Liquid facelift: the juicy (and important) details

A liquid facelift is a non-surgical procedure to rejuvenate the face and promote a more youthful look. Esteemed consultant dermatologist Dr Hiba Injibar explains in detail what the process entails. The London-based consultant outlines the safety aspect of the procedure, how long the results last, and what the main advantages are. 

What is a liquid facelift? 

A liquid facelift uses a combination of botulinum toxin and dermal fillers to tighten and lift the appearance of the face. It gives the face a more youthful appearance and erases lines including expression lines and volume loss, without using surgery.

Are liquid facelifts safe?

It depends on who is performing the procedure. Injectables, including botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, require a lot of skill and expertise in facial anatomy; where to inject them, and where the danger zones are. The safety of the injection is technique and operator dependent and of course, it also depends on the quality of the products used.

If you are considering a liquid facelift, always go to an experienced doctor, who has the correct training and a lot of experience in these procedures. A well-trained specialist with a good knowledge of anatomy is crucial to ensure the procedure is done correctly and safely. If done by inexperienced injectors, they can be dangerous because they need to know where they're injecting.

How long can a liquid facelift last?

The botulinum toxin component lasts between four to six months. The dermal fillers, particularly the newer, more advanced fillers which are widely used, last anywhere between 12 to 16 or even 18 months. If they are injected under the eyes, in some cases they can last up to two years. Usually, when a liquid facelift is done, we see the patients after about six months to reinject Botox and to see if the dermal fillers need touching up or topping up. You would need to come back for further treatment in 6 months to a year.

What are the advantages of a liquid facelift compared to a surgical facelift?

A liquid facelift is non-surgical. That means, whilst the results are not permanent, there is no need for anaesthesia or a hospital stay. There may be some possible bruising, minor dots at the injection points, and minor swelling. On the plus side, patients require minimal downtime following the procedure and are able to return to their normal, daily activities on the same day.

With a surgical facelift, the results are permanent. The plastic surgeon would have cut and removed the extra skin during the surgery, meaning the results are completely permanent. However, that requires some downtime and there is some swelling, bruising, stitches and there's possible scarring. A lot of people don't want to go under the knife and they prefer the safer option of a liquid facelift in the clinic. The main advantages are there is no anaesthesia and minimal downtime, and the patients can resume their daily activities instantaneously.

What is the ideal age for a liquid facelift procedure?

People usually start noticing sagging and wrinkles on their faces by the time they're in their mid-to-late-30s. A liquid facelift is not a one size fits all procedure. Every patient doesn’t have to have the same amount of botulinum toxin and the same number of dermal fillers. It's a customisable procedure and for this reason, assessment is very important.

There is no minimum age for when this can be done. Usually, people will first start to notice sagging before they consider it, or any other procedure to tighten and lift the face. These are usually people in their mid-to-late-30s or early 40s.  It is suitable for those in their 50s and 60s too.

If you’re interested in finding out more about liquid facelifts from Dr Hiba Injibar, you can book a consultation with her directly via her Top Doctors profile.