What Does a Liquid Facelift Consist of in Boca Raton?
Take a look at the photo to the left, which I’ve used before to demonstrate the changes in facial volume over time. As the production of collagen and elastin slows down, and the bones beneath the skin shrink in size, the cheeks descend lower on the face, and facial volume begins to move from the middle of the face toward the bottom third of the facial structure. A Liquid Facelift works to lift the cheeks, diminish wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, and modify sagging in the jawline.
What is a Liquid Facelift?
A Liquid Facelift at my Boca Raton plastic surgery practice is the careful and meticulous injection of (A) BOTOX® Cosmetic to weaken the muscles of animation in the forehead, around the eyes, and in the area between mouth and chin (called marionette lines), and (B) dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm®, Sculptra®, Voluma®, and/or fat to plump areas beneath the skin to “lift” the skin and tissues with volume for a more youthful appearance.
What Fillers Are Used in a Liquid Facelift?
Depending on the areas that require treatment, the following may be used alone or in combination:
Sculptra®:
Used predominantly in the smile lines, marionette lines, and wrinkles in the chin area, Sculptra® treats both shallow and deep wrinkles and folds in the face. Sculptra® gradually increases collagen production, with results that last up to two years.
Voluma®:
Juvéderm Voluma® XC is the first and only FDA-approved injectable that instantly adds volume to the cheeks to correct age-related loss of volume in that area. Its subtle lift provides a beautiful contour to the cheeks and lasts up to two years.
Juvéderm®:
Juvéderm® is composed of hyaluronic acid (HA), which instantly smoothes moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth. One of America’s most popular fillers, its results last up to a year.
Fat:
Your own fat can be used in place of, or in addition to, dermal fillers. The fat is obtained via liposuction from an area in which you wish to decrease your fat stores, such as the tummy, love handles, back, inner or outer thighs, etc. Once the fat is removed, it is processed in special equipment to obtain the best cells for transfer. The fat is then injected into the treatment area(s) just like any other filler, with a blunt-tip cannula. Fat transfer has undergone immense improvements over the past ten years, and today, we can estimate that about 80% of the transferred fat will “take” and remain in the patient’s body. This makes fat transfer an excellent alternative to fillers, which, with the exception of Voluma® and Sculptra®, must be reapplied every 4-6 months or so.
How is a Liquid Facelift Performed?
A Liquid Facelift is a simple office treatment that takes about an hour, making it an excellent lunchtime option for busy men and women. After numbing the skin with an anesthetic cream, the cream is washed off and the injections are performed. Because my injections are delivered with a blunt tip cannula, discomfort is minimal.
What is the Recovery from a Liquid Facelift?
Some swelling and skin tightness is natural after a Liquid Facelift, but there is minimal discomfort per se. Most of our Boca Raton Liquid Facelift patients go from our office to resume their business or social activities immediately after their treatment.
Does a Liquid Facelift Replace a Surgical Facelift?
No. While a Liquid Facelift does provide significant improvement in patients with facial aging, it does not replace a surgical facelift, in which results are, while natural, more pronounced and last longer. When you visit with me in my Boca Raton plastic surgery office, we’ll discuss all your options, from fillers to surgery, and mutually agree on the best course to take.
If it’s time for facial rejuvenation, call me for a private consultation at 561-417-0171, or complete this discreet online consultation form.
Dr. Jonathan Ross Berman is a Boca Raton plastic surgeon who has been certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery with over 30 years of service experience specializing in Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, Face Lift, Liposuction, and many other types of plastic surgery in Boca Raton, FL.
