Guide to Nonsurgical Facelifts

The pursuit of eternal youth has been underway for centuries now, and it doesn’t seem to be showing signs of ending anytime soon. Luckily, however, it no longer necessitates a global, seafaring search for the elusive Fountain of Youth. Today’s youth seekers have other tools at their disposal, many of which involve a trip to a plastic surgeon, and some version of the tried and true facelift.

But what about those of us who want to maintain our youthful glow, but who don’t want to go under the knife? Are there effective non-surgical aesthetic treatments that can replace the surgeon’s scalpel? The answer is yes.

Here are some of the best options available for those of us looking to shave off a few years with a non-surgical facelift.

What Is a Non-Surgical Facelift?

A non-surgical facelift is a term that refers to any of a number of non-invasive techniques for lifting and firming the facial skin that has “lost volume” with the passage of time. This loss of volume is generally visible in a variety of areas, including the cheeks, lips, temples, under the eyes, and around the mouth. 

Non-surgical facelift options generally make use of dermal fillers to replace lost volume or simply to lift the skin without adding volume. The result is a smoother, more youthful, energetic appearance without the risk of general anesthesia, large incisions, or long recovery times.

In fact, most non surgical facelift appointments take only a few minutes to an hour at most to complete. Results can last anywhere from 3-4 months or even as many as two years, depending upon the type of treatment given. What’s more, redness and other adverse reactions are generally temporary and mild.

Non-Surgical Facelift Options

Dermal Fillers

As mentioned above, dermal fillers are a category of injectable facial treatments that help to lift and restore volume to aging skin. These treatments can fill in fine lines and wrinkles or plump skin and add volume to the cheeks, lips, and other areas of the face.

Perhaps the most well-known of these dermal filler injectables is botulinum toxin, more commonly known as Botox®. Botox® is a toxin from a bacteria that has been sterilized, and when injected into the skin, it inhibits the movement of muscles to diminish or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. 

In addition to Botox®, other injectable dermal fillers include JUVEDERM®, Radiesse®, and Restylane®. The key ingredient in each of these fillers is hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance in the body that helps increase volume and hydration to the skin. Each of these treatments can help non-surgically contour the face shape to the patient’s preference. 

Ultherapy

As skin ages, it naturally becomes looser and loses elasticity. While surgical facelifts can pull that skin tighter, it does nothing for the skin’s elasticity. Ultherapy is another non-invasive facelift option that can more fully rejuvenate the skin, resulting in a more tightened, younger-looking face.

Ultherapy uses ultrasound waves, like those used to monitor pregnancies, to generate heat and energy to stimulate the production of naturally occurring elastin and collagen and rejuvenate the skin from the inside out. 

Issues that are especially well suited to Ultherapy include a multitude of chin-related complaints, including double chins and hanging jowls. Treatment can take up to an hour with virtually no downtime, and results can last as long as six months.

Thread Lift

As opposed to a surgical facelift, in which an incision is made and skin is removed and pulled for a lifting effect, a thread lift is a much less invasive procedure in which the doctor uses very fine, absorbable threads inserted into the skin to lift and tighten without the need to remove any skin. 

While a thread lift does physically lift and tighten skin, it also has the additional benefit of boosting collagen production in the treatment area by triggering the body’s natural healing response. This collagen supports growth factors and plays a vital role in improving the condition of your skin.

Results of a thread lift can last anywhere from one to three years.

Based solely on the vast number of procedures performed each year, the search for a more youthful look is obviously a journey that many patients are on. 

Become Certified In Medical Aesthetics With AAAMS

If you’re interested in treating patients through non-surgical facelifts and other medical aesthetic procedures, we’d love to help. Find out more about how to enter this growing field on our courses page and register for our Aesthetics 101 Hybrid or Virtual courses to get certified in Botox, dermal fillers and chemical peels.