Facelifts will always have a top place in the anti-aging world because they’re the undisputed champions of great results with no downtime. If you're a candidate for one, you'll no doubt be satisfied with the dramatic results. However, we understand that some patients might not like them. Some patients are concerned about downtime, pain, or complications; and others simply prefer other products or treatments. But now what? If you’re perplexed as to what to try instead, here are our top recommendations for non-surgical procedures that are great alternatives to face lifts.
Ellacor
Starting off the list with the strongest procedure, Ellacor is just a few steps down from a surgical facelift because it’s the only nonsurgical option that removes excess skin. Using Micro-coring technology™ Ellacor literally vacuums out tiny columns of skin (if you want to see how it does this, you can view a quick demonstration here). As you heal, your skin closes the columns of removed skin by pulling them closed. The result is up to 8% of excess skin removed from the treated area. Collagen production is also going to increase during the healing process, helping to smooth and correct laxity. Within 2-3 weeks you’ll start to see lifting, with full results 3-6 months after your final treatment. This treatment is typically done as a series and is currently approved for the mid-lower face.
Thread Lifts
Another strong option is a thread lift, where dissolvable sutures with small cogs on them are placed under the skin and pulled upward to provide a lift. The unique thing about thread lifts is the immediate result. You can see in real time how much lift you can expect (although a slight amount of settling a week after treatment is expected). Thread lifts can be performed anywhere on the face, neck, and body where you need skin tightening and lifting, and results can last up to a year.
Genius RF
We couldn’t mention anti-aging without mentioning one of our most popular treatments. Genius RF uses radiofrequency (heat) and needles to have the combined effect of remodeling and stimulating collagen, and you can treat your full face and neck. Genius RF is usually performed in a series of treatments, and you can combine it with treatments like Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant to enhance results much more.
Lasers
Laser treatments like Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant, CO2, Vbeam, and Forever Young BBL™ are all fantastic options for anyone who wants to either reverse the signs of aging, or prevent them for as long as possible. Lasers like Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant and CO2 help resurface the skin, removing hyperpigmentation and scarring, while smoothing uneven texture and stimulating collagen production. If you’re worried specifically about brown age spots and sun damage, Forever Young BBL™ is the perfect option because it targets brown pigment (unfortunately this means it's only a good option for lighter skin types). If you want to get rid of unwanted redness like spider veins or rosacea, Vbeam is the ideal laser for that. And if you’re a skin type between 4-6, Clear + Brilliant is a safe anti-aging option for you (although you will need a series of them to be effective).
Peels & Aesthetic Treatments
We might be ending the list with options that have the least amount of downtime, but don’t be fooled by this. Medical-grade chemical peels like the ones we offer are advancing and offering results without excessive peeling in the days afterward, and even if you do have some peeling it’s typically not going to last very long. Chemical peels and treatments like microneedling, dermaplaning, and cryofacials can reduce the signs of aging with the least amount of downtime. You can approach treatments like this one of two ways: you can get them once a month to gradually improve your skin’s health and appearance over time, or you can turn to them as a form of maintenance after having stronger treatments done.
Layering For Optimal Results
Most of the time, if you’re looking for anti-aging treatments that won’t involve surgery, you’re probably going to see the best results with either repeat treatments or combining modalities. It’s important to have realistic expectations with nonsurgical procedures, and sometimes this means that multiple treatments (either using the same device or trying different treatments) might be necessary. For example, we commonly recommend Genius RF with Fraxel for maximum benefit, and chemical peels with HydraFacials because they compliment each other so well. It all depends on your skin’s health and what you hope to achieve, and the best way to set realistic expectations is to communicate what you hope for with your provider.