Will a Laser-Lift Result in Facial Wasting Like Thermage Treatments?

High tech is appealing to surgeons and patients.  However, much of the new technology we see in aesthetic surgery doesn't work and may do harm.  If you want a facelift, seek out an experienced and talented surgeon.  If he instills confidence, let him do his job and you will be delighted.

Hi.  The laser-lift is certainly an area in evolution.  Applying energy to the dermis - with some form of energy - can certainly cause some skin contraction, but it can also cause injury and scar formation.  Loss of fat can also occur with higher tissue temperatures.The jury is still out on which laser and which settings are the best.  Be careful.

Although not written about I have heard on a fat transfer panel that Thermage can cause loss of transferred fat even years later. I have not seen scientific literature that your native fat will disappear.Thermage is not a laser. It is designed to cause skin contraction (to a small extent) and not to replace a facelift. Many of my patients have been disappointed in Thermage and we do not offer this technology.

There are a few individuals who claim benefits from the use of Thermage but it appears that a good number of patients are dissatisfied with treatments, In some instances it has even resulted in fat atrophy or necrosis.

The term "Laser Lift" does not ring a bell for us as this is not a term that is commonly used in the industry. If you are talking about Titan, then we would recommend that you skip it as the results have been similar to Thermage.
If you are speaking about some other laser procedure then there are options for helping with skin tone and texture including the following that will not result in "facial wasting":

CO2 Resurfacing
CO2 Fractional Resurfacing
Erbium Resurfacing
Erbium Fractional Resurfacing

Thermage is technique for radiofrequency deep tissue heating, and achieves a completely different result than any laser. The results from Thermage have not been as impressive as originally hoped. The term "laser lift" may refer to skin resurfacing, which can be achieved via CO2 or Erbium laser, delivered in Fractionated or standard delivery modes. It could also refer to laser assisted lipolysis which would refer to fat removal and skin tightening. It could also refer to a marketing "gimmick" : there is no established proof that use of a laser to make incisions and/or other aspects of a Facelift have any benefit over currently available techniques. Lastly, it could refer to use of fractionated laser resurfacing with a Facelift.
A general rule of thumb in cosmetic surgery is beware of catchy brand names that describe procedures.

Laser assisted facelifts are part of the evolution of facelifts from a purely surgical procedure, to one that incorporates laser, chemical peel, and facial volume enhancement procedures. Laser treatments can improve tightening of the skin and also help in the dissection of the dermal layer. In all, laser assisted facelifts will not or should not cause facial fat wasting.

The laser assisted 'weekend' necklift represents the evolution of sophisticated facial plastic surgery techniques.These techniques are uniquely combined to achieve improvement in the contour of the chin and neck with minimal incisions and rapid recovery. Cervicofacial liposculpture is first employed to contour the unfavorable fatty changes seen in the face and neck as time passes by, such as the 'Turkey neck' and 'double chin'.Careful attention is then turned to tightening the neck muscles and eliminating neck bands.
Finally, the laser is used to 'resurface' the underside of the neck skin, thereby 'shrinkwrapping' the skin of the neck restoring a youthful contour. This innovative procedure may be performed at the same time as other rejuvenative procedures such as eyelid surgery, midface lifting, endoscopic browlifting and cosmetic laser skin resurfacing.

Regarding using a laser for actually cutting, while there is not universal agreement, I have been using a laser to divide tissue while doing my Vertical Facelift and have excellent results, fewer complications and the results are lasting. This does require a surgical procedure. The laser seals blood vessels as it divide tissue.
In contrast, patients that do not want a "surgical" procedure have turned to non-invasive technologies (many out there) that try and tighten the skin. These treatments have not provided consistent improvement in terms of the skin tightening that surgical treatments afford patients.
The other use of lasers to tightening the skin refer to when a doctor burns the skin using a laser. It is different than the laser I use for surgical cutting. If a patient has a lot of loose skin, this may not be a good option.

The term "laser lift" is not specific enough to know exactly what you are inquiring about. Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Facial Peels and Aesthetic Energy Based devices featuring laser, light, or radiofrequency, can "contract the skin" or "stimulate collagen " to simulate a lifting procedure. This was first demonstrated with deep chemical peels.
A new procedure we have devloped termed Smartlifting is the first real laser face lift to be performed. Using the laser underneath the skin (instead of on top of skin), we are able to separate the skin from the deeper tissues and then lift it with sutures. Unilike conventional facelifts, which do not contract the skin, Smartlifting also contracts the skins.
These proprietary Smartlifting procedures include SmartFirming (no suture lifting) UltraMiniLift (Tiny Incision and Suture Lifting) and LaserSmartLift (mini lift with laser and suture lift). These are quick recovery facelifts done without general anesthesia
RealSelf.com, as well as others (Elle Magazine), have reviewed the Smartlifting technques we have developed that have been sucessfully used in over 200 procedures. Smartlifting techniques can melt fat (if necessary), but usually the laser is used at low power only to cauterize blood vessel to facilitate the surgery. In Smartlifting techniques, a vertical vector suture lift adds volume to the mid face and submalar areas of the face. Smartlifting also corrects "turkey necks.