Without question, traditional facelifts still hold the mantle as one of the most effective and widely trusted anti-aging procedures within the cosmetic surgery world. But as a surgical procedure, facelifts also come with significant downtime, discomfort, cost, and other potential difficulties that discourage many would-be patients from having one done.
Thankfully, there is now a happy medium between a full facelift and foregoing treatment altogether, and it takes the form of a highly effective and much more discrete treatment: the non-surgical facelift.
This is an umbrella term, as there is more than one approach to non-surgical facelifts. At Still Well Med Spa of Staten Island, NY, we combine two well-reviewed treatment types, SofwaveTM and PDO thread lift, to deliver transformative results with a fraction of the downtime and discomfort.
How Does a Non-Surgical Facelift Work?
Non-surgical facelifts, including the approach our team uses, address many of the same issues targeted by traditional facelifts by firming up the skin, lifting drooping areas, reducing the appearance of fine lines and depressions, and more. But unlike the traditional facelift, which requires surgical incisions and general anesthesia, SofwaveTM and PDO thread lifts require neither.
When combined, these two treatments provide significant and long-lasting results by leveraging your body’s natural healing processes, including collagen production. The result is a natural-looking boost to skin elasticity, hydration, and more. Following is a more detailed breakdown of each treatment.
PDO Threads
This procedure involves the use of dissolvable sutures made from a synthetic and biodegradable polymer (polydioxanone). The sutures, or threads, are inserted just under the skin, supporting its structure while stimulating collagen production, which in turn improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. Usually, a small tube is used to facilitate the insertion of the threads. Depending on your specific case, your provider may gently lift and/or pull on the threads to simulate a facelift effect.
PDO threads can be used both for the face and neck, as well as other areas throughout the body, to firm up loose skin, minimize the appearance of jowling or fine lines, recontour various areas, and more.
SofwaveTM
Carefully targeting the dermal layer at just the right depths to stimulate key healing processes while preserving the surrounding tissues, SofwaveTM marks one of the cosmetic industry’s greatest leaps in ultrasound technology. Unlike standard ultrasound treatments, this innovative platform uses a “synchronous ultrasound parallel beam” to evenly and effectively heat the appropriate layers of skin.
In response to this heating effect, your body increases collagen and elastin production. As the most abundant structural protein in the body (think of it like the skin’s latticework), collagen is the holy grail of anti-aging, as it lifts and plumps drooping skin and fills in fine lines. Best of all, SofwaveTM (along with PDO threads) leverages your body’s own healing processes to produce lasting and impeccably natural-looking results.
Non-Surgical Versus Surgical Facelifts
Each of these categories has its own intended audience; it isn’t a matter of which one is universally better than the other. If you’re wavering between a surgical or nonsurgical facelift, consulting with our friendly and knowledgeable team at Still Well Med Spa of Staten Island, NY, is crucial for deepening your understanding of each option so that you can make a more informed decision. Until then, this comparison of the two options will build a foundation.
- Invasiveness and downtime: The most significant difference between these two approaches is that standard facelifts require surgical incisions, general anesthesia, and more significant downtime, while our non-surgical approach requires no major incisions, can be performed under local anesthesia, and has much less downtime.
- Results: Surgical facelifts generally provide more dramatic and longer-lasting results than nonsurgical facelifts. The nature and duration of results vary on a case-by-case basis, but typically, a surgical facelift can produce results for a decade or longer. Conversely, nonsurgical approaches can last from several months to 1-2 years.
- Cost: Surgical facelifts usually cost two to three times as much as nonsurgical facelift procedures.
If you have any additional questions regarding either treatment and/or the differences between them, our team is happy to help you navigate the decision making process.
How to Know If You’re a Candidate for Non-Surgical Facelift
The best way to determine whether or not you’re a candidate for non-surgical facelift is to consult with a well-credentialed expert like our providers at Still Well Med Spa. In an initial consultation, we will carefully and comprehensively assess your presentation, medical history, expectations of treatment, and other key criteria to determine which approach is best for you.
Generally, non-surgical facelifts are appropriate for people in reasonably good health looking to improve mild-to-moderate aesthetics concerns (fine lines, drooping skin, acne scars, hollowing, etc.). While this procedure accommodates a wide range of patients and skin types, there are certain factors which may affect your eligibility. These include active infections in or near the treatment area, immune complications, and other factors that are best discussed between you and your provider.
Still Well Med Spa of Staten Island, NY Is Your Non-Surgical Facelift Expert
Trusted throughout the Staten Island area and beyond for many years, our team of highly experienced professionals at Still Well Med Spa adheres to industry gold standards of quality and safety with every treatment.
As your expert provider and passionate advocate, we will ensure you stay fully informed and confident in your decision throughout all phases of the consultation, planning, treatment, and aftercare process.
Contact our team to ask about a non-surgical facelift today, and we will work with you to customize the perfect treatment plan.
