Because of that, the Non-Surgical Face Lift is becoming increasingly more popular.
Dr. Steve Jepson with the Utah Dermatological Clinic walks us through the 3-step process.
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What is a Non-Surgical Face Lift?
Non-surgical alternatives to traditional cosmetic surgery are becoming more and more popular. Many people want to reverse the signs of aging and look younger, but want to avoid the risks, downtime, scars, and up-front expense of surgery. The Non-Surgical Face Lift is a good example of a non-surgical cosmetic procedure and has been featured prominently in the national media on such programs as the Today Show and Good Morning America. It is personally one of my favorite procedures that we offer at our clinic.
The Non Surgical Face Lift consists of a combination of treatments that are chosen depending on each individual’s needs. At its most involved, it addresses three different facial aging issues – saggy jaw line, midface volume loss, and upper face wrinkling – and so can include three different types of procedures.
1. I use LipoDissolve® to shrink away jowls, tighten the jaw line, remove unwanted chin fat, and tighten the neck. Lipodissolve® is an amazing new procedure that involves a series of microinjections delivered into areas of unwanted fat and skin laxity. It triggers a natural metabolic process that leads to gradual fat removal and skin tightening. Generally 3-4 treatments are required in this area of the body and we space them out every 3-4 weeks. Clients undergoing the procedure can expect a few days of swelling and mild bruising in the treated areas, but most go about their normal daily activities without any downtime. The cost for the procedure varies depending on the number of treatments needed, but most clients in our office generally spend $900 – $1200 for the chin and jowl treatment series. Results in this area can be expected to last for years.
2. I use a dermal filler to restore areas of lost volume and correct deep wrinkling. This usually occurs in the mid face. As aging occurs, many people form deep lines between the nose and mouth (the nasolabial folds) and deep lines underneath the mouth (the marionette lines). It is also fairly normal to lose tissue volume in the cheek areas. It is quite simple to correct these problems. We can now inject “fillers” just underneath the skin to “fill in” wrinkles and restore larger areas of lost volume. The two fillers that I most commonly use are called Radiesse and Juvederm. Radiesse is made from calcium hydroxyapatite – a substance that occurs naturally in your body – and not only offers immediate filling of the area, but also triggers new collagen formation. It generally lasts for a year on average (sometimes longer). Juvederm is made from hyaluronic acid – another substance that occurs naturally in your body. It lasts for about 6 months. You can expect to spend anywhere between $500 -$1000 for fillers depending on how much volume loss you have. These fillers are not permanent however and eventually wear off, in which case your face returns back to its preinjection state. To maintain your results, you would need to have the procedure repeated when the filler wears off. .
3. I use Botox Cosmetic to smooth wrinkles on the upper part of the face and on the upper lip. Wrinkles here are caused by excessive muscle movement and can be reduced and sometimes erased by relaxing those muscles. Forehead lines, lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet lines around the eyes, and the little wrinkles on the upper lip all respond very well to Botox. Botox is the #1 cosmetic procedure in this country and is extremely safe. Botox dosing can be adjusted to give you your desired effect – some people want no movement, but most people still want to be able to express themselves. Botox typically lasts 3-5 months, so maintenance is required. Its cost will range from $150 to $500 depending on how many areas are treated and depending on the degree of relaxation desired.
A surgical facelift still may be the best option for some. The surgical approach and the non-surgical approach each have their pros and cons. Surgery can offer dramatic results with little maintenance required, but there will be scarring (which is usually fairly well hidden in the hair line or around the ears), surgical and anesthesia risk, recovery time, and a much higher upfront cost. The non-surgical approach requires more time to get the final result and requires some ongoing maintenance; but leaves no scars, involves no downtime, and is usually more economical.
Dr Steven P Jepson MD
www.UtahLaserMD.com
801-281-0022
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