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Written By: Erin Storm, PA-C
Medshop
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The Skinny
The American Academy of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports over 120,000 facelifts were performed in 2018. Facelift procedures are popular for a reason. We all age, so we all experience loose skin, the formation of natural creases, sagging connective tissues, loss of tone in underlying muscles, and decreased skin elasticity. The slow decline of tight, toned youthful skin is a universal bummer (check out our complete guide to Facial Skin Laxity Concerns). Fortunately, a plastic surgeon can produce natural looking results with a facelift surgery or a non invasive cosmetic procedure. Some candidates may combine their facelift with a brow lift, neck lift, or other cosmetic surgery to further enhance the facelift results.
The Specifics
Who may consider procedures to firm and lift their facial skin?
The clock turns, gravity pulls, and skin sags. It happens to everyone as the skin's natural structural proteins break down and stop being produced regularly. Elastin and collagen are the best friends of tight, toned skin. Produced by fibroblasts found in the middle skin layer (the dermis), they provide the lattice structure the body builds its tissues around. In addition to this, sun exposure, skin damage, stress, sleep position, and significant weight loss can also speed up and contribute to skin laxity.The Anatomy of Aging Skin
What can you expect from facial skin firming and lifting procedures?
Procedures to tighten and tone skin typically involve stimulating the body’s natural healing processes, production of collagen and elastin, and restoring structural integrity. Depending on your unique concern, a surgical or non surgical procedure can be beneficial.- Surgical Facial Lifting & Firming Procedures: The classic facelift. They’re popular for a reason. The results are significant, lasting, and noticeable. Keep in mind though, the recovery will be significant-a few weeks of downtime for years of results though isn’t a bad trade off.
- Non-Surgical Lifting & Firming Procedures: For those desiring results with less side effects and recovery, a noninvasive procedure can produce noticeable results. Thread Lift, Ultherapy, Laser Skin Resurfacing, and Microneedling are all possible interventions.
When should you consider a facial skin firming and lifting procedure?
When it comes to the skin, the effects of aging, gravity, daily use, and damage are cumulative. Therefore, it can be beneficial to pursue a facial tightening procedure in the earlier stages of decreased tone and tightness. Candidates should of course be in generally good health, have realistic expectations of the procedure, and be ready for some recovery time.Why should you consider a facial skin firming and lifting procedure?
Let’s keep it real. Why pursue a procedure to tighten, tone, and rejuvenate your skin restoring your youthful beauty? Um, why not?Facelifts for Sagging Facial Skin
Facelift surgeries — they are a classic for a reason. Both surgical and non-surgical facelift procedures can significantly alter underlying muscle, fat, and skin tissue to literally reverse the hands of time. It’s magic!- Awake Facelift
- Overview: This is a traditional facelift procedure, however, patients are awake under local anesthesia.
- Cost: $3,500 - $8,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a few weeks. Results are permanent, but subject to regular aging.
- Cutaneous Facelift
- Overview: Specifically addresses removal of excess skin.
- Cost: $6,000 - $12,000
- Recovery & Results: Bruising and swelling for three weeks. The results last for four to five years.
- Deep Plane Facelift
- Overview: The most invasive technique targeting deep underlying muscle layers.
- Cost: $20,000 - $30,0000
- Recovery & Results: Significant bruising and swelling for a few weeks. Lasts about 10 to 15 years.
- Endoscopic Facelift
- Overview: Less scarring and recovery time through the use of an endoscope (lighted camera).
- Cost: $7,700 - $20,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for two to three weeks. Results last for five to 10 years.
- Liquid Facelift
- Overview: Injectable fillers smooth wrinkles and improve skin volume.
- Cost: $400 - $8,000
- Recovery & Results: Some swelling and redness for one week. Results last one to two years.
- Mid-Facelift
- Overview: Aka a vertical lift or cheek lift. Targets the cheeks and under eye.
- Cost: $4,000 - $10,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a few weeks. The results can last for 10 to 15 years.
- Mini-Facelift
- Overview: Aka a mini lift. Involves minimal suspending of the SMAS facial structure.
- Cost: $3,500 - $8,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a few days. Results last for five to 10 years.
- Plicated SMAS Facelift
- Overview: A slightly different approach to the standard suspension of the SMAS.
