Non-surgical facelift

The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to facelift is plastic surgery. However, not everyone wants and can expose themselves to radical influences. A compromise option in this case is the numerous minimally invasive and non-invasive rejuvenation techniques.

Non-surgical facelift– this is a whole layer of various procedures that can improve the condition of the skin, remove sagging tissues and add clarity to the oval without surgical intervention and associated difficulties.

The main advantages of these techniques compared to surgery are relatively low cost, low trauma, and fewer contraindications. At the same time, with its help it is not always possible to obtain such an impressive result as after surgery, and it does not last as long, usually up to 2-3 years, which partly offsets the cost-benefit.

Basic non-surgical lifting methods.

All non-surgical facelift procedures can be divided into several large groups:

• Injectable– subcutaneous administration of medications that help improve the tone and general rejuvenation of the skin. This includes, in particular, some types of mesotherapy, contouring and plasma lifting.
• Hardware– are performed on equipment that uses various types of energy (laser, radio waves, microcurrent, etc. ) to influence the skin.
• Thread lifting– installation of special biocompatible threads under the skin, with the help of which the tissues are moved to a new position. Most types of thread lifts are surgical techniques, but their invasiveness and the number of contraindications are significantly less than in the case of other anti-aging facial surgeries.
• Deep peels, during which the upper layers of the dermis are removed. It stimulates skin renewal and thus provides a lifting effect.
• Manual practices– various massage techniques aimed at improving the tone of the muscular structures of the face and activating the metabolism.

Injection lifting and facial rejuvenation.

One of the safest and most common methods of this group ismesolifting– a variant of mesotherapy that uses a specially selected complex of moisturizing and strengthening active substances, which activates the process of cell renewal, fills them with moisture and improves local blood circulation. The standard course consists of 3-5 procedures, the duration of the result is 6 to 18 months. After mesolifting, aged and sagging skin is noticeably smoothed, it looks fresh and young, deep static wrinkles are reduced and small expression lines disappear, the skin is renewed at the cellular level, its color is unified, turgor and firmness improve. elasticity.

PlasmoliftingeitherPRP TherapyIt is an injection of the patient's own blood (or rather, plasma that has undergone special pretreatment). The course consists of 4-5 sessions, the result lasts approximately 1 year. Plasmolifting acts locally, at the cellular level of the skin, causing the synthesis of collagen fibers, and has a rejuvenating effect on the entire body: it stimulates the immune system, triggers the processes of cell regeneration and renewal. In addition, plasma, like a biological glue, bonds the facial skin to the underlying structures, eliminating age-related tissue ptosis. After completing the course, the skin smoothes, becomes more elastic, toned, fine wrinkles disappear, and deep wrinkles decrease.

If meso and plasmolifting have a complex effect on the entire face, tightening and rejuvenating it, thencontour plastic surgery with fillersANDbotulinum therapydesigned to specifically address specific age-related issues.

• Filler injections are intended to fill deep wrinkles, replenish the volume of missing tissues, and correct the shape of the face. Today, cosmetologists have at their disposal a wide range of products, mainly based on high-density hyaluronic acid, designed to correct certain age-related facial defects.
• Botulinum therapy uses medications based on botulinum toxin type A, which blocks nerve endings in the injection area and prevents facial muscles from contracting. As a result, the skin is smoothed and even deep expression wrinkles are reduced or disappear completely.

The effect of contour and botulinum therapy lasts 8-12 months, depending on the activity of metabolic processes and other individual characteristics of the body.

Hardware adjustment methods

How most methods workhardware liftingThe same: the subcutaneous tissue is heated by a specific action, which stimulates the compaction of existing collagen fibers and the production of new collagen and elastin. As a result, wrinkles are smoothed, pores are narrowed, the skin is tightened and elastic. The main differences between these procedures are the type of energy used (laser, radio waves, etc. ). In the rest, they are very similar: they are carried out in courses of 3 to 5 sessions and the duration of the result is approximately 2 years. Today the most popular methods are:

• Laser thermolifting– laser energy is used;
• Elos-rising– based on the influence of two types of energy at once: laser and light;
• Radio Frequency (RF) Lifting– Low-power, high-frequency radio waves are used.

Another option -microcurrent therapy, – works a little differently. In this case, the skin cells are stimulated by microcurrents and specially developed biological preparations containing strong antioxidants that activate the natural skin regeneration mechanisms.

The standard course of this type of non-surgical lift consists of 4 to 5 procedures performed once a week. The main advantages of this method include a minimum number of contraindications and complete harmlessness for the body. Microcurrents activate metabolism, normalize the chemical composition of cells and increase tissue elasticity; For this reason, they are often used as a restorative procedure after surgical interventions.

