected areas for at least three days.

The results should be immediate, unless your dermatologist used poly-L-lactic acid, in which case you’ll have to wait several weeks to see results.

Depending on the kind of filler used, the results last anywhere between 6 and 24 months. After this point, you might need to get more fillers to maintain your appearance. Speak to your dermatologist about how long your fillers will last, and when you’ll need to schedule another procedure.

A liquid facelift requires very little preparation. Ideally, you should not have any of the following on the day of the procedure:

• facial makeup
• sunburn
• a skin infection or wound on the parts of your face that will be injected

You should also avoid having any of the following in the two days before the procedure, as they can increase bruising:

• alcohol
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• aspirin

Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before and arrive to the appointment at least a few minutes early. This will help you feel relaxed and prepared for the procedure.

To be on the safe side, always ask your dermatologist whether you need to do anything to prepare.

Many people choose a liquid facelift over a surgical facelift because it:

• is cheaper
• will produce more natural-looking and subtle changes
• is a quicker procedure with minimal recovery
• is less painful
• involves less bruising

However, a surgical facelift is more likely to have a dramatic effect. Speak to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon if you’re not sure whether to opt for a liquid facelift or a surgical facelift.

Remember that liquid facelifts are medical procedures that need to be done by medical professionals. When looking for a provider, ask whether they have experience and expertise in liquid facelifts. Also ask to see before and after pictures of their work.

You can use the “Find a Dermatologist” option on the American Academy of Dermatology website. Use the filters to find a dermatologist specializing in cosmetic procedures. You can also search for a qualified plastic surgeon in your area at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website.

You can also speak to your doctor or primary healthcare provider, as they might be able to recommend someone in your area.