As the sands of time fall, our faces seem to take the first hit. Fine lines and wrinkles are only the beginning. The older you get, the ruddier your complexion becomes. Your skin dries out, your eyes develop lines we call crows’ feet, and your cheeks can sag. A surgical facelift was designed to pull your face taught. But what if you’re not ready for a facelift or do not qualify? Turns out, there is a non-surgical facelift that can give you stellar results without incisions or extended downtime.
Keep reading to learn why so many people facing the degenerative effects of age are turning to the non-surgical alternative to the surgical facelift. We will also cover how the procedure works, the benefits that go beyond anti-aging, the risks, and whether insurance covers some or all of the fees involved.
By the end, you’ll find out where to undergo the procedure in & near Los Angeles, California.
Getting a facelift is a common way for men and women to recapture their youth. The cosmetic surgical procedure gives you a younger-looking face. The technique can smooth folds of skin along the cheeks and jawline and get rid of saggy skin to leave tighter skin behind.
During a facelift, a flap of skin on either side of the face is pulled back. The cosmetic surgeon then manipulates the tissue below the skin before removing excess skin. When the remaining skin is reattached, the skin is pulled tighter, leaving a more youthful shape behind.
Some people pair the facelift with a neck lift, which reduces fat and saggy skin on the face and neck.
There are some drawbacks to the facelift. For one, the procedure cannot correct fine lines and wrinkles left behind by sun damage. For another, the incisions made during a facelift can leave scars behind. The traditional facelift uses incisions that start at the temples and continue down to the front of the ears. A neck lift involves incisions made underneath the chin. The resulting scars will fade over time but may remain visible for years to come.
There are also risks to the facelift, as there are with any surgical procedure. Common risks of the surgical facelift include a collection of blood called a hematoma, nerve injury, skin loss, and hair loss.
The surgical facelift also takes several weeks to heal. Bruising and swelling will be present immediately after surgery but will resolve within seven to ten days. You can return to your daily activities and your job within around a week. But what if you don’t want to or can’t take a week off work? Is there an alternative to the facelift when you want to look younger? Turns out, there is. More on that in a moment.
For many people, the scars and downtime are not a deterrent to the facelift. They are more than willing to risk the negatives for all the permanent positives you can gain. But then there are those that do not qualify for facelift surgery.
If you have undergone too many surgeries or if the signs of aging are localized to the eyes, and if you want to reconfigure your complexion, the facelift may not be right for you.
The good news is that you do not have to undergo surgery at all to rejuvenate your face and erase the years. This alternative procedure is known as Silhouette InstaLift, the non-surgical facelift.
InstaLift is a minimally invasive technique that uses Micro-Suspension Technology to give you a younger appearance. The facelift procedure lifts your mid-facial skin, including deep nasolabial folds and saggy cheeks. InstaLift also boosts facial volume by activating your body’s natural collagen production over time.
The procedure is performed in the cosmetic surgeon’s office and takes less than an hour.
The FDA-cleared technology involved with InstaLift offers natural results. Before the InstaLift, your cosmetic surgeon will explain the micro-suspension technology and how it works. The treatment areas around your face will then be marked with a pen. A local anesthetic is applied to keep you comfortable during the non-surgical facelift. Only then does the procedure begin.
During the InstaLift, the surgeon places a biodegradable thread and absorbable cones in the superficial fat layer just beneath the skin where you wish to be lifted. The threads themselves are made of a well-known polymer that is often used in medical devices and that is well tolerated by the body.
The surgeon inserts a thread suture underneath the skin, then uses artistic skill and expertise to reshape the skin’s surface. No incisions are required and there are no resulting scars. The suture is inserted using a fine needle.
Since age can lead to saggy skin, deep folds, and loss of volume, the InstaLift produces an immediate lift that improves over time.
You may have heard about the Thread Lift that uses barbed permanent sutures. That technique used to be the popular method of lifting the face without resorting to surgery. InstaLift is different. With the Thread Lift, the bared sutures failed to provide adequate holding power. This would cause the sutures to snap since the barbs would cut into the suture material. Because of these problems, the Thread Lift technique was removed from the market.
InstaLift uses biodegradable sutures and soft cones that dissolve over time. You can guarantee that these sutures and cones will give you the lift necessary to enjoy a youthful face for many months (or years) to come.
