Laser Assisted Facelift and Neck Lift

With laser-assisted facelifts and neck lifts, the main goal is to deliver just enough energy to melt fat. All lasers are a form of energy and the procedure delivers it underneath the skin. Some of that energy is temperature-oriented because going above 42-degrees Celsius stimulates new collagen that tightens the skin. The laser also creates enough heat that it kills and melts the fat cells permanently. It not only tightens the skin but it also rebuilds and rejuvenates it. One of the reasons people have loose jowls is because they have lost collagen in their skin so it becomes thinner and lax. Collagen generally drops when people get in their 40s and goes into their 60s. Laser facelifts and neck lifts deliver energy underneath the skin by making tiny holes in the skin and inserting the laser underneath which in turn makes it tighter.

IDEAL PATIENTS

An ideal candidate for this procedure has good skin quality and there is only a little bit of skin laxity and minimal banding on the jowls and neck. For this patient, surgery would involve incisions and downtime for only a small amount of improvement.

A laser-assisted approach is also a good idea for older patients. A 60-year-old can be a good candidate for a laser procedure if they still have really good skin quality. Tightening the skin on a patient who has good skin quality will create an improvement in the neck and face.

One way to determine if you are a good candidate is if you can grab the skin and pull it up into the face and pinch more than 3-cm of skin. A laser lift is not going to improve the face and neck dramatically because that is too much skin to tighten. If there is more than an inch full of skin that the doctor can squeeze and pull away from the face, then even stimulating collagen will not be enough to remove and tighten all of that skin. A patient that has really lax skin is better off undergoing a regular facelift.

ADVANTAGES

One big advantage is the fact that different laser frequencies can be combined together allowing for deeper layers of the skin to be treated. Doctors stimulate collagen growth by using special frequency laser on the surface like the CO2 laser or even a peel. By stimulating collagen from the top and from the bottom and combining the two procedures, patients can expect to see very drastic results which could prevent them from requiring a full facelift, which is a much more extensive surgical procedure with a longer downtime in comparison.

Another advantage with laser assisted facelift or necklift over alternative treatments like Botox is that the results are noticeably longer lasting. Botox needs to be done every three to six months and will not stimulate collagen. With a laser lift, a patient can not only expect skin tightening effects due to an increased collagen production but they will also enjoy three to five years of steady improvement.

POST FACELIFT

Even after patients have a full facelift, laser is another option if they still have a little bit of laxity. Patients who do not want to undergo a full facelift procedure again can have the skin that still needs to be tightened done with a laser procedure.

LIMITATIONS

Laser is not a permanent solution and does not give the same results as a traditional facelift because the doctor is not tightening the muscle. This might hold a patient for a few years until he or she is ready to have a traditional facelift.

Laser assisted facelifts and neck lifts are not a good option for patients who are scared of doing anything under local anesthesia. Also, if they are scared of any procedure where they hear a lot of noise and would rather be completely out, this procedure is not for them. This is really for people who want to come in, have the procedure in one or two hours and go home that same day without any effects from the anesthesia.

RISKS

Some of the laser energy wavelengths are damaging to the eye so doctors have to protect the eye when the patient is in the room by wearing goggles.

Another risk is that some numbness can occur because the nerves that are right under the skin can be affected by the heat. Most of that sensation comes back but it can linger. The nerve for the motion of the lips that allows us to smile comes up right over the jawline. The heat from the lasers can sometimes injure that nerve. It can make the facial nerve weak and give the patient a weak smile. This is only temporary and it always comes back.

RESULTS

The results of a laser assisted facelift and neck lift can last between three to five years. The patient can repeat the procedure every three to five years if needed.

There is not a long downtime associated with laser lift. For example, if a patient gets laser lift done on a Friday, they can be expected to be back at work on Monday while a regular facelift involves up to two weeks of downtime. It is a simpler recovery with faster healing. Patients need to give it a full six months before evaluating the results.

The procedure can leave tiny holes that the doctor does not suture. The holes close up easily and, even though there is a tiny scar, it is usually very hard to notice.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Laser assisted facelift and neck lift is a good option for patients looking for an in-office procedure that is almost painless with minimal downtime and scarring. Anyone interested in having the procedure should consult with an experienced, board-certified surgeon and see if they qualify for the procedure. 

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team- MA

Based on an exclusive interview with Kristina Tansavatdi in Westlake Village, California