How the Face Ages
What makes a face look youthful? It is three features known as the triangle of youth:
- Full cheeks
- High cheekbones
- Defined jawline
When people are young, the widest area of their face is across the cheeks. As they age, the triangle of youth flips upside-down, becoming the pyramid of age. The widest part of the face becomes the jaw and chin area, not the cheeks.
For many people, the changes brought about by aging are gradual. While everyone ages at a different rate, thanks to their genes and lifestyle habits, many people are likely to notice the following changes in their 30s or 40s:
- Hollow under the eyes (infraorbital hollows or circles)
- Tired appearance due to loss of deep fat volume
People in their 50s notice additional changes in their facial appearance due to aging. At this age, one of the most common comments at a consultation is, “I look like my mother.”
Facial changes that can occur throughout the 50s include:
- Development of jowls due to sagging ligaments and loss of volume around the jawline.
- Increase in unwanted facial lines due to loss of supportive fat and bone volume.
Starting in the 30s, the treatment for facial aging may be under eye fillers and a cheek filler. Beginning in the 40s, a more comprehensive treatment, such as a Liquid Facelift, may be needed to restore volume across the face. A liquid facelift can help to reduce the appearance of jowls and deep facial lines in patients in their 50s.
What Is a Liquid Facelift?
A liquid facelift is a non-surgical procedure that helps to reduce the signs of aging on the face. During a liquid facelift, Dr. Ran Rubinstein uses various fillers to fill areas that most commonly show signs of age, such as the under-eye area, chin, cheeks, and jawline.
Depending on the type of fillers used, a liquid facelift can do the following:
- Restore lost bone volume
- Restore lost deep fat
- Fill in around supportive facial ligaments to lift the chin, cheeks, and jawline.
- Fill in under the muscles that create facial expressions to reduce the appearance of unwanted facial lines.
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- Real patient
Areas for Fillers
Whether used together as part of a liquid facelift or independently, dermal fillers can help reduce the appearance of several common signs of aging.
Under-Eye Area
The area under the eyes is often one of the first to show signs of age. Starting in the 30s for many people, the under-eye area begins to lose fat and volume. Dark circles appear beneath the eyes, and some people get a hollow-eyed look.
Dermal fillers can plump up the area beneath the eyes, hiding dark circles and helping you look more refreshed.
Cheek
Full cheeks and prominent cheekbones are a sign of youth. But as you age, the cheeks lose fat volume, and the bones become less defined. Cheek fillers restore the lost volume and can create definition in the cheekbones.
Chin
Later in life, starting in the 50s, ligaments that support facial structures weaken and start to sag, leading to a loss of definition in areas such as the chin. Without that definition, the chin looks saggy, and some people develop a double chin.
Dermal fillers can fill in around the ligaments of the chin, creating a lifting effect and minimizing sagginess or a double chin.
Jawline
The jawline also loses its definition later in life due to weakened ligaments. Losing volume in the jaw area leads to jowls, or saggy, loose skin beneath the jaw.
Injecting a dermal filler into the area around the ligaments creates a fulcrum effect, lifting the jawline and easing the appearance of jowls.
Combining Filler Areas
Depending on your age and exact concerns, you may treat one area, such as the under-eye or cheek area, or a combination. Combining multiple treatments into one process results in a liquid facelift, a customized procedure that addresses your unique facial aging concerns.
Fillers Used During Liquid Facelift
Many injectable fillers are available, but not all are suitable for a liquid facelift. Dr. Rubinstein uses two types of fillers when performing the procedure:
- Biostimulators
- High G Prime hyaluronic acid fillers
Biostimulators
Biostimulators include fillers like Radiesse and Sculptra. They work by stimulating collagen production, increasing the volume of the face.
Sculptra is Dr. Rubinstein’s favorite biostimulator to use during a liquid facelift. Its primary ingredient is poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible and biodegradable material.
When injected into the chin, cheek, or jawline area, Sculptra reduces the appearance of facial fat loss and smooths out deep lines, such as the nasolabial folds. The results can last for up to two years.
Radiesse is another type of biostimulator that is sometimes used during a liquid facelift.
High G Prime Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
There are a lot of hyaluronic acid fillers out there, but they aren’t all created equally. G Prime measures HA fillers’ elasticity and viscosity, and those with a higher G primer rating are usually better for liquid facelifts than those with lower ratings.
The higher the G primer, the better a filler can hold its shape. A filler with a high G prime will do an excellent job lifting and adding volume to the cheeks, chin, or jawline.
Cohesiveness is another factor that distinguishes the various high G prime fillers. It measures how well a filler sticks to itself allowing it to maintain its shape over time. Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Volux have both a high G prime and are highly cohesive making them ideal with results that can last up to two years.
At his practice, Dr. Rubinstein uses several types of high G prime fillers during a liquid facelift:
- Juvederm Voluma
- Juvederm Volux
- Restylane Contour
- Restylane Lyft
How long results last depends on the type of filler. Restylane often provides results that last for at least a year, while Juvederm Voluma and Volux can provide results for two years.
FAQs about Liquid Facelift
The cost of cheek fillers depends on the type of filler used and how much of the filler a patient needs. During the consultation, Dr. Rubinstein will provide a quote letting you know the cost of the treatment.
The cost of a liquid facelift depends on the number of areas being treated and the types of fillers used. Five syringes equals only one teaspoon. It’s for this reason that full facial correction will require as much as 10 syringes. Dr Rubinstein will discount the procedure when all the required syringes are used during one treatment session. This further benefits the patient as they can enjoy the full impact of the results immediately. Usually, a liquid facelift costs more than treating a single area but less than a surgical procedure. Financing is available to help cover the cost.
The risks of a liquid facelift are minimal. Some people may experience redness, swelling, or bruising after their injections.
The results from a liquid facelift last for at least a year. How long your results will last depends on the filler type and how your body responds to them. Generally, results can last from one to two years. You can repeat the treatment to extend results.
Patients don’t usually need downtime following a liquid facelift. They can return to their regular activities immediately.
Generally, no, a liquid facelift doesn’t hurt. Dr. Rubinstein uses microcannulas and very fine needles, which most people can barely feel. After the treatment, discomfort or bruising may occur in the injected areas.
A liquid facelift is a customizable treatment, and the fillers used will depend on your age and what you wish to achieve with the procedure. Sculptra is one of Dr. Rubinstein’s favorite fillers to use during a liquid facelift. Other options include hyaluronic acid fillers with a high G prime rating.
A liquid facelift can turn back the hands of time and is usually recommended for people experiencing earlier signs of aging. A surgical facelift may provide dramatic and longer-lasting results for those with more severe signs of aging, such as significant sagging in the chin and jawline or very deep wrinkles.
Non-surgical skin tightening treatments include Laser lifts, laser skin resurfacing and micro-needling. You can combine skin tightening treatments with a liquid facelift for greater rejuvenation.
Yes, you can combine a liquid facelift with a threadlift. However, Dr. Rubinstein doesn’t recommend threadlifts to his patients or offer them at his practice. Threadlifts don’t work well or last for very long. They can look unnatural especially during facial expression.
A trained and board-certified facial plastic surgeon should perform a liquid facelift. Dr. Rubinstein established a training center where he educates established aesthetic providers the art of dermal filler injection. He’s become one of the most sought-after physician trainers in the Northeast.
If you live in the state of New York, Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists offers Liquid Facelift among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
