What is involved in a non-surgical facelift?
Looking good or having radiant young skin may seem like things women wanted in the past but nowadays we are seeing men also wanting the same. A beautiful skin or facial feature not only promises to make a person look stunning but also helps to build a person’s confidence. Living in this modern world requires a lot of confidence and to have a good look contributes to at least a fraction of that confidence. One of the ways to achieve this is to undergo a facelift. If you ask a doctor about facelift procedures, you may be surprised to know that there are surgical and non-surgical facelifts. From here on, we will be focusing on what is involved in a non-surgical facelift.
A non-surgical facelift uses the minimally invasive non-surgical procedure to address the skin issues such as ageing skin. Ageing skin causes a person to have skin with wrinkles and dull looking. Ageing skin also is associated with sagging skin. Thus, a non-surgical facelift addresses these skin issues to help patients regain those younger looking skin and improve facial features. There are many procedures involved with non-surgical facelift. Below are the common procedures involved with non-surgical facelift:
1) Dermal filler
A procedure involving injection of soft-gel like substances under the skin. Dermal fillers usually are composed of a variety of substances including natural or synthetic substances. The most common compound used in the dermal filler is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid naturally exists in the skin as it functions as a skin hydrator. Injection of hyaluronic acid helps to enhance production of hyaluronic acid and collagen. These two actions help to relax the muscles in the face and reduce fine lines or wrinkles. Dermal filler also helps to plump the sunken area and eliminate the dark shadows on the face. Dermal filler is usually done along the cheeks, temples, lips and under the eyes.
2) Skin resurfacing
As the name implies, it works by resurfacing the skin to improve skin’s texture, smoothening the skin and improving skin appearance. This includes chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser skin. Chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin and the strength of the chemicals used is adjusted by doctors or dermatologists. Chemical peels are also available in many varieties in the market with varying potency. Microdermabrasion is similar to chemical peel but it involves usage of handheld device that polish away the top layer of the skin. Laser skin resurfacing also works to remove the top layer of the skin. It also works to stimulate collagen production without removing the top layer. Doctors will determine the best type of laser to solve a patient’s skin issues.
3) Microneedling
A procedure involving small needles to intentionally create injuries to the skin. This may sound scary but this procedure used the principle of optimising the healing process that comes after the injuries. The healing process causes the skin to generate new tissues and collagen. This procedure is best done by health professionals as the risk for infection and scars is high when done by those with less experience of doing this.
4) Botox
This procedure relaxes the targeted muscles by injecting substance derived from botulinum toxins. Such treatment helps to temporarily block the nerve and muscle contractions of areas resulting in muscle relaxation. This improves the appearance of wrinkles and frown lines from repetitive expressions such as smiling and laughing.
5) Thread lift
A procedure of using temporary sutures of absorbable threads to give effect to the skin is pulled back that tightening the skin and lifting effect. It also triggers the healing process to produce collagen that significantly helps to improve skin condition.
People usually opt for non-surgical facelift because of the many benefits it comes with compared to surgical facelift. Surgical facelift scares a lot of people because the word itself involves invasive procedures that can be hurting and take longer time to heal compared to surgical facelift. Plus, it is usually expensive. Non-surgical facelift is relatively cheaper than surgical facelift. The procedure also needs a short amount of time and people can continue with their daily life activities without the need for hospitalisation. The recovery time needed after a non-surgical facelift procedure is short and usually no serious pain is involved after the procedure or during the procedure. There is also less risk involved with non-surgical facelift such as less risk for infection and complication from anaesthesia. Non-surgical facelift provides the naturally rejuvenated looks making a person look beautiful naturally.
However, as you might have guessed, with every pros, comes with cons. The disadvantages of non-surgical facelift are the need for repeated procedures or regular touch-ups to maintain the result. Results from non-surgical facelift usually last about 6 months and up to 2 years. This may increase the cost needed to maintain the look over a period of time. The worst part of the non-surgical facelift is not everyone may be suitable for the procedure. Patients with severe skin laxity may need surgical lift instead to address this issue.
In essence, non-surgical facelift is the best treatment available to help improve skin texture and to restore youth. The decision of which procedure is best suited for you is only known after evaluation from a doctor or dermatologist.
