Liquid Facelift

What is it?

A "liquid facelift" is an approach, not a single product: filler is placed at support points that lose volume with age, such as the temples, cheekbones, midface and jawline, with the aim of restoring structure to the overall appearance of the face. The word "lift" in the name does not mean a surgical procedure.

Depending on the area, hyaluronic acid fillers (immediate volume, reversible) and biostimulators such as calcium hydroxylapatite (collagen stimulation over time) may be used together or separately. Which combination is used is decided on the basis of facial analysis.

Its limit needs to be understood from the outset: this approach does not correct advanced excess skin and sagging. In that situation a surgical facelift is assessed; a liquid facelift is not an alternative to surgery but, in the right candidate, a complement to it.

How does it work?

The face is made up of interconnected support points; volume loss in one area creates the appearance of sagging in the neighbouring area. Filler placed at the support points carries the surrounding tissue and restores the contour. The hyaluronic acid part gives its result on the same day; if a biostimulator has been used, the tissue response is added over the following weeks.

1. Facial analysis: which support points the volume loss comes from is determined.
2. Plan: the product class and amount are chosen for each area; treatment is done in a single session or in stages.
3. Treatment: filler is given at the support points with deep placement.
4. Review: once the swelling has subsided the face is assessed as a whole; treatment is completed if needed.

Treatment Areas

• Temples — upper-face support
• Cheekbones and midface — volume
• Nasolabial and marionette lines — indirect improvement
• Chin and jawline — definition of the contour
• Not possible: advanced excess skin — surgical assessment is needed

Procedure Steps

1. Assessment and facial analysis

   Rather than applying a standard protocol to everyone, skin quality, signs of ageing, the treatment area and your expectations are assessed first. The aim is not to do more procedures; it is to apply the right protocol, in the right area, to the right patient. If needed, a three-dimensional measurement is taken with Aura 3D; a patient who is a candidate for surgery is told so.

2. Plan

   Which class of product is used in which area, the total amount and the number of sessions are decided. Proceeding in stages is generally safer than using a large amount of product at once.

3. Treatment

   The area is cleaned with antiseptic and a topical anaesthetic is applied. Filler is given at the support points with deep placement and in controlled amounts. A session takes 30 to 60 minutes.

4. Review

   Once the swelling has subsided the face is assessed as a whole; completion is planned if needed.

Duration and Longevity

The duration varies with the class of product used, the total amount and the person; the hyaluronic acid part is absorbed over time, and the effect of the biostimulator part depends on the collagen response. No precise duration is given in advance. Any repeat treatment and the maintenance plan are decided together at the review.

Who is it suitable for?

• Adults who describe volume loss and a mild to moderate appearance of sagging in the face
• People who do not want surgery and expect a realistic, measured restoration
• People who accept a staged plan and review sessions

Who is it not suitable for?

• Pregnant and breastfeeding people
• People with an active infection, a cold sore (herpes) outbreak or an open wound at the treatment site
• People with a bleeding disorder, and people taking blood thinners without the physician's approval
• People with an uncontrolled autoimmune condition
• Anyone under 18
• People with advanced excess skin and sagging — filler does not correct this picture; surgical assessment is needed
• People expecting the result of surgery
• People who have permanent filler at the treatment site (assessed separately)

Aftercare

• No massage or make-up on the area for the first 24 hours.
• Avoid saunas, steam baths and strenuous exercise in the first days.
• On the day of treatment, stay away from alcohol and any blood thinner your physician has not approved.
• Swelling and bruising subside within a few days; the result is assessed after this period.
• If pain increases, the skin blanches or its colour changes, contact the clinic without waiting.

Possible Side Effects

• Temporary swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site
• Bruising — fades within a few days
• Small palpable irregularity or asymmetry; corrected if needed
• Rarely, infection or a late-onset reaction
• Rare but serious: filler entering a blood vessel. Because hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase in this situation, there is a chance to intervene; an emergency protocol is ready at the clinic.
• Palpable firmness or nodules in areas where a biostimulator was used; that part cannot be reversed with an enzyme

Frequently Asked Questions