Non-Surgical Facelift

What is non-surgical facial shaping?

As we age, volume loss of the face occurs. Hollowing in areas such as the temples, around the eyes, and the cheeks with age creates this sagging appearance. Sagging of the skin can make the skin appear more disproportionate, creating concerns such as jowls. Volume loss and sagging combined causes the youthful triangular shape of the face to become more square.

Traditionally, facial shaping and face lifting has been performed exclusively by surgical means. With the advent of dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, it is now possible to volumise and shape the face and make subtle yet significant changes without the need for facial rejuvenation surgery. The key difference between the non-surgical procedures and the surgical procedures is that an invasive procedure carries risks and requires downtime, while the non-surgical procedures require little or no recovery and require no general anaesthetic.

Reshaping the face can also be used to improve facial proportion. Areas such as the cheeks, nose or lips can be filled with dermal filler to balance facial proportions. This is done to enhance or beautify the face. The Golden Ratio, or Phi, is often used to help guide practitioners to perform treatments on the face to achieve ideal facial proportions.

What is the importance of volumising the face?

One key factor contributing to facial ageing is loss of facial volume. This is often overlooked when rejuvenating the face. Our face resembles a full, smooth, firm grape when we are young. As we age, we lose the volume in our faces, and it becomes more like a sultana.

Replacing lost volume may be an important adjunct to a facelift. Revolumising the face does not replace the need for a surgical procedure.  This can be done relatively non-invasively by dermal fillers or surgically with autologous facial fat transfer, where fat is transferred from the body to the face.

For more information on facial volume loss, click here.

What non-surgical facial shaping treatments are available?

Filler

Injectable treatments like dermal fillers can restore lost facial volume. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected just beneath the skin’s surface to remove wrinkles and increase fullness.

A good candidate for dermal fillers is someone who has no severe or chronic health conditions and who wants to create the definition or replace lost volume in certain areas of their face. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should not get dermal fillers.

Temple Filler

The temples are one of the first places to lose volume due to ageing and leading to a more skeletal appearance of the face. Replacing volume using temple filler can help restore the oval shape of the face and smooth the transition of the forehead to the cheeks.

Chin Enhancement

Chin enhancement can be performed non-surgically with dermal fillers. This can help to balance the profile and extend the jawline. It is a non-surgical alternative to a chin implant and may suit people who are looking for a more defined chin and jawline.

Cheek Enhancement

Cheek enhancement can be performed with dermal fillers to replace the volume that has been lost with time or to further enhance the shape of the cheeks. 

Non-Surgical Jawline Enhancement and Jowl Reduction

The appearance of jowls can be reduced, and the jawline straightened through the use of dermal fillers in the pre-jowl sulcus. This is the space between the chin and the jowls. Filler here hides the appearance of jowls by making the jawline appear straighter and provides a viable alternative to surgical treatments.

Non-Surgical Lip Enhancement

Dermal fillers can be used to replace volume in the lips, shape lips, and help reduce the signs of ageing in the mouth area. Lip filler can also be used to enhance lip volume and give the lip line more definition.

Anti-wrinkle injections

Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and prevent the formation of new wrinkles and frown lines. This procedure involves injecting a muscle relaxant into the desired area, blocking nerve signals and reducing muscle contractions. 

Non-Surgical Jawline Slimming and Bruxism

Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to slim the jawline to reduce the squareness of a face and help reduce contraction of muscle that causes teeth grinding or clenching.

Forehead Lines

Forehead wrinkles result from raising our eyebrows and pulling the skin on the forehead. These wrinkles can become static as we age. Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to reduce the creasing of the skin and gradually decrease the severity of the wrinkles over time.

Frown Lines

Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to relax the muscles activated when we frown and smooth out the wrinkles between the eyebrows. This releases the tension in the face and reduces frown lines to create a more youthful appearance.

Non-Surgical Eyebrow Lift

You can shape and lift your eyebrows without the need for facelift surgery or eyelid surgery by using anti-wrinkle injections to stop the muscles from pulling the eyebrows down. A non-surgical brow lift can rejuvenate the area without the need for any incisions.

Neck Smoothing

Anti-wrinkle injections can be used in the lower face and neck to prevent the formation of new wrinkles by targeting the muscles that pull the face down. Anti-wrinkle injections can also be used to reduce the appearance of prominent platysmal bands without the need for a neck lift.

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening and Lifting

Skin tightening and lifting can be achieved with non-invasive and non-surgical methods for those who don’t want to have a surgical or invasive procedure. This can help to reposition the skin on the face and improve facial shape.

Thread lift

A thread lift is a procedure that uses medical grade thread material to lift and tighten the skin. The treatment involves inserting threads into the skin and then tightening them, lifting the skin and pulling it taut. It is a less invasive procedure than a surgical facelift and requires minimal downtime.

A thread lift can improve your face shape by tightening sagging skin and lifting the contours of your face. The thread lift process also stimulates collagen production by triggering the body’s healing response, so it can result in overall rejuvenation for the face.

A good candidate for a thread lift is a person who is in good health and is just starting to notice the signs of ageing in their face.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses radiofrequency ultrasound energy to penetrate the skin and stimulate collagen production. The procedure produces focused ultrasound energy that leaves the top layer of the skin untouched while allowing thermal energy to lift and tighten the skin.

Ultherapy usually requires only one treatment and no recovery time. This treatment rejuvenates the skin, returning the face to its original, youthful shape.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

This procedure involves using lasers to rejuvenate the skin through intense, pulsed light. There are different types of lasers that can be used to treat different skin conditions. For fine lines and wrinkles, an ablative laser will be used that removes the outer layer of skin and stimulates collagen growth in the layer underneath. 

Laser skin resurfacing normally requires multiple sessions over the course of a few months.

Chemical Peels

During a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to remove the outer layers of the skin. 

Multiple sessions may be required for light and medium peels to achieve the desired results.

FAQ

Do non-surgical facelifts work?

Non-surgical facelifts are effective for reversing moderate signs of ageing and preventing the development of further wrinkles and sagging. Visible improvement can usually be seen after the first treatment.

A consultation with a practitioner can help determine which kind of non-surgical face lift will be most effective for you.

What results can I expect when getting a non-surgical face lift?

Results will vary depending on the treatment you receive as well as your personal goals and your skin’s response to the procedure. The level of sagging in your skin before you receive the treatment will also affect the results. Your doctor will discuss the results that you should expect.

How long do non-surgical face treatments last?

Depending on the type of treatment that you’re receiving, the appointment will likely only take a few minutes to an hour. The results will last anywhere from a few months to a few years depending on which treatment is administered.

What is the best non-surgical facelift treatment?

The best non-surgical facelift treatment for you will depend on your specific needs as well as your desired outcome. A consultation with a practitioner can help determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

What do I need to know before getting a non-surgical facelift?

During your initial consultation, the practitioner will discuss the procedure with you and answer any questions you may have. You will also be informed about any preparation you may need beforehand.

The practitioner will discuss whether downtime is required for your specific procedure and whether or not you will need to take any time off work. They will also let you know how many sessions you will need.

For estimated costs for each treatment, please visit the Cosmetic Consultation and treatments pricing page.