Traditionally, facelifts required general anesthesia for a surgery lasting multiple hours. Even in the 21st century, where local anesthesia is possible for facelifts, some people seeking such a treatment might either not want surgery or will have one or more contraindications for it. Therefore, nonsurgical facelifts have become a new option.
What Is a Nonsurgical Facelift?
Its purpose is the same as a traditional facelift: to refresh, plump, or firm the skin of the patient’s face. The idea is to use noninvasive techniques instead of different varieties of surgery. Although the results tend to be ephemeral, the prospect of an easier recovery than from surgery makes these procedures popular among patients who wish to reduce their number of facial wrinkles.
Common Treatment Options
Injections of either botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, or fat from other portions of a patient’s body are the most common methods of performing a nonsurgical facelift. The botulinum toxin, which is marketed under the brand names Botox, Dysport, and others, relaxes tense muscles, smoothing out the wrinkles they cause. Generally, the patient will have to repeat the procedure every 90-120 days.
Other methods usually involve some method of removing layers of skin and stimulating collagen growth in the underlying layers. Lasers, rough pads, and small needles are three of the methods of doing this. Each has its own set of pros and cons, and the doctor will assess the patient to determine which is the best option, or options, for that person’s nonsurgical facelift.
With any of these treatment options, it’s not unusual for the results not to appear for three months or more, so it’s essential to follow the doctor’s instructions going forward.
What to Expect During the Procedure
In most cases, patients won’t need anything more than what’s known as twilight sedation, which is akin to being intensely drowsy during the procedure, for any of these procedures. Sometimes, however, general anesthesia is required, such as in a situation where deep-level laser skin resurfacing is required to achieve the desired effect. Most commonly, though, local anesthesia is all that is required.
Although some procedures can take the same number of hours as traditional facelifts, many of them take less than an hour. Botox injections usually only take a few minutes. The doctor will explain everything before beginning the procedure. That way, the patient can make an informed decision.
Recovery Tips
In the vast majority of cases, over-the-counter pain medication, cold packs, and ointments will suffice during recovery. The cold packs would be for swelling while the ointments would be for dryness or irritation. Depending on the procedure chosen, patients could experience scabs and/or bruises. These are normal and usually go away in a few days or a week. If they persist, or there is unexplained bleeding or anything else out of the ordinary, patients should contact their doctor immediately.
The Importance of a Consultation
The consultation is the time for patients to ask questions of their doctors and to allay any concerns or fears that they have regarding their upcoming procedure or procedures. The doctor, too, will be able to ask questions to find out if the patient and the desired procedure are a good fit.
Conclusion
Asking questions is a big part of the preparation for a facelift without surgery. No one should go into such a procedure with any discomfort or doubts. To get started, interested people should contact their doctors for more information.