7 Age-Defying Non-Surgical Facelift Alternatives That Tighten Your Face (and Your Wallet)
Women are constantly reminded by the media and manipulative marketing campaigns to fear the inevitable: Aging. Everywhere we turn, there is promise in some new product, food, or activity for its anti-aging benefits. And who doesn’t want to look young? Young feels and looks healthy and happy, and the example that female celebrities set forth (I mean, have you seen Christie Brinkley lately?!) motivates us to take better care of our bodies as we age. Nowadays, it seems the 50s are the new 30s, especially with the long list of treatments out there to tighten, lift, and smooth the skin. But for many, a conscious diet and tedious skincare regimen are not enough. Here are 5 popular new age, non-invasive anti-aging facelift alternatives to defy time.
The following facelift alternatives are outpatient, non-surgical procedures that offer the lifted, toned, and tightened effect without going under the knife.
1. LED
Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is a pain-free procedure that uses a variety of different colored lights to target various parts of the face, treating acne, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, acne scarring, and rosacea. It also targets redness and inflammation. A single session generally runs for under $100 and must be repeated some 24 times before significant results are seen.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a similar facial treatment that works well for brown pigmentation, red vessels, and sun damage. The treatment involves a broadband light device that delivers a spectrum of wavelengths. Its effects are seen more readily than that of LED therapy– after about 6 sessions.
2. Botox
Botox has evolved into the token word we use to call out any newly wrinkle-free face we see. Botox is so common in the celebrity world, it’s hard to find one person who doesn’t do it. Botox injections use various forms of botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. Botulinum is produced by the same microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Botox ultimately reduces the appearance of wrinkles and takes about 24-72 hours to take effect.
Botox is priced two different ways: by vial ($12-$15 per one) or by area ($450-$800 per zone).
3. Thermage
Thermage is a radiofrequency cosmetic procedure that helps to smooth and improve skin by tightening existing collagen and stimulating the production of new collagen. It is used to treat fine line and wrinkles as well as dimpled skin and cellulite. It also lifts the brows, cheeks, and jawline.
The average price per Thermage treatment is about $2,500, but it only needs to be done every 2 to 3 years to maintain results.
4. Ultherapy
This non-surgical treatment uses ultrasound to heat targeted tissue under the surface of the skin, which triggers the natural production of collagen. Ultimately, ultherapy counteracts the effects of time and gravity on the skin. Ultherapy can be repeated every 6 to 12 months, as collagen typically takes this long to develop.
The cost of one treatment is around $3,000-$5,000 and people typically require three treatments.
5. Filler
Unlike Botox, which relaxes the muscle under a wrinkle, injectable wrinkle fillers fill the line, crease, or general area with different kinds of substances. Fillers can also be used as “volumizers”, plumping and lifting the cheeks, jawline, and temple. Side effects include redness, swelling, and bump formations under the skin.
The most popular among fillers is hyaluronic acid, which stimulates the body’s own natural production of collagen. Then there are synthetic wrinkle fillers, which have a longer-lasting effect. Collagen wrinkle fillers are made from a purified form of collagen, often extracted from cows. Collagen wrinkle fillers don’t last very long – often just one month – and can cause an allergic reaction.
Injectable fillers cost about $500-$800 per syringe and last 12-16 months.
6. Laser Skin Resurfacing
It seems like lasers can do just about anything these days. Laser skin resurfacing works to give you clearer, younger-looking facial skin by removing skin, layer by layer, with precision. This means you can rid your facial skin of blotches, scars, wrinkles, or acne scars. A full-face treatment takes up to 2 hours. After about 5-7 days, your skin will begin to dry and peel, and it will take another 5-10 days for the skin to fully heal. The risks include burns, scarring, changes in skin pigmentation, reactivating herpes cold sores, and bacterial infection.
The average cost for laser skin resurfacing is about $2,500.
7. Threadlift
Threadlifts are the new “it” non-surgical facelift option. The facelift procedure can be performed under 2 hours and involves a cosmetic surgeon inserting thin threads into the face through tiny incisions made in the targeted area. The threads attach to the skin tissue and then are pulled back to lift and smooth the face. The ends of the threads are hidden and the results of the lift are seen immediately. The effects last about 18 months, at which point the threads biodegrade and are absorbed by the body.
A threadlifts costs about $2,500.
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Beauty Woman Botox Injection Image from Shutterstock
