As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen and elastin, proteins that are essential for elastic, youthful-looking skin. As less collagen and elastin are produced, the skin loses its elastic quality and starts to sag. Over time, fat can become displaced as well. These factors often lead to the development of wrinkles and hollow-looking areas throughout the face.
Fortunately, for patients who are not yet ready to pursue facial rejuvenation cosmetic surgery, there is another solution: a “liquid facelift.” What is a liquid facelift, exactly? San Francisco cosmetic physician Dr. Sheena Kong explains.
What a Liquid Facelift Entails
At the San Francisco medical spa of Dr. Kong, we customize each liquid facelift to address the unique aesthetic concerns of each patient. In general, a liquid facelift involves using multiple injectable and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments to restore lost volume to areas of the face that are lacking volume, fill in wrinkles and fine lines, provide a subtle lift throughout the face and enhance areas of the face that could use some extra oomph.
For example, a liquid facelift could include injecting BOTOX muscle relaxant into the forehead to suspend muscle movement in that area temporarily, thereby smoothing out the overlying forehead furrows (horizontal forehead wrinkles). It might also include using Perlane, Restylane or Juvéderm dermal filler to fill in the parenthetical-looking lines on each side of the mouth. In addition, the maker of Juvéderm has recently introduced the first FDA-approved dermal filler for use in enhancing volume in the cheek area: Voluma XC. By enhancing the cheek area with Voluma XC, patients can achieve a subtle lift throughout the mid to lower area of the face. Dr. Kong can even incorporate intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, Ultherapy and / or Thermage skin-tightening treatment in the liquid facelift to provide a firmer look throughout the face. All together, these nonsurgical cosmetic treatments temporarily provide results similar to facelift surgery, with a lower cost and minimal or no downtime required.
If you would like to rejuvenate the face temporarily without undergoing cosmetic surgery, a liquid facelift might be right for you.
To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kong to learn more about your liquid facelift treatment options, please contact our San Francisco medical spa by calling (415) 673-7600 today.
