What are the pros and cons of a liquid facelift?

The "liquid" part requires :GOOD: No anesthesia. less downtime. relatively quick to perform. quick overall recovery. More natural.BAD: Not long lasting. Cannot lift very saggy faces. Facial surgery is SURGERY: So longer recovery, increased pain, more downtime. Can be more effective, but may lead to "overdone" faces occasionally.Best, Dr. ALDO

Hello,Thank you very much for your question! Pros:-Liquid Facelifts are not permanent, if you don't like something, you can get rid of it, or it will dissolve over time.-No Scars-Minimal Downtime-No Surgery-Minimally InvasiveCons:-Does not last as long-Not enough "Lift and Tighten"- Too Full/ Product Misplacement When making your decision, it is best to consult with a local physician. Discuss what you are hoping to achieve, the time frame, cost. All of these factors should play a role in your decision. Good luck!

A liquid facelift with some combination of Sculptra, Voluma, Juvederm, Restylane, and Botox is a wonderful solution for someone who is experiencing early signs of aging and wants to rejuvenate their face without undergoing surgery. In the right hands, it is a very natural looking rejuvenation that will make you appear more vibrant and refreshed, without looking “done.” It's performed in the office with just local anesthesia. And once the dermal fillers are under your skin, they actually stimulate the skin to rejuvenate itself by producing more collagen. You can add in a laser resurfacing or another skin tightening treatment for extra rejuvenation and to stimulate the production of even more collagen and elastin. There is a little bit of bruising and/or swelling that may last for several days. The downside for a liquid facelift is that it is not permanent. The fillers and Botox (if used) will need to be re-administered to maintain the effects. Also, liquid facelifts will not work well for people who already have significant sagging. Consulting a board-certified dermatologist will help you determine if a liquid facelift is the right choice for you.

THE LIQUID FACELIFT

“LIQUID FACELIFT” is a misnomer.  A facelift is a surgical procedure or proceduresto correct sagging, redundant facial tissue such as jowls,  hanging necks,  brow ptosis, etc.  Attempts to correct these deformities  with fillers, or neurotoxins, or noninvasive “tissue tightening ” technologies are usually disappointing."LIQUID TUNE-UP" would be a more appropriate term for the use of fillers in patients that are not ready for surgical facelift. Some practitioners withoutsurgical expertise are pushing expensive non-surgical options in patients thatreally need surgery to get a respectable result.  !f you are seeking fillers, it would be prudent to see a surgical specialist with expertise in all options, that can give you an honest evaluation.   Wasting thousands on fillers when you need surgery, or having surgery before you need it, can be very disappointing.

Pros:  -Restores facial volume lost from fat atrophy and bony atrophy with little downtime           - Does not involve a surgical incision or scar           - Easily completed in an office under topical/local anesthesiaCons: -Temporary result, regardless of filler material or fat transfer           -Doesn't truly lift the underlying structures of the face           -Doesn't address poor jawline and neck contours

The face ages in three ways: Sags and bags, Lines and Hollows, Tone and Texture. When we are young our face is like an inverted triangle, with the fullest part being from the forehead to the bottom of the nose. As we age, the triangle flips upside down with our upper face being the most narrow. A "liquid facelift" is achieved with injectables like Voluma, Radiesse, and Juvederm plus Botox for smoothing lines in the forehead, around the eyes, lip and chin areas.  The first step to determine if a liquid facelift is right for you is evaluating your face to determine where your facial aging in occurring. Often times patient complain of nasal labia folds (the lines that form from the nose to the mouth area), fallen or sunken cheeks, hollowed under eyes and temples, thin lips and weakened jawlines. The key to a liquid facelift is keeping it natural looking and not getting overfilled, therefore technique and the skills of the injector make a significant difference. We use mostly micro-cannulas for our injections, which minimize bruising and allow for smooth contouring of the face. There is an Abraham Maslow saying, "If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail." In this case it applies to choosing a plastic surgeon to access your facial aging process and determine a course of action. Often times, a patient is not a good candidate for a liquid facelift and needs to consider an alternative procedure such as a non-incisional Radio Frequency facelift or a traditional facelift. While fillers can be a fantastic solution for staving off the aging process, eventually, you will want to know your options for continuing to look natural as well as youthful. 

The "Liquid Facelift", is a grouping of injectable
products that lift, sculpt, smooth and contour the face. Those individuals who have lost facial
volume, consisting of fat, muscle and bone mass in the mid-face have remarkable
and natural looking refreshed appearances after the "Liquid
Facelift". The final results are
dependent upon the products used and the artistry of the injector. Those individuals who have a lax neck and jaw
tissues will benefit minimally from facial fillers. They will require a facelift to lift, smooth
and tighten the hanging skin and muscle and often will eventually require
additional volume replacement with fillers.

When fillers such as Radiesse, Voluma & Juvederm are
combined with Botox, for the upper face, the results are even more
dramatic. Once again, Botox should be
placed in such a manner as to relax the overly active forehead muscles to yield
a natural appearance. Botox will produce
a smoother upper face; however, leaving animation and some motion to the
forehead muscles is optimal.

There are very few complications or cons when Radiesse,
Juvederm, Voluma and Botox are used with an artistic hand and plastic surgeon's
eye.

The advantages of a liquid facelift is that is it quick, relatively painless, performed awake, recovery only a few days, and low complication risks. However, the disadvantages are that the results are temporary (lasts 12-18 months), will require more injections as the filler fades over time, and over the long term will actually be more expensive than the surgical procedure.Hope this information helps, best of luck!- Dr. Roger Tsai

Pros:Less downtime with minimal recovery no anesthesiamore subtle results which many patients preferCons:less effective at reversing gravitational aging of the facedoes not last as long

Thank you for your question. 
A liquid facelift can restore a more youthful appearance at a lesser price than a facelift. 
There is minimal downtime, minimal  discomfort, no incisions or scarring. Longevity depends on products used 
The cons are
Excess skin is not removed, the procedures need to be repeated to maintain results, costs are greater over time to maintain results. 
Please consult a local board certified facial plastic surgeon for more information and a comprehensive consultation