Non-surgical face lift

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 multiple minimally invasive, non-invasive restorative techniques.

Non-surgical face lift– this is a whole layer of different procedures that can improve the condition of the skin, get rid of hanging tissues and add clarity to the oval without surgical intervention and associated difficulties.

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

Basic methods of non-surgical lifting

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

• Injectable- subcutaneous administration of drugs that help to improve the tone and general renewal of the skin. This includes, in particular, some types of mesotherapy, contouring and plasma lifting
• Hardware- are performed on devices that use different types of energy (laser, radio waves, microcurrent, etc. ) to affect the skin.
• Threading– the 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 lifting are surgical techniques, but their invasiveness and the number of contraindications are significantly lower than in the case of other facial antiaging surgeries.
• Deep peels, during which the upper layers of the dermis are removed. Stimulate skin renewal and thus provide a lifting effect
• Manual practices– various massage techniques aimed at improving the tone of the facial muscle structures 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 using a specially selected complex of moisturizing and strengthening active substances, which activates the cell renewal process, fills them with moisture and improves local blood circulation. The standard course consists of 3-5 procedures, the duration of the result is from 6 to 18 months. After mesolifting, aging and sagging skin is visibly softened, looks fresh and young, deep static wrinkles are reduced and small expression wrinkles disappear, the skin is renewed at the cellular level, its color is evened out, turgor and elasticity are improved.

PlasmoliftingORPRP therapyit is an injection of the patient's own blood (or rather, plasma that has undergone a special preliminary treatment). The course is 4-5 sessions, the result lasts about 1 year. Plasmolifting acts both locally, at the cellular level of the skin, stimulating the synthesis of collagen fibers and has a rejuvenating effect on the entire body as a whole - it stimulates the immune system, promotes the processes of cell regeneration and renewal. Also, plasma, as a biological glue, adheres the facial skin to the underlying structures, eliminating age-related tissue ptosis. After the end of the course, the skin softens, becomes more elastic, toned, fine wrinkles disappear and deep wrinkles are reduced.

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 problems.

• Filler injections aim to fill deep wrinkles, fill in the volume of missing tissue 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 drugs based on botulinum toxin type A, which blocks nerve endings in the injection area and prevents them from contracting facial muscles. As a result, the skin is softened and even deep expression wrinkles are reduced or completely disappear.

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

Hardware tightening methods

How most methods workhardware upgradethe same - the subcutaneous tissue is heated with targeted action, which stimulates the compression of existing collagen fibers and the production of new collagen and elastin. As a result, wrinkles are softened, pores are narrowed, the skin tightens and becomes elastic. The main differences between such procedures are what kind of energy is used (laser, radio waves, etc. ) Otherwise, they are very similar: they are performed in courses of 3-5 sessions and the duration of the result is about 2. years. Today the most popular methods are:

• Laser thermolifting– laser energy is used;
• ELOS-rise– based on the influence of two types of energy at the same time - laser and light;
• Radio frequency (RF) lift.– Low power and 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 skin's natural regeneration mechanisms.

The standard course of such non-surgical lifting consists of 4-5 procedures performed once a week. The main advantages of this method include a minimal number of contraindications and complete harmlessness to 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.

Threading

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

• Non-absorbable fibers, made of biocompatible materials such as polypropylene.
• Mesothreads- are considered somewhat less effective, but consist 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 an average of 2-3 years, after which you can install additional threads or choose another technique (threads already installed 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 procedures, but at the same time very effective, with the help of which you can improve the regeneration processes in the skin, improve its color, softness and elasticity, as well as eliminate many external defects (hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, etc. ).

• Talldeep chemical peelAcidic compounds 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 resurfacingcombines two processes: the application of thermal microtraumas to the skin, which stimulate internal recovery mechanisms in it, and the evaporation (evaporation) of old cells. Modern fractional ablative lasers perform both of these actions at the same time, which allows you to achieve a more pronounced lifting effect 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 about 1 year. If we compare both procedures, laser resurfacing has a significant advantage - the ability to adjust the power and depth of the impact "on the fly". This allows you to choose the optimal parameters for each area, even very sensitive ones (eyelids, lips, neck), which is 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 facelift 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 from this group issculptural facial massage(plasticizing massage, face 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 the simultaneous activation of lymphatic drainage. The massage therapist "sculpts" the contours of the face, correcting problem areas. As a result, the oval becomes clearer, the manifestations of age-related changes are reduced, muscle tension is relieved and skin color improves.

