There’s no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to facial rejuvenation. Everyone ages at a different rate, for one thing, and not everyone has the same concerns about the changes in their appearance. You may be concerned about the frown lines between your brows, for instance, while a close friend of yours might be more concerned about some drooping around her jawline.
No matter what your concern is, there is a treatment that will help. You can think of cosmetic treatments in stages, from completely non-invasive and non-surgical to slightly invasive, requiring a bit of downtime. The last stage is more invasive, requiring more downtime, but often producing the longest lasting results.
Non-Surgical: Liquid Facelift
You might think of a liquid facelift as a starter procedure, something to consider when you’ve just begun to notice some signs of aging, but before you have a significant amount of sagging or loose skin. The term "liquid facelift" is somewhat of a misnomer, as the procedure doesn’t produce results similar to a facelift, nor is it confined to treating the lower portion of your face.
A liquid facelift is a truly customizable procedure that involves the use of a several injectables to help reduce the signs of aging on your face. For example, if you don’t like the crow’s feet by the corners of your eyes and are unhappy about the lines around your mouth, your surgeon might administer Botox for the crow’s feet and a filler such as Juvederm for the lines around your mouth. If you’re worried about a loss of volume in the cheek area, he might give you Juvederm Voluma.
There are a few benefits to a liquid facelift. One of the biggest benefits is that it doesn’t require any downtime on your part. Typically, people are able to get right back to their regular lives a day or so after a liquid facelift. You also don’t need general anesthesia for a liquid facelift, although many people do decide to receive a topical anesthetic to reduce any discomfort during the injections.
The big disadvantage of a liquid facelift is that the results are far from permanent. Depending on the type of injectables you choose to receive, your results can last anywhere from just a few months to a couple of years. You can decide to repeat the treatments to sustain your results or choose to try a more invasive, but longer lasting treatment.
Minimally Invasive: S-Lift
Perhaps you’re somewhat concerned about sagging skin in the lower part of your face, but don’t feel you’re quite ready for a full facelift yet. The S-Lift, also known as a "mini facelift," might be the option for you. Like a full facelift, the S-Lift focuses on tightening the muscle and skin, as well as the fat in the area. Unlike a full facelift, the incisions made during the S-Lift tend to be very small and are typically made near the front of the ear. The exact size and position of the incisions can vary based on the patient and on the surgeon’s preference, though.
The S-Lift usually focuses on tightening the lower portion of the face. If you have wrinkles in the eye area or forehead, the procedure won’t help with those. You can receive other treatments, such as Botox injections, to help ease the wrinkles on the upper part of your face or decide to have an additional surgery, such as an eyelid lift, to help reduce drooping near your eyes.
Some amount of recovery time is usually required after an S-Lift, but not as much as is needed after a full facelift. You might want to take up to five days off from work to recover and will usually need to avoid vigorous activity for about two weeks.
More Invasive: Facelift
A full facelift is the most invasive option, but it’s also the option that produces the most dramatic results. If you have a consider amount of sagging or looseness in the chin, jowls and lower part of your face, a facelift might be the best pick for you. Results can last for more than decade, which can make the longer recovery time – up to two weeks off from work and about a month avoiding exercise or other strenuous activity – worth it.
At his West Palm Beach, Florida practice, board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Schwartz offers a variety of facial rejuvenation procedures to patients. To learn more about your options and to choose the procedure that’s right for you, call 561-228-5888 to schedule a consultation today.