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Facing the Facts about Non-Surgical Facelift.

While the days of the surgical facelift are by no means over, todays less invasive options are varied and plentiful, offering a number of strategies to reverse the effects of time without resorting to the trauma of surgery. Yet it is important to remain realistic about what these non-surgical techniques can truly accomplish. Will they make your skin look better? Yes. Non-invasive techniques will typically freshen and tighten your skin, giving you a more youthful yet natural appearance. But make no mistake: though they are effective, these treatments simply do not have the same effect as literally removing skin from your face and neck, and tightening what is left. Only a surgical facelift can do this, and, gruesome as it sounds, it is by far the most effective treatment option for eliminating the drooping and wrinkling of aging skin.

However, many men and women today simply aren’t interested in such a radical (not to mention expensive!) procedure, in part because they fear the effects. Taken too far, a surgical facelift procedure can look unnatural. Even at its most subtle, a facelift surgery is likely to be noticed by family and friends. A facelift surgery is painful and poses some risks, and requires a lengthy recovery time.

If you wish to try a gentler option that will allow you to age gracefully… but still look the best you can, then a non-surgical option might be the best route for you. There are a huge number of choices with varying degrees of intensity – and effectiveness. This article will explore a few of the most popular procedure.

Facelift in a Jar

The mildest form of non-surgical facelift is really more of a misnomer than a valid candidate for facelift options. DMAE (dimethylethanolamine) is a skin-firming treatment that has become known as “the facelift in a jar.” Other facelift creams and powders containing highly concentrated solutions of amino acids such as hexapeptide and alpha hydroxyl acid can also be used to tighten skin and reduce fine lines. Some of these products can be applied at home; others should be handled by an aesthetician or skincare doctor.

But do these products really deserve to be in the same category as non-surgical facelift treatments, or are they simply expensive wrinkle creams? Probably the latter – although some of these products do seem to be more effective than other wrinkle creams on the market. Part of the hype surrounding the “facelift in a jar” concept stems from Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s emphasis on the benefits of DMAE in his best-selling book

The Wrinkle Cure. Facelift in a Box

Another mild cosmetic treatment that compares itself to a kind of facelift is a hand-held electromagnetic device. These “home rejuvenation” systems are made by a variety of different companies and use slightly different technologies, but are similar in that they all use an intensity level safe enough for home use. Anecdotal evidence and some third-party research shows these hand-held devices to be effective in reducing fine lines, age spots, acne and scarring, and tightening and freshening the skin. The product branded under the name “Oxylift” is marketed as the “facelift in a box.” Clever!

Facelift in a Needle … And no, that doesn’t mean Botox! An age-old technique that is of increasing interest to today’s woman who wants to age beautifully and naturally is cosmetic acupuncture. Cosmetic acupuncture uses the healing properties of this traditional Chinese remedy for pain, disease, and overall health, and applies it to the face. The insertion of tiny needles increases circulation to the face and stimulates collagen production, thereby eliminating fine lines and resulting in plump, healthy skin. There are many reported side benefits to cosmetic acupuncture as well, including increased energy and vigour.

Liquid Facelift

A liquid facelift is the humorous term for fillers such as Juvaderm, Restylane or Sculptra, which are hyaluronic acid dermal fillers used to plump the skin and fill deep wrinkles or enhance aging lips. Lines across the forehead, cheeks, jaw line, chin, and those that run from your nose to the corners of your mouth can be eliminated with a dermal filler. The fillers are injected in small quantities and may cause mild swelling, but should result in very little recovery time. Results will last for up to one year. The category of liquid facelifts should also include Botox, since this well-known botulism concoction is in fact injected into the face in liquid form. Botox works by relaxing the muscle contractions of the face, thereby reducing the appearance of frown lines and expression wrinkles. Botox is popular and effective, with results that last up to four months. But can Botox and dermal fillers really be compared to facelifts? Together, they can certainly reduce or even eliminate wrinkles. They can plump the skin and give it a tighter appearance. So, yes, the liquid form of facelift can compete against the real thing.

Electrical Facelift

A microcurrent or Bio-Ultimate facelift delivers electrical stimulation to the muscles of the face to stimulate cell function and improve skin tone, reduce lines and wrinkles, and improve circulation and skin exfoliation as well as sun damage and cellulite. The treatment, which usually consists of multiple one-hour sessions performed by a specialist, is also reported to improve lymphatic drainage and boost circulation and metabolism.

Radio frequency Facelift
A very popular option these days is the use of heat to cause the collagen under the skin to contract, resulting in a skin-tightening effect. One of the most popular agents of the heat facelift is known as Thermage. Thermage uses radiofrequency energy to heat the inner layers of the skin (fat and collagen) to tighten and rejuvenate the skin’s collagen structure, which weakens with age and exposure to toxins. A major selling point of Thermage is that the painless treatment, which takes effect immediately, requires only one session. Aluma is another brand that uses radiofrequency energy as a cosmetic procedure.

Laser Facelift

There are actually two types of laser facelifts – one of which is a surgical procedure the other being the skin-tightening non-surgical technique. The non-surgical laser facelift is similar to the radio frequency facelift, except that it uses infrared light to heat the skin and tighten collagen structures. Titan is a well-known laser therapy treatment; Lux-IR is less well-known. No long-term studies have been completed to prove the relative efficacy of these treatments, though some professionals believe that infrared technology is more highly controlled and thus preferable to radiofrequency treatments like Thermage. However, where Thermage typically requires only one treatment, laser skin tightening generally requires up to six treatments for full effectiveness.

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