The standard course is 10-12 sessions, which are performed every 2-3 days. Further 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, no skin irritation. The obvious disadvantage is that the results are significantly less pronounced compared to the other procedures described above.

How to choose the best non-surgical facelift technique?

In order to soften and perhaps 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:How "deep" are age-related changes localized?

• If they mainly affect the skin – e. g. sh. It is about small wrinkles, changes in relief, decrease in turgor - priority is given to methods that affect the skin layer (restoration, compression, strengthening of the elastin-collagen framework, polishing of existing defects). Peeling, thermolifting, plasma therapy and mesolifting are used for this purpose.
• For problems with the subcutaneous structures of the face (deep wrinkles, pronounced nasolacrimal furrows, knots, bags under the eyes, loss of clarity of the oval of the face, double chin), choose methods that affect the muscle frame and the hypodermis. These include threading, botulinum therapy, contouring, microcurrent and sculpting massage.
• In many cases, the changes affect the skin and internal structures, so to get a pronounced effect, a thoughtful combination of several rejuvenating techniques is necessary.

Expert opinion

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

1. "The question is much simpler than it might seem. In order not to make a mistake with the choice of technique, not to undergo an operation earlier than required, but also not to spend more than expected in the offices of cosmetologists, you need to understand 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 are talking about pronounced folds and rather large excess skin, do not waste time and money on cosmetology, do not engage in self-deception. 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.Until the age of 40 (more often), aesthetic procedures work quite well. After 40, their 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 10-20 years younger; for many it is important to simply look groomed and fresh enough for their age. This problem can be solved without surgery. Pale skin color, sagging, fine wrinkles, age spots, etc. – cosmetologists cope well with all these problems. But if you are not satisfied with sagging facial contours, drooping eyelids, knots, bags under the eyes, double chin or folds in the neck, just contact a surgeon.

   If you need a very small lift, pay attention to the vector lift with different threads or contour plastic surgery. By repeating these procedures 1-2 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's time to think about more radical methods.

2. "Non-surgical methods, of course, will not replace plastic surgery, but they are a good means of prevention and can delay a visit to the surgeon for a long time. It may be advisable for women to turn to soft lifts (cosmetologyhardware) from the age of 25. Almost each of the methods listed in the article can help with some subtle age-related changes. Our specialists use some of these procedures individually, but more often as part of a comprehensive program.

   Thus, after a surgical facelift, stagnation can 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 (analogues of hyaluronic acid fillers, which are produced from the patient's own blood) are better proven.

   Botulinum toxin A preparations, of course, give good results and it is impossible to replace them with analogues. Lifting RF also gives 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 because of its traumatic nature.

   An important advantage of non-surgical lifting 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 plasma, laser or RF lifting, as well as mesothreads - what exactly to choose will depend on the "roughness" of the skin, the depth of wrinkles, the patient's age and presence. of some contraindications. "

3. "I would like to emphasize right away 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 the specific situation does notstill requires surgical intervention. In these cases, minimally invasive cosmetology comes to our aid.

   Thread lifts, laser facelifts, and RF lift techniques can delay the need for surgery and serve as a type of temporary replacement for surgical facelift techniques. Botulinum therapy and fillers can get rid of wrinkles. Plasmolifting improves skin turgor and its general condition. The bark is also responsible for the turgor, color and quality of the skin. These procedures are effective in their scope, but they are not a direct alternative to plastic surgery.

   The clinic performs almost all 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 face lift, I recommend plasma lifting before and after surgery, this allows us to shorten the rehabilitation period. But it is not worth performing any hardware renewal procedure before the operation. "

4. "Currently, there are a large number of effective methods of non-surgical facial rejuvenation, but it is important to understand the difference in the skills of a plastic surgeon and a cosmetologist. The surgeon creates the contour of the face, the cosmetologist improves the quality of the skin. And aging manifestsin the decline of the skin and muscles, a decrease in skin tone and a deterioration in its quality. In total, there are about 5 types of aging, depending on their manifestations, and a rejuvenation program is developed, including the use of non-aging techniques- surgical.

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

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