Do Face Lift Creams Really Work? Doctor Answers, Tips

+2

"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

+2

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

+2

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

+2

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

+2

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

+2

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

+2

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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

+1

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?"

Guy Cappuccino, MD
Mount Airy Plastic Surgeon

+1

Face lift creams

Face lift creams work as good as snake oils do. It is a multi-bilion dollar indusrtry, and no regulations. Late night advertising face lift creams are worthless. If they work don't you think I will be using them? There are skin care products that can treat pigmentation problems, make your skin glow and get rid of blemishes, but there is nothing that replaces a surgical face lift when you need it.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

+1

No such thing as a facelift cream

A facelift in a bottle would only be true if the bottle was Alladin's lamp and contained a genie. Good skin care can help maintain looks but a facelift isn't just about smooth and healthy-looking skin. The facial aging process is 3-dimensional and so facelifts involve reshaping more than pulling. I would recommend professional skin care from a medical practice however, since there are products such as tretinoin that can be very effective anti-aging treatments for skin.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

+1

No

Aesthetic aging of the face is multifactorial. Depending on the specifics, the treatment must be tailored to the anatomic problems and the expectations of the patients. Youth creams are mild acids that irritate the skin and plump out modest wrinkles. They don't lift anything. Beware of shortcuts.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

+1

No they do not

Unfortunately many of these creams make outlandish claims and are rather pricey for what they offer. They represent the "too good to be true," and "results in a minute" claims that have existed since the days of snake oil salesman. Unfortunately their is no regulatory body which monitors such claims so it remains up to the consumer to exercise judgment.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

+1

Minimal Help

By the time you need a face lift, it is too late for a cream. It is far more important to install a good skin care regimen in your twenties and stick to it. With this method, the skin itself does not need to be corrected, but the sagging due to gravity, bone resorption, deeper lines from expression ( which will be minimized with periodic Botox) would need to be addressed. Hopefully, some of the ultrasonic, radioi-frequency, etc. devices will be perfected and obviate face lifts entirely,... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

+1

Creams for a facelift

Of course no creams will lift your face to the point where it would hold off surgery. Maybe some Botox and fillers could do that, but certainly not a cream!

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

+1

Do face lift creams really work?

No. They do not. Lifting creams work the same exact way as "vanishing" creams do - they magically lift and vanish with your money. Peter A Aldea, MD, FACSwww.TheBeautyDoctors.com

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

+1

Facelift Creams vs Surgery

There is nothing wrong with delaying facial surgery. Remember , some advocate having lesser surgery at a younger age rather than waiting until the aging process is more severe. Creams may improve skin quality, but will do absolutely nothing to delay your decision to have facelift surgery.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

+1

Can a cream replace a face lift?

The short answer is no. "Creams" and various skin care products do not replace a good face lift. As you can imagine, skin care products are applied to the surface of the skin and can improve the texture and quality of skin. Products such as Retin-A and the Glycolic acids can indeed improve the skin and collagen in the skin. Retin-A is a prescription and the higher concentration Glycolic acids are sold in physicians' offices. Some cosmetics claim that they contain Glycolic acids... more

James H. Schmidt, MD
Sarasota Plastic Surgeon

+1

No Lift in A Bottle

There are creams on the market which claim to achieve results similar to a facelift. This is obviously a flawed statement by these manufacturers both in theory and in fact. Buyer beware with cosmecuticals as the ingredients and claims of these manufacturers are not regulated by the FDA. Facelift creams can be extremely expensive and can not tighten a jawline, soften nasolabial folds, lift a neck, remove platysmal bands and actually reverse signs of aging. If you added up the cost of what... more

Anil R. Shah, MD
Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

+1

Facelift Creams, Unless Bought in a Physician's Office, Usually Do Very Little

Most facelift creams on the market are basically fancy moisturizers. Some of them contain caffeine or other mild products to give the sensation that the skin is tighter. Unless the product is purchased in a physician's office, however, it is likely not medically active or effective. The FDA will not allow medical products to be sold over the counter or by mail. Make sure you have realistic expectations, since no cream can do what surgery can. For more information, visit my website at www... more

Anthony Youn, MD
Detroit Plastic Surgeon

Get Free Email Updates

Do Face Lift Creams Really Work?