Face lifts have come a long way since the original, unnaturally tight and stretched look of early procedures. If the dramatic extent of a traditional procedure worries you, three new alternative methods that can help you achieve great, natural looking results are the liquid facelift, mid lift and the MACS lift, which stands for "minimal access cranial suspension."
Liquid:
The liquid facelift uses fillers and injectables like Botox and Restylane to target specific areas. Botox is injected directly at the sight of unwanted wrinkles and creases, paralyzing the muscle beneath and making the skin smooth for up to eight months.
Restylane lasts longer and builds new collagen, a substance in the skin which gives it a plump, youthful appearance, and might even prevent future degeneration of remaining collagen.
Sculptra is the latest injectable filler with results lasting up to two years and studies showing that it causes the skin to produce new collagen.
One or more kinds of fillers will be injected into various problem areas. The fillers erase wrinkles in the forehead, around the eyes and mouth, and can even add volume to hollow areas of the cheeks. Often times a liquid treatment is only recommended for less severe cases.
Excessive sagging skin cannot be corrected by the use of fillers, but those with mild facial creases can expect to look younger and more refreshed, usually in just a matter of hours. Recovery time depends on the extent of the procedure, but within a few days bruising and swelling usually subsides.
Injectables and fillers are a good alternative for people who do not want to commit to a major surgery and who are fairly satisfied with their facial appearance other than a few problem areas.
MACS:
The other alternative procedures are known as a mid lift and MACS. This is executed similarly to a traditional procedure, but the incision area is smaller, and only the middle area of the face, from the corners of the eyes to the top of the mouth, is tightened. This often gives more natural results than the traditional procedure and focuses on removing the deep creases that develop around the nose. The surgery only takes an hour and the recovery time is normally fairly short.
MACS is meant for people with mild loss of skin elasticity, generally in the mid face area. It works similarly to the traditional, except the extent of incisions and lift is far less severe, which means less scarring and less complications.
During the procedure the incision is made near the hairline and ear. Then the loose skin is pulled back and secured with permanent suspension sutures. This tightens the cheek and area around the nose and mouth, eliminating the deep creases that often develop there. It also improves the contour of the neck and jaw area.
The benefit of a MACS procedure compared to the traditional is that the recovery period is usually significantly less. Patients can be back on their feet in as little as two weeks, while traditional facelifts can take up to six weeks for full recovery.
With all of the new advancements in cosmetic surgery, it is wise to research the different methods available and the success rates of new procedures.
Not everyone is a suitable candidate for an alternative treatment. Discuss with your surgeon the options available to you. Be sure that regardless of which procedure you choose, you're aware of all possible risks and complications.
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