Can the Alternative to Surgical Facelift Come from a Needle?

FACELIFT for Today’s Times

Nia D. Banks, MD, PhD

Are you wondering why chemical peels, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and “dermal fillers” are so popular?  Are they right for you?  Our face is our calling card, it’s the first thing people see, it’s our canvas, it’s how we express ourselves.  Wrinkles and fine lines add character and expressivity but sometimes they distract from the image we want to project.  Non-surgical facial rejuvenation requires minimal downtime, is performed in a medical office setting, and is a great way to take care of yourself and welcome Spring.

Wrinkles are caused by repeat folding of the skin.  Over time, these folds become set in your skin.  There are several ways to lessen the appearance of facial wrinkles.  If they are associated with excess skin, a facelift or eyelift may be most appropriate.  These procedures remove excess skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles by pulling the skin taut.  You may never need or want these surgical procedures, although they do provide dramatic differences. 

 To manage wrinkles without surgery, we can use neuromuscular blockade (to temporarily weaken small muscles that pull the skin and cause wrinkles) or fillers (gel particles that add volume and fill in the cracks caused by wrinkles).