Cosmetic Question: What is the lunch-time face lift?
Cosmetic Answer:
The lunch-time face lift describes any office treatment that rejuvenates your face with the idea being that it can be done in the lunch hour and you can go back to work right after. You can definitely get improvement with some “lunch time face lifts” but nothing like the results of a standard surgical face lift, if that is what you need.
The “lunch time face lift” usually means one of these techniques:
- A mini-face lift: This is a surgical procedure done in the office and it is like a standard face lift, but more limited. Local anesthesia is injected into the face. An incision is made in front of the ear, lifting the skin so the deep tissue (SMAS) can be tightened. It takes longer than a lunch hour and you will not be going back to the office, but you can work the next day. That is if you do not mind some swelling and bruising. For women under 40 with early jowls, results are pleasing, healing is fast and it does delay the need for a major face lift.
Do we offer this treatment? Yes we do!
- A filler (or liquid) face-lift: One sign of aging is a thinner face, as our natural fat is absorbed. Face lift surgery tightens tissues but does not add volume to the face. Fillers add the volume. They temporarily plump up your face just like fat. The result is that we look younger. A syringe or two of filler usually takes an hour. Therefore, you can be back to work afterwards, if having some swelling and even a little bruising is acceptable. The amount of filler used for the liquid face lift is very important to understand. Fabulous results used to advertise liquid” lunch time face lifts” is usually the results of $5000 – $10,000 of filler. However, even two syringes can make a significant difference and cost in the range of $1300 – $1800, making this reasonable for many people.
Do we offer this treatment? Yes, we do!
- Threading Face Lifts: This face lift is done in the office and uses a technique that weaves thick, thread-like sutures, under the skin and ties them tight, lifting the face. It is expensive and the results may look great at first but are typically gone in a few months. It is a “new” technique now – just as it was “new” in the late 1990’s. It is rediscovered periodically and discarded because results are poor for the cost.
Do we offer this treatment? Yes, we do. I will do a thread lift if a patient insist on it, but first I like to discuss other options that will give you better results for the money.