- Cost: $10,000 - $15,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a few weeks. The results last seven to 10 years.
- SMAS Facelift
- Overview: Targeted alterations to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system.
- Cost: $10,000 - $15,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a week. Results can last 10 to 15 years.
- Subperiosteal Facelift
- Overview: Targeted lift to the upper and middle third of the face.
- Cost: $6,000 - $10,000
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and bruising for a month or so. Results can last up to 15 years.
- Vampire Facelift
- Overview: A facelift with injections of platelet rich plasma.
- Cost: $1000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Sensitivity, swelling, and redness for a few days. Temporary results lasting up to one year.
Laser Skin Resurfacing for Sagging Facial Skin
Pew-pew! That’s the sound of lasers dissolving damaged skin and stimulating collagen and elastin production. Ablative is damaging. Fractional is targeted. Non fractional is a free-for-all (meaning more broadly targeted therapy).Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Ablative Non-Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: The most intense laser therapy that is used over a wide area of skin. Microdamage stimulates the body’s healing processes.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness, flaking, and irritation for a few days. The results are temporary.
- Ablative Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: The fractional aspect means the therapy is targeted to a specific area.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be raw and flaky for a week or two. The results are temporary.
- Ablative CO2 Laser
- Overview: A type of ablative therapy utilizing a CO2 laser.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness and irritation will resolve in a few days. The results are temporary.
- Ablative Erbium Laser
- Overview: Erbium is a compound, like CO2, that is deposited in skin. Erbium causes less surrounding tissue damage than CO2.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Less aggressive than CO2 so the side effects and results are not as significant.
- CO2RE
- Overview: A specific type of CO2 laser.
- Cost: $1,000 - $3,500
- Recovery & Results: Rawness and flaking for a week or so. Results are temporary.
- Deka Dot
- Overview: A customizable laser therapy treatment .
- Cost: $1,500 - $3,000
- Recovery & Results: Irritation, redness, and flaking for a week or so. The results are temporary.
- Fraxel Repair
- Overview: A specific brand name ablative laser therapy.
- Cost: $800 - $6,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be tender and irritated for about two weeks. The results are temporary.
- Icon 2940
- Overview: This technique specifically stimulates collagen production.
- Cost: $2,000 - $3,800
- Recovery & Results: Redness, irritation, and flaking for a few weeks. The results are temporary.
- Pearl Laser
- Overview: A laser technique specifically designed to create a “pearl like” skin appearance.
- Cost: $1,200 - $3,000
- Recovery & Results: Flaking, irritation, and redness for a few weeks. The results are temporary.
- Pixel CO2
- Overview: A CO2 laser therapy stated to have less recovery time.
- Cost: $250 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness and irritation for about one week. The results are temporary.
- Profractional Laser Therapy
- Overview: A specific ablative fractional laser therapy .
- Cost: $200 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be irritated, red, and raw for about one week. The results are temporary.
- SmartSkin
- Overview: A highly customizable ablative fractional laser.
- Cost: $2,000 - $5,000
- Recovery & Results: Skin heals within one week. The results are temporary.
- Fraxis Duo
- Overview: A combination of laser energy, radiofrequency, and microneedling.
- Cost: $750
- Recovery & Results: Mild discomfort and irritation will resolve within a few days. The results are temporary.
Non-Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Non-Ablative Non-Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: Similar process to ablative, but less aggressive.
- Cost: $1,000 - $1,150
- Recovery & Results: Less side effects and recovery time than an ablative procedure. Multiple sessions will be needed and the results are temporary.
- Non-Ablative Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: Same as non fractional, however, fractional means therapy is targeted to specific areas.
- Cost: $1,000 - $1,150
- Recovery & Results: Skin will feel raw, red, and irritated for about two weeks. The results are temporary and require multiple treatments.
- Clear + Brilliant
- Overview: A specific type of non-ablative fractional laser.
- Cost: $400 - $1,800
- Recovery & Results: Minimal irritation and redness. The results are temporary.
- IPL
- Overview: Intense pulse light therapy to damaged skin.
- Cost: $500 - $2,100
- Recovery & Results: Mild stinging and irritation for a few days. Multiple treatments for the best results.
- Pulsed Dye Laser
- Overview: Targeted light therapy usually used to dissolve blood vessels.