Thread lifting

This is a minimally invasive technique in which fine threads are inserted under the skin. Then they rise, moving behind them and fixing the soft tissues in the desired position. The procedure is quick and safe, but it is still quite serious, so it should not be performed by a cosmetologist who works with the "outer part" of the face, but by a plastic surgeon who knows its internal structure well. Depending on the patient's general indications and personal preferences, the following may be used:

• Non-absorbable threads, made with biocompatible materials such as polypropylene.
• Mesothreads- are considered somewhat less effective, but are composed of polylactic acid, which does not remain under the skin, but is completely absorbed after a few months. In addition to actual tightening, they have a beneficial effect on the general condition and health of the skin (similar to mesotherapy, hence the prefix "meso" in the name).

The obtained result lasts on average 2-3 years, after which you can install additional threads or choose another technique (already installed threads will not interfere with either cosmetic procedures or surgical lifting). Some of the non-absorbable threads can be "tightened" in the future, but there is no consensus among experts on the advisability of such manipulation.

Deep peels

These are quite traumatic and painful, but at the same time very effective procedures, with the help of which you can improve skin regeneration processes, improve its color, smoothness and elasticity, as well as eliminate many external defects (hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation , etc. ).

• Duringdeep chemical peelAcidic compositions based on phenol are applied to the face, which destroy the upper layers of the skin up to the middle of the reticular layer of the dermis. The procedure is performed only in a clinical setting, under general anesthesia, as a full operation.
• deep laser resurfacingIt combines two processes: the application of thermal microtrauma to the skin, which triggers internal recovery mechanisms and the vaporization (evaporation) of old cells. Modern fractional ablative lasers perform both actions simultaneously, allowing a more pronounced lifting effect to be achieved in fewer sessions than with previous generations of lasers.

The recovery period after deep peeling is quite long (rehabilitation lasts up to 2 weeks). The effect lasts approximately 1 year. If we compare both procedures, laser resurfacing has one important advantage - the ability to adjust the power and depth of impact "on the fly. "This allows optimal parameters to be selected for each area, even the very sensitive ones (eyelids, lips, neck), something impossible to achieve with chemical peeling. In addition, the cooling system makes it less painful, allowing the use of local anesthesia.

Massage as a non-surgical facial lifting method.

With the help of manual influence it is also possible to achieve a certain lifting effect, although among experts there are very different opinions regarding its severity and duration. The most popular procedure in this group issculptural facial massage(plasticizing massage, facial massage according to Joelle Siocco and other proprietary techniques).

The principle of its action is based on deep strength training of facial and non-facial muscles with simultaneous activation of lymphatic drainage. The masseuse "sculpts" the contours of the face, correcting problem areas. As a result, the oval becomes lighter, the manifestations of age-related changes are reduced, muscle tension is relieved, and skin color improves.

The standard course is 10 to 12 sessions, held every 2 or 3 days. Additional maintenance procedures are required 2-3 times a month, which is a relative disadvantage of this non-surgical lifting method. The obvious advantages of sculptural massage are painlessness, complete safety, no rehabilitation period, no risk of complications and no skin irritation. The obvious disadvantage is that the results are significantly less pronounced compared to other procedures described above.

How to choose the best non-surgical facelift technique?

To soften and possibly completely eliminate the signs of aging, it is necessary to determine the causes of their appearance. This unique diagnosis is one of the main tasks of a cosmetologist or plastic surgeon. It is he who should be entrusted with the choice of a specific method of rejuvenation or their combination. In the case of a face, the question is usually:To what extent are age-related changes localized?

• If they mainly affect the skin – e. g. and. We are talking about small wrinkles, changes in relief, decreased turgor; Preference is given to methods that affect the dermal layer (restoration, compaction, strengthening of the elastin-collagen structure, polishing of existing defects). For this, peelings, thermolifting, plasma therapy and mesolifting are used.
• For problems with the subcutaneous structures of the face (deep wrinkles, pronounced nasolacrimal folds, double chin, bags under the eyes, loss of clarity of the oval of the face, double chin), choose methods that affect the muscular structure and hypodermis. These include thread lifting, botulinum therapy, contouring, microcurrents and sculptural massages.
• In many cases, the changes affect both the skin and internal structures, so to obtain a pronounced effect, a careful combination of several rejuvenation techniques is necessary.

