What is a Liquid Lift?
If you are interested in an overall refresh of your face without surgery you may want to consider a liquid lift. A liquid lift is exactly what it sounds like: a facelift performed with liquids—in this case, dermal fillers like Juvéderm®—rather than surgery. Liquid lifts differ from surgical facelifts in that the liquid lift does not involve incisions, stitches, or general anesthesia.
Although Juvéderm’s® FDA approval for the lower face/chin is a recent development, Dr. Jennifer Janiga has already been performing this type of procedure in her office for the past 10 years.
A liquid lift involves injecting dermal fillers into different layers of the skin of the upper and lower face, temples, nasolabial folds, and lips to replace volume that has been lost with time and aging. This replacement “lifts” the cheeks, face, and neck.
Now, is a liquid lift as good as a full facelift? The answer is no, technology has not advanced far enough (yet) to completely replace a surgical facelift with noninvasive procedures, but for most patients we can get awfully close!
The Procedure
In preparation for your liquid lift, we ask patients to eat a full meal before arriving at our office. Once you arrive, your face will be numbed with topical medication for about 30 minutes. Next, the face will be cleansed with an antiseptic and prepared for the injections.
The procedure usually begins at the top of the face, with a lift at the cheekbone and cheek area to improve the upper portion of the face first. Once that is completed, we then move on to the lower portion of the face either in a second session or at the same session depending on your preference.
Once the lower portion of your face has been treated, we will provide ice packs and care instructions to you before you leave. You can drive yourself home unless you have taken a sedative for your procedure. Nitrous oxide is also available if patients prefer, in which case you will stay in the office for a few minutes after the procedure to allow the nitrous to completely wear off before departure.
We perform liquid lifts on the upper, lower, or entire face. The procedure can be split into two sessions or, if you have decided to do the entire face at once, we can do it all in one session at our Reno office location.
Recovery & Results
Liquid lift patients can leave shortly after the procedure is finished, and typically do not require a dedicated caregiver. There will be some bruising and swelling for about a week afterward, but no time off work is required, although we would recommend some avoidance of important social activities for the week afterward to allow for the bruising and swelling to resolve.
Once you recover fully, a full liquid lift can take years off your appearance! By adding dermal fillers in precise areas, the proportions of your face will be restored and redistributed to achieve a more youthful look. In addition, any lost volume will be replaced, and you will feel a lifting of the cheek and jowl area as well as an improvement in the jaw line and neck contour.
Can a Liquid Lift Be Combined with Other Procedures?
Dr. Jennifer Janiga typically prefers to perform any additional procedures 2 to 3 days before or after undergoing a liquid lift, as the swelling and bruising from the fillers used in the procedure may get in the way of other procedures such as Botox or lasers. At Janiga MDs, we understand that each patient’s situation is unique, and you should discuss any additional procedures you would like to have with Dr. Janiga or her associates during your one-on-one consultation. At that time, your provider will help you plan the optimal schedule for your desired treatments.
Schedule a Liquid Lift Consultation
If you’re looking for a comprehensive way to address signs of aging of the face and neck without the downtime required by surgical techniques, a liquid lift may be right for you. To learn more about the benefits of liquid lifts and to schedule a time for your procedure, call Janiga MDs at 775-364-0224 or contact us online today.
