Plastic surgery is more popular than ever, but when it comes to a facelift, technology has advanced to a level where traditional surgery may not be the best option for regaining a youthful and vibrant appearance. Before undergoing plastic surgery, individuals may want to consult with a reputable medical spa, also known as a medspa, about non-surgical facial procedures and the new generation of surgical facelifts.
Traditional Facelifts
Sagging and wrinkled skin is the result of three effects of aging: loss of fat in the facial tissues, exposure to harmful solar rays and the pull of gravity. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing throughout the 1990s, the ultimate solution for combating these effects was the facelift. However, like any other plastic surgery procedures, facelifts carry some risk, and recovery time can be up to six months long. These factors have prompted health and beauty experts to develop several alternatives.
Laser Treatment and Skin Resurfacing
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun plays a large role in the development of age spots, sagging skin and leathery skin texture, but several new techniques have proven successful in reducing or eliminating these effects of aging. Chemical peels, topical medications and dermabrasion may all be used to restore smooth and aesthetically pleasing facial skin.
In addition, laser resurfacing through a procedure known as Fraxel laser treatment may be just as effective as a traditional facelift. This type of laser treatment only requires a topical anaesthetic, and it consists of thousands of laser beams that are guided across the face. These lasers reach deep into the skin and destroy pigmented cells. The rest of the skin is unaffected, and new cells and collagen grow to fill in the spots where the pigmented cells were located. Because lasers are not invasive, no recovery time may be required.
Injectable Facelifts and Volume Enhancers
As many people age, they develop an empty, gaunt facial appearance. This happens when fat cells in the face are naturally reduced, causing the skin to crease and wrinkle. Instead of a surgical facelift, it is now common to use one of several injectable treatments.
In one solution, fat is extracted from a patient’s belly and injected into specific areas of the face to replace the fat that has dissipated. In addition, several pharmaceutical and medical companies have developed alternative fillers, such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane and Sculptra.
Botox injections can also be used alone or in conjunction with volume enhancers to create smooth, youthful facial skin. Botox works by relaxing the muscles under the skin, which has the effect of eliminating or reducing wrinkles. However, Botox and some other injectable treatments are only temporary and have to be performed at regular intervals.
Vampire Facelifts
The Vampire Facelift is a trademarked procedure that can be used to improve the texture and tone of the skin. This type of facelift uses a combination of injectable fillers and blood treatment to restore youth and beauty. In the first step of the Vampire Facelift, hyaluronic-acid fillers are injected to add volume and shape the skin. Next, a small sample of blood is drawn. The doctor then isolates and extracts platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the blood and activates the platelets to release up to eight growth factors that the body uses to heal damaged tissue. The activated plasma is then injected back into the skin where it activates multi-potent stem cells, which spontaneously develop into new collagen, fatty cells and blood vessels.
New Surgical Facelifts
For some patients, the best option is still plastic surgery, but new facelifts have been developed that are quicker and have a speedier recovery time than traditional facelifts. These procedures use smaller incisions that produce less scarring and can be performed with only a local anesthetic. In addition, some of the new facelifts are less expensive than the older and more invasive procedures.