The Silhouette InstaLift produces results that are gentle but noticeable. Your results may vary, but you can look forward to erasing up to ten years from your appearance. The results are comparable to the traditional facelift. The technique combats sagging and wrinkling, as well as a loss of facial volume. For some, the InstaLift can help reduce a double chin, tighten the neck and jowls, and raise drooping eyebrows. InstaLift can even soften a harsh appearance, reduce acne scarring, not to mention boost your self-confidence and self-image.
The immediate outcome when you walk out of the office is only the beginning. The placement of the temporary threads triggers the body’s healing response. Wherever the threads are placed, the body begins to deliver more collagen. Over time, the face is able to sustain the facelift results on its own without relying on the threads. When that time comes, the threads will dissolve on their own. They do not need to be removed.
You can expect to see the results of the non-surgical facelift in stages. The first stage is the lift you experience after leaving the cosmetic surgeon’s office. The next stage happens about a month later with subsequent stages continuing for the next 12 to 18 months.
The Silhouette InstaLift can be repeated every year for sustained results.
Read our article: Facial Cosmetic Surgery – What Results are Possible?
The results of the InstaLift procedure last up to two years. Your cosmetic surgeon may recommend repeating the treatment prior to the two-year period to produce seamless, continuous results over the long term.
Downtime is a consideration you always have to make before undergoing any kind of procedure. Knowing there will be downtime allows you to schedule time off work and prepare your home for a lengthy recovery period.
You will be pleased to know that, unlike the surgical facelift, the InstaLift comes with almost no downtime at all. After the InstaLift, you may experience minor pain along with swelling and bruising. Your cosmetic surgeon will still recommend that you take it easy for a couple of days, at least. But compared to other cosmetic procedures, recovery with InstaLift is incredibly fast. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities within two to four days.
The InstaLift procedure can lead to bruising and swelling in the hours and days following the procedure. These effects will subside on their own, allowing the true results of the non-surgical facelift to shine through.
Rare side effects of InstaLift include temporary nerve inflammation, infection, and asymmetry. Unfavorable side effects will be discussed with you during the consultation for the procedure, where you will also learn if you are a prime candidate for this amazing technology.
The Silhouette InstaLift comes with a cost that ranges between $2,500 and $6,000 with an average cost of around $3,375.
To put that into perspective, the surgical facelift comes with an average cost of around $8,005.
Read our article: How Much Do Facial Cosmetic Surgeries Cost?
Health insurance companies tend to cover procedures that are deemed medically necessary. Since the Silhouette InstaLift treatment is aesthetic in nature, insurance will not cover the procedure. There are other ways to afford InstaLift if you cannot come up with the full cost of the procedure upfront. Ask your cosmetic surgeon about medical financing with companies like Care Credit or Prosper Healthcare Lending. You should also consider a personal loan, credit union loan, or borrowing money from friends and family.
When age begins to catch up with you, a traditional facelift can give you a younger, more attractive appearance. But if you are not ready for surgery or do not qualify, the Silhouette InstaLift may be right for you.
By now you know that the minimally invasive InstaLift is safe and pain-free with instant results that improve over time. The technique may be temporary but can be repeated every two years to keep your face looking younger than your chronological years. While insurance is unlikely to pay for the procedure, medical financing is always available. If this procedure interests you, the first step is to schedule a consultation with Doctor Babak Moein of Moein Surgical Arts.
Moein Surgical Arts is an accredited surgical center located in the heart of Los Angeles, California. Doctor Babak Moein offers a wide range of cosmetic procedures at MSA, including the traditional facelift and the Silhouette InstaLift. Other techniques offered by Doctor Moein include breast augmentation, buttocks augmentation, skin rejuvenation techniques, liposuction, and many more.
During the consultation, Doctor Moein will listen to your concerns about aging before performing a brief medical exam. Once you are determined to be a suitable candidate for either procedure, Doctor Moein will talk to you about the benefits, and risks, and will answer your questions about fees, financing, and medical insurance.
Keep in mind that the InstaLift is a temporary procedure. The surgical facelift is permanent. After enjoying the effects of InstaLift, you may decide that you want a more permanent solution to aging. You can always opt for the facelift after trying the Silhouette non-surgical facelift at Moein Surgical Arts.
If you are tired of looking older than you feel, book your appointment now. Call (310)694-4486 and meet with Doctor Moein to ask about the amazing non-surgical alternative to the facelift, the Silhouette InstaLift.