What is a non-surgical face lift?

If the idea of going under the knife gives you the heebie jeebies, you’re in luck, because it’s 2019 and 'tweakments' are taking charge. Cosmetic enhancements requiring little to no down time, with just as good (if not better) results are becoming so fast, easy and convenient, some can even be completed on a lunch break. 

Once considered quite an ‘extreme’ way to maintain a youthful look, the ‘face lift’ is the latest traditional treatment getting a non-invasive makeover. Here to talk us through all our ‘non-surgical face lift’ options is Dr Louis Wessels from One Cosmetic -  and there’s even some alternatives for the needle-phobes amongst us too...

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First things first, what is a ‘non-surgical face lift’?

A non-surgical facelift can be either a combination of minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments (eg. injectables, high-intensity ultrasound and laser) which are designed to lift, smooth and rejuvenate the facial appearance. With little to no downtime, these non-invasive treatments are becoming more popular as the anti-ageing results are quite significant.

What are non-surgical face lift procedures like?

At One Cosmetic we offer the following treatments to perform a ‘face lift’ without surgery.

1. Dermal Fillers 

A minimally invasive treatment where a smooth gel injectable made from hyaluronic acid is strategically injected into the skin. It is used to restore volume and plump sunken areas, which become more prominent as we age. Common areas treated are cheeks, jowls, temples and under the eyes. These results last from six months to a full year. This treatment can take up to 30 minutes with a consultation.

2.  Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Botox is used to relax muscles, which smooth lines that are associated with ageing and facial expressions. The most common areas treated are the forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet and masseters. Final results are seen two weeks post-treatment and can last up to three months. This treatment generally takes 30 minutes but can vary depending on the areas and the amount desired.

3. Ultraformer III (Hifu)

A high-intensity focused ultrasound, which works by delivering heated energy to the deeper dermis. This energy creates heat stimulating tissue, remodelling to firm, lift, smooth  and rejuvenate the skin. It can be used to target jaw definition, double chin lifts, cheek lifts, wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. There is no downtime with this treatmen; your face will just appear a little red for a couple hours after. This treatment typically takes one hour to do a full face. There is minimal discomfort with this treatment (no numbing cream necessary)and  a maximum of two treatments is required. The results do not fade as this treatment creates new collagen to ‘turn back the clock’, although as you age you may need another treatment.

4. Plasma Pen

Fibroblasting is a revolutionary skin lift and tightening procedure, which requires no surgery.The plasma pen works by sending millisecond pulses of plasma in the air just above the skin, creating a scab. The energy delivered works at the skins layers, hitting the epidermis and dermis, which tightens, lifts and repairs the skin.The skin is sent into a natural healing processes, which produces new fibroblast cells (collagen). Results can be seen instantly, but the final results will be seen after three months, which is how long new collagen takes to produce. Downtime for this treatment is 7-10 days and after the scabs have fallen off, the patient will have to keep out of the sun for the following few months as the ‘new’ skin is prone to sun damage and pigmentation. The patient is numbed with a strong cream for 40 minutes pre-treatment so there should be little discomfort. After three months client is assessed and a second treatment may be considered. You should only need a maximum of two treatments, and similar to the Ultraformer, results should not fade.

Who is a non-surgical face lift best suited to?

Everyone is individually assessed before treatments to tailor the procedure to their specific needs. But generally speaking, those of 35 years and older. 

What are the benefits of a non-surgical face lift vs a traditional one?

The non-surgical facelift requires no anaesthetic, incisions or hospital stay, and the results are relatively similar to a traditional face lift, without having to go ‘under the knife’.  It is a safer alternative and requires a lot less downtime and is also more cost effective. 

Have you ever heard of a non-surgical face lift? What kind of 'tweakments' would you like to read more about?