Do Face Lift Creams Really Work?

Like everyone (I know!) - want to delay facial surgery as looong as possible. may be a face lift cream will do the trick.

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"Facelift creams" hydrate the skin but don't do much else.

Facelift creams are usually filled with moisturizers and help to "plump" the skin because the tissue is more hydrated. To think of it another way, you could eat 2 bags of potato chips and experience the same amount of tissue swelling and it would "firm" or "tighten" the skin because of swelling. (No, I'm not encouraging people to eat potato chips.) In order to have a real, long lasting effect you need a procedure of some kind. This needs... more

Richard H. Fryer, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Facelift creams

Funny you should ask. I actually did a study (published in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery) demonstrating that two of the more popular creams do not work. We used pre/postoperative photos to measure facial wrinkles, and asked surgeons (who did not know which were before/after) to rate for wrinkles. We also had some patients use placebo (plain moisturizer). No differences were found. In general, we recommend patients cleanse, moisturize, and protect their skin. The product(s) you use... more

Sam Most, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

The best anti-aging cream is sun block

Creams, serums and lotions are not able to do much more than assist with fine lines. They are helpful in maintaining youthful skin however will not transform loose skin... This can only be achieved surgically. Sun exposure causes pre-mature aging and skin cancer. A good sun block with UVA and UVB protection will help limit your sun exposure and using Retinol (Vitamin A) and fruit acids will help to improve existing sun damage. A good moisturizer will keep you hydrated and facials will keep... more

Vivian Hernandez, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Face lift creams don't work

Face lift creams do not work. They do not lift he skin or soft tissues under the skin. They do not augment the soft tissue loss in the face.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Facelift in a cream

Delaying surgery is not necessarily a bad idea but the most expensive thing you can do is buy a facelift cream over and over throughout the years (since it's not going to do anything). Nowadays there are many options like Botox or Fillers that you can do to maintain a youthful appearance. Skin care alone can make a world of difference and in fact will improve your facelift result once you decide to do it. Keep us posted, Doctor Meade

Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Creams can help you avoid plastic surgery

Of course you knew already that no "facelift cream" exists. However creams can do several things. A good aggressive skin care regimen, usually provided through a doctor's office is a great start. Retin A or similar product (tailored to your skin type) is a great adjunct. Regular microdermabrasions in a doctor's office help greatly. All of these, when combined with sun avoidance, sunscreen, avoidance of yo yo weight gain/loss patterns and avoiding smoking can make the skin look... more

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The effect of "face lift creams" is minimal and very temporary

Everyone is always looking for something easy or quick to replace the gold standard of the facelift. Many creams and potions are advertised that claim to have equivalent effects as a facelift. Just think about it for a minute. How could a cream lift the skin? Most of the products contain hydrophilic (water loving) molecules which cause the tissue to swell. When you have swelling of the skin, the fine wrinkles do improve, but this effect only lasts as long as the swelling. This is truly... more

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

There is no substitute for surgery

There are a wide variety of face creams on the market. Skin care is essential for maintaining a youthful appearance and the composition of creams will determine their use and outcomes. But there is no substitute for surgery in rejuvenating loose skin of the neck and face, as surgery is the superior option in restoring a youthful appearance of the face.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

I have a bridge in Brooklyn....

Facelift creams do not work, period. They might moisturize and make your skin tingle and feel a little firmer for a few hours, but they will not lift your face.

Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Do face "lifting" cremes work? No.

A face lift is surgcally placing tissue back where it sould be. It recreates the proper anatomy. Creames simply cannot do this. They can make the skin softer and nicer looking. They do not lift.

Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Creams Are Not Surgery

Unfortunately nothing beats the results of a surgical procedure if that is what you need. For some people, facial creams can improve skin color, texture, and decrease some fine lines and wrinkles. They will never replace a facelift though and if you read the fine print on most commercials or advertisements, it will say that the results are not as great a surgical procedure.

D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Topical creams and face lift

Topical creams application to the face might improve the texture of the skin, but the results will not come even close to any surgical procedure. Creams can not tighten the skin or underlying structures of the face, so in a work, not face creams to create face lift effects do not exist.

Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Creams are for skin texture, surgery is for face lifting

While a good face cream and general skin regimen is a very important aspect in keeping a youthful appearance, a facelift is only going to be successful when performed surgically. A minimal amount of skin tightening may be achievable with some topical treatments, but facelifting requires an actual repositioning and sculpting of the tissue underneath the skin. I'm very encouraging of my patients to get on a routine healthy skin care program and I would recommend the same for you. I... more

Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No, creams do not work

"Facelift" creams do not work. Some creams may give minimal, temporary improvement. It is better to save your money and invest in a properly done Facelift with a qualified Plastic Surgeon.

Malcolm A. Lesavoy, MD

Encino Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Face lifting creams

A few creams might make your face look good for a few days but its not a permanent solution. These creams are tricky and its hard to find one that will work consistently for you. A Facelift is a much more permanent solution.

Kimberly A. Henry, MD

Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

No, facelift creams don't work

Very simply, No. Facial sagging is a complex change that takes its origin in the deep tissue connections. There is no cream that is going to do anything down there. The only cream that is going to make any difference in the long run is sun screen. All others are for today, tomorrow, maybe next week. In the long term, only avoiding UV light and other toxins like cigarette smoke changing your skin long term.

Louis W. Apostolakis, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

No, Facelift creams do not work

Many creams are available that claim to achieve the results of a facelift. Unfortunately, none of them work. Retin A will help to improve fine lines and wrinkles, but will not produce the dramatic effects of a facelift. If it sounds to good to be true, it likely is.

Gregory Pippin, MD

New Orleans Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift creams versus facelift

There are a variety of topical skin preparations that may improve the appearance of your skin and even slow ageing or reduce sun damage. However, if you have loose skin, excess/displaced/deficient fat, and loose muscles of the face, you will require a facelift. While the surgery addresses the underlying structures, the topical treatments address the surface - they work together. So do what you can to stay healthy, don't smoke, use sunscreen, eat right, and take vitamins... more

Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Facelift creams, not worth it

There are a LOT of products that prey on people's desire to look younger. Everyone wants to avoid surgery and the promise of a cream that gives the same results is too good to pass up without a try for most people. I am a big advocate of good skin care. Simply maintaining your skin with a good regimen and drinking plenty of water will keep your facial skin in good shape. However, it won't improve your skin the way a facelift will. No cream will ever give you the results of surgery... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Facelift creams versus surgical facelift

The first step in any facial care program is the utilization of good skincare and learning what works best for your skin.There are lots of very good facial creams on the market, the original one being Retin-A which does have the ability to improve your skin. There are also many additional creams that could work as well or better for you. That being said, no cream will produce a tightening of the skin and overall improvement you'd get with an actual surgical facelift. Fraxel laser does offer... more

Deason Dunagan, MD

Huntsville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Alternatives to facelift

Although there is no "facelift in a bottle" that will give the dramatic results of a facelift, we are currently using Ultherapy as a way to tighten and lift the skin using ultrasound technology. The procedure takes about 30-40 minutes and uses ultrasound waves directed to the SMAS (underlying tissue of your face) to help your face create its own collagen. There is no downtime with this procedure, and early results are promising. As a board certified plastic surgeon with many... more

Steven L. Ringler, MD

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Magic creams

If the creams worked, I would be using one. Just because it costs a lot, it does not mean it will work. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts to quality. Sorry.

Stuart H. Bentkover, MD

Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Creams

Hi, If there was a facelift cream that worked facelift surgeons would be out of business. Their promotion and advertising works more than the actual product. It may give one a temporary emotional boost but that will quickly fade. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift creams do not work

The answer to this question is simple. NO. Facelift creams will not delay or prevent your need for a Facelift. Despite the TV advertisements and celebrity endorsements (for which they get paid very well as I know several of them who have been offered the ad campaigns), the creams and products are simply a waste of your time and money if you are looking to rejuvenate your skin.

Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face Lift Creams do not work

Unfortunately, the answer is no. There is no topical preparation that will emulate the effects of surgical facial rejuvenation. Very often patients will ask me if a product they read about really does all of the miraculous things it claims to do with no side effects or downtime. My answer is always the same..." if these products really worked, don't you think every plastic surgeon in the world would use them for their patients?"