Non Surgical Face Lift
The term “non surgical face lift” can refer to a plethory of different non-invasive or minimally invasive facial procedures. How do you work out which one is right for you? This article is here to help you make an informed choice.
My ethos is simple. If you look like you’ve had work done, then I’ve failed. I aim to provide you with treatments that use the skin’s own capacity to heal and regrow itself for perfectly natural results. I am not discussing botox or fillers as they do not rejuvenate the skin itself, they just hide the effects of aging.
In this post, I’m focusing on explaining the best non-surgical facelift treatments that I perform in my Yarm clinic. This should give you some knowledge about the various treatments, so you can decide on the best treatment for your goals. I always perform a consultation before all procedures to make sure that they are right for you.
What are the advantages of Non-Surgical facelifts?
They are either non-invasive or minimally invasive, so any discomfort is a lot less than a surgical procedure. They also cost a lot less. Recovery times vary from no time to a few days at most. This means that you can return to your every day life almost straight away.
Types of Non-Surgical Facelift Procedures
The non-surgical facelift types and non-invasive facial rejuvenation treatments I perform include:
- HIFU (High Intensity focused ultrasound), also known under the brand name Ultherapy
- Plasma Pen (Fibroblast)
- RF Fractional Microneedling (known under the brands Morpheus8, Endymed, Vivace, Secret RF and 3D Dermaforce.)
- Microneedling
HIFU
HIFU is a popular non-surgical face lift treatment. It utilises high intensity focused ultrasound technology to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin deep within the skin. Collagen is what gives the skin its strength and it makes the skin thicker, elastin is what gives the skin its elasticity. This procedure targets signs of aging such as skin sagging and wrinkles on the face, neck, chest and other areas of the body. It can also give you a brow lift and add definition to your cheek bones.
During the application, the ultrasound energy is targeted in the deep layers of the skin. This means that the surface of the skin is not disrupted and there is often little to see after a treatment apart a little some transient redness. After treatment, the body’s tissue repair process stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin, creating a lifting and tightening effect. HIFU is unique in that the one of the cartridges used penetrates a depth of 4.5mm reaching what’s called the SMAS layer -this is the layer that’s lifted in a surgical face lift. Whilst HIFU can’t physically lift it, it creates thermal damage in the layer so as it heals it tightens and this is what produces the lifting effect.
Usually only one treatment is necessary, which lasts 12-24 months.
Plasma Pen
Plasma Pen, sometimes called Fibroblast, is an advanced, non surgical skin rejuvenating treatment that is great for tightening loose facial and bodily skin. This treatment is particularly suited to upper and lower eye lifts as when performed correctly it never goes deeper than the epidermis (the very top layer of the skin).
Plasma Pen ionises the air to produce plasma that instantly vapourises and carbonises skin in a pin point dot pattern. This produces an initial tightening and a longer term rejuvenation due to the wound healing process.
During the wound healing process, the skin produces lots of cells called fibroblasts that proliferate around the tiny wounds to heal them. Fibroblasts produce collagen, that gives the skin its strength and elastin, that gives it its elasticity. In this way the skin is effectively rejuvenated and fresh new skin cells populate in the area. Sometimes more than one treatment is required if the skin is very loose.
After treatment, the skin has scabs which take 5-7 days to fall off. Aftercare includes avoiding the sun and wearing factor 50 sunblock for 3 months after treatment, so you need to bear this in mind when timing your treatments.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a skin resurfacing technology also called collagen induction therapy. It worls by repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles with either a dermapen, a dermaroller or a dermastamp (I use a dermapen).
Like with Plasma Pen, this treatment induces fibroblast proliferation to grow new skin, and a minimum of three treatments are required to see good results.
Your face will look red for about 24-48 hours after treatment and it takes around 6 weeks to see the results. This time varies depending on your age and the cell renewal rate of your skin. A course of at least three treatments is recommended and a minimum of six for acne scars.
It not only works for skin rejuvenation, but also for scars and stretch marks, making them smoother, faded and less visible.