The expert's opinion

Journalists asked leading cosmetologists to comment on the effectiveness of using certain non-surgical facelift options and also turned to plastic surgeons for a professional opinion:

1. "The question is much simpler than it seems. In order not to make a mistake in choosing the technique, not to undergo surgery earlier than necessary, but also not to spend more time than expected in cosmetologists' offices, it is necessary to keep in mind counts only three things:

   • Condition of soft tissues, degree of ptosis.If the age-related changes have not gone too far, we can talk about non-surgical solutions. If we talk about pronounced folds and a fairly large excess of skin, do not waste time and money on cosmetology, do not deceive yourself. Excess skin will not disappear on its own, it can only be removed with a scalpel, and only a plastic surgeon will help you here.
   • Age. Up to age 40 (most of the time), cosmetic procedures work quite well. After 40, its effect becomes less and less noticeable, and after 50, if you need a real effect, and not just care, you should seriously think about surgery.
   • The patient's wishes.Only you determine who to go to and what you need. Not all women want to look 10 to 20 years younger; For many it is important to simply look well-groomed and fresh enough for their age. This problem can be solved without surgery. Dull skin color, sagging, fine wrinkles, age spots, etc. – Cosmetologists cope well with all these problems. But if you are not satisfied with the sagging contours of the face, drooping eyelids, double chin, bags under the eyes, double chin or neck folds, contact only a surgeon.

   If you need a very small facelift, pay attention to multi-thread vector facelift or contour plastic surgery. By repeating these procedures 1 or 2 times a year, you can postpone the operation for several years. You yourself will be able to understand when the resulting effect no longer suits you and it is time to think about more radical methods. "

2. "Non-surgical methods, of course, do not replace plastic surgery, but they are a good means of prevention and can greatly delay a visit to the surgeon. It may be advisable for women to resort to gentle lifts (hardware cosmetology) from age 25. Almost all of the methods listed in the article can help with certain subtle age-related changes. Our specialists use some of these procedures individually, but most often as part of a comprehensive program.

   Thus, after a surgical facelift, stagnation may occur, which can be easily treated with the help of microcurrents. Contour plastic surgery with fillers allows you to correct minor age-related changes, but in this case plasma fillers (analogs of hyaluronic acid fillers, which are produced from the patient's own blood) have proven to be better.

   Botulinum toxin A preparations, of course, give good results and it is impossible to replace them with analogues. Radiofrequency lifting also produces a good effect both for the prevention of aging and during maintenance therapy after plastic surgery. But phenol peeling is not used in our clinic due to its traumatic nature.

   A significant advantage of non-surgical facelift procedures is that they can be recommended to patients at a fairly young age, with subtle age-related changes. For example, a gentle alternative to blepharoplasty can be lifting with plasma, laser or RF, as well as mesophiles; What exactly to choose will depend on the "severity" of the skin, the depth of the wrinkles, the patient's age and presence. of certain contraindications. "

3. "I would like to immediately note that, of course, none of the minimally invasive techniques can compete in terms of effectiveness with surgical operations. However, it often happens that the patient's health does not allow him to take such a step or that the specific situation It does not yet require surgical intervention. In these cases, minimally invasive cosmetology comes to our aid.

   Thread lift, laser facelift, and radiofrequency facelift techniques can delay the need for surgery and serve as a sort of temporary replacement for surgical facelift techniques. Botulinum therapy and fillers can eliminate wrinkles. Plasmolifting improves skin turgor and its general condition. Peels are also responsible for the turgor, color and quality of the skin. These procedures are effective in their area of action, but they are not a direct alternative to plastic surgery.

   The clinic performs almost all of the procedures described in the article, however, each of them has indications and contraindications. In particular, for patients who come to us for a total facelift, I recommend plasma lifting before and after surgery, this allows us to shorten the rehabilitation period. But it is not worth doing any hardware resurfacing procedures before surgery. "

4. "There are currently a large number of effective methods of non-surgical facial rejuvenation, but it is important to understand the difference between the capabilities of a plastic surgeon and a cosmetologist. The surgeon creates the facial contour, the cosmetologist improves the quality of the skin. And the Aging is manifested in sagging skin and muscles, decreased skin tone and deterioration in its quality. In total, there are about 5 types of aging, depending on its manifestations, and a rejuvenation program is developed that includes the use of non-surgical techniques.

   Today, I consider the most effective to be hardware procedures (fractional laser photothermolysis, laser thermolifting), radiofrequency lifting, as well as contour plastic surgery and thread lifting. But it must be honestly noted that with severe ptosis and a large amount of subcutaneous fat, all types of hardware lifting are ineffective, since they affect the deep layers of the skin without affecting its surface. In addition, the so-called 3D facial modeling is very popular and effective, which uses a set of measures: contouring, thread lifting, botulinum therapy.

   In general, we have a fairly large selection of minimally invasive facelift methods in our arsenal, but for best results an integrated approach is always required. "A single method, no matter how good, cannot solve all problems. "