Liquid Facelift and Cosmetic Surgery for Hawaii

Dermal fillers and rejuvenation treatments such as botulinum toxin offer a non-surgical option to bring back a youthful fullness to your face.  Facial fillers and injectables can be used to diminish lines and wrinkles, plump lips, eliminate furrows between brows, enhance shallow contours, decrease marionette lines, augment a weak chin, add volume to the cheek area, reduce nasal labial folds, and improve the appearance of recessed scars.  Hawaii patients of my practice can undergo a complete facial rejuvenation with a minimally invasive liquid facelift and no surgical down time.

Dr. Schlesinger in Hawaii, is a Board Certified plastic surgeon and a member of the Liquid Facelift Association of America.  There are numerous fillers and injectables currently available and they work in different ways, some adding volume, some reducing creases and lines, and others paralyzing the muscles.  With his expertise, Dr. Schlesinger can assess your needs and recommend one or a combination of treatments to achieve your desired results.

Botox®

Botox remains the most popular facial injectable in the United States, with 5,670,788 million Botox treatments performed in 2011. It is the purified form of the protein found in Clostridium Botulinum bacterium. When injected into frown lines, crow’s feet or the forehead, Botox can reduce the underlying muscle movement that causes facial lines and wrinkles. The result is silky smooth skin that appears years younger. Repeat injections are needed every three to four months to maintain the desired results of Botox.

Dysport®

Dysport and Botox have very similar profiles in that both products are made from Clostridium botulinum toxin type A and both paralyze muscles.  Although very similar, there are some slight differences.  It appears that Dysport has an earlier onset in that patients see results after only one day.  Some European studies have maintained that Dysport is longer lasting, but there have been no completed studies in the United States to substantiate this.  Dysport diffuses more than Botox, and therefore is ideal in the forehead area.  Like Botox, repeat injections are needed every three to five months to maintain the desired effect.

Restylane®

As one of the most closely studied injectable skin treatments available, Restylane is deemed to be among the safest and most effective solutions for loss of skin elasticity (the source of sagging skin). Because lost elasticity is caused by a decrease in the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin, Restylane is made from hyaluronic acid and is designed to replace what you have lost. This substance acts to draw water to itself, increasing your skin’s volume and fullness while filling in the folds and wrinkles in the skin. Repeat injections should be obtained every six months, although studies have shown that additional treatments during that time can extend the length of time that your skin will retain results. Alternatively, combining Restylane with Perlane treatments for your liquid facelift and obtaining repeat injections at four and nine months may help extend results up to18 months.

Perlane®

With a chemical composition that is similar to Restylane, Perlane is an excellent way to fill deep wrinkles and sunken cheeks, and to shape the lips, cheeks, and chin. It is stronger than Restylane, generates thicker skin tissue and has been known to last longer as well. Restylane is more appropriate for fine, delicate sculpting, while Perlane is preferable for deeper facial wrinkles, particularly those around the nose and mouth. As stated, the two can be combined when appropriate for optimized results. Repeat injections should be obtained every 10 months, unless you have received a follow up treatment four to nine months after your first injection. In those cases, the beautiful results may last up to 18 months.

Radiesse®

For those with recessed cheekbones and bags under the eyes, Radiesse is one of the most highly recommended components of liquid facelift. Hawaii patients of my practice receive Radiesse  when wrinkling and folds in the skin are caused by the natural breakdown of collagen. The injections replace lost collagen in the face and stimulate the natural production of collagen in facial tissues, which increases your skin’s volume and fullness over time. In addition to its wrinkle filling properties, Radiesse can be used as a cheekbone augmentation treatment or as a complement to chin augmentation. If desired, these augmentations can be components of your treatment.

Prevelle Silk®

Silk filler is used for fine lines and creases.  It is especially excellent for the wrinkles in your upper lip because it does not show lumping.  It is also less expensive than the other fillers.  It does not last as long, but for those little wrinkles, it is perfect.

Sculptra®

Unlike other liquid facelift treatments listed here, Sculptra is ideal for patients who have experienced facial fat loss. The condition, known as lipoatrophy, