Liquid Facelift and Facial Fillers
As we age one of the main changes that take place is loss of facial fullness. With time, these changes continue to progress and are made worse as a result of sun exposure, heredity and lifestyle. Wrinkles also begin to appear due to loss of fat and skin laxity and cheek folds and jowls appear due to descent of fat to new locations.
Facial fillers are FDA-approved injections that are used to correct various “problem” areas of the face. The cosmetic procedure, often referred to as a liquid face lift, is a highly successful alternative to plastic surgery, as it is non-surgical with little to no recovery time.
Facial filler products can be used on their own or in conjunction with each other to provide lifting, plumping, smoothing and re-contouring. Some examples of fillers include but are not limited to: BOTOX®, XEOMIN®, Juvederm®, BELOTERO BALANCE ®, Sculptra® Aesthetic, and RADIESSE®. Combining facial fillers gives the surgeon a powerful tool to freshen the face without surgery.
While a liquid facelift effectively treats the effects of it will not correct major signs of aging, like drooping eyelids or heavy jowls around the chin and neck. If you wish to affect major change to facial features, surgery such as a facelift, brow lift or eye lift may be the answer. A liquid facelift can effectively improve moderate to severe signs of aging.
What to expect after a liquid facelift
Following the procedure, patients may experience some tenderness or redness surrounding the injection sites. Side effects such as infection or allergic reaction are very rare.
While results are often immediate, they are not permanent. Patients will need touch-up procedures over time with Dr. Ali.
If you are considering injectables, fillers or a liquid facelift, contact Amae Plastic Surgery Center today. Dr. Ali can review your goals and provide a liquid facelift regimen to help restore that youthful appearance to the face and skin.
Types of Facial Fillers
Collagen is a natural protein that supports the skin. Injectable collagen formulas derived from human dermis include Cosmoderm® or Cosmoplast®. Zyderm® and Zyplast® are forms of bovine collagen that, unlike human derived collagen, require prior allergy testing. The results may last 2 to 4 months.
Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance found in our bodies. It is well suited to help to plump thin lips and fill facial creases such as nasolabial folds. It may also be appropriate for some surface wrinkles and concave scars. The results may last 6 months or longer. Restylane™ and Juvederm™ fall into this category.
Hydroxylapatite is a mineral-like compound found naturally in human bones, suspended in a gel-like formulation. It is the heaviest of facial fillers and is recommended to fill deeper creases such as nasolabial folds, “marionette lines’’ and frown lines, as well as to enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours.
Human fat, harvested from your own body, can be re-injected to enhance facial fullness, fill deep creases and to build up shallow contours. Fat injection requires a more extensive procedure than other injectable fillers because it uses liposuction techniques to extract the fat prior to injection.
PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) fillers contain 20% tiny PMMA microspheres suspended in 80% purified collagen gel. An FDA-approved PMMA filler is recommended for the correction of facial wrinkles known as smile lines.
Sculptra® (Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), is a safe, synthetic, and biocompatible material that is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. It provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas. No skin testing is required. Sculptura® has been approved to restore facial fullness in patients affected with AIDS. Results can last up to 2 years.
Find out what Doctor Ali’s patients are saying about their experience.