- Cost: $400 - $800
- Recovery & Results: Irritation and bruising will resolve within a week or so. Maintenance required every six months.
Non-Surgical Skin Tightening for Sagging Skin
These minimally invasive procedures stimulate the body’s natural healing and restoration systems to rejuvenate the skin.- Infrared Skin Tightening
- Overview: Handheld instrument uses heat to stimulate collagen.
- Cost: $500 - $6,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness for about one day. Multiple sessions required and the results last about one year.
- Plasma Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: Ultrahigh frequency waves and nitrogen gas stimulate collagen and elastin.
- Cost: $50 - $2,000
- Recovery & Results: Some redness and swelling for a few days. Yearly maintenance.
- Skintyte
- Overview: Infrared light stimulates collagen and elastin.
- Cost: $300 - $5,000
- Recovery & Results: Some tenderness and bruising for a few days. Multiple treatments for initial results and yearly upkeep.
- Ultherapy®
- Overview: Ultrasound waves are used to promote collagen and elastin production.
- Cost: $175 - $5,000 (learn more in our guide to Ultherapy® cost)
- Recovery & Results: Minimal swelling and bruising. Results last a year or two.
- FaceTite™
- Overview: RFAL energy stimulates collagen and also emulsifies fat deposits.
- Cost: $2,500 - $8,500
- Recovery & Results: Swelling, tenderness, and bruising for a few weeks. The results are temporary and subject to aging and weight changes.
Thread Lift for Sagging Facial Skin
To put it very simply, the insertion of threads (read: sutures) encourages the body to sew your facial skin into a tighter, more toned position.- Silhouette Instalift
- Overview: A coned thread is placed through the target area.
- Cost: $3,000 - $7,000
- Recovery & Results: Mild side effects resolve within a day. Full activity can be resumed within a few weeks. The results are temporary. Maintenance every one to two years.
- Silhouette Soft Threadlift
- Overview: A special thread with additional cones along its length.
- Cost: $675 - $3,400
- Recovery & Results: Mild pain and swelling for a few days. The results are temporary and require maintenance every one to two years.
- PDO Thread Lift
- Overview: This thread is slightly different in that it is barbed.
- Cost: $700 - $4,500
- Recovery & Results: Some pain and irritation for a day. Limit activity for two weeks. Maintenance needed every one to two years.
Microneedling for Facial Skin Laxity
Microneedling isn't exactly an audition for a horror movie, but it does involve needles precisely placed within the skin to encourage the body to make more structural skin proteins.- Microneedling
- Overview: A.k.a. collagen induction therapy.
- Cost: $100 - $1,000
- Recovery & Results: Some redness and irritation for a few days. Maintenance treatments ideally once a month.
- Microneedling with PRP
- Overview: A combination of microneedling and injections of platelet rich plasma.
- Cost: $350 - $1,100
- Recovery & Results: Flaking and dryness for a few days. Monthly maintenance treatments for best results.
- Microneedling with Radiofrequency
- Overview: A combo of micro needling with radio frequency waves.
- Cost: $250 - $1,000
- Recovery & Results: Redness, flaking, and irritation for about one week. Monthly treatments are recommended.
- Microneedling with PRP and Stem Cells (aka Trifecta Therapy)
- Overview: Microneedling combined with platelet rich plasma and stem cells injections.
- Cost: $600 - $700
- Recovery & Results: Mild dryness, redness, and irritation for a few days. Monthly therapy is ideal.
- Infini RF
- Overview: Radio frequency waves and microneedling stimulate collagen and elastin production.
- Cost: $700 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be red and flaky for one week. The results last five years with maintenance treatments.
The Takeaway
Facial tissue gets a lot of attention, and it should. We all experience decreased skin elasticity, sagging skin, and the tired appearance of our accumulated years. The youthful contours created by tight, toned skin are flattering, forgiving, and fantastic. A plastic surgeon can create significant natural looking results with a classic facelift surgery or any number of less invasive options.
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Source List
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2018 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report plasticsurgery.org; 2019-01-01
- American Academy of Dermatology Many Ways to Firm Sagging Skin
- The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Skin Tightening americanboardofcosmeticsurgery.org
- Uwe Wollina Treatment of Facial Skin Laxity by a New Monopolar Radiofrequency Device PubMed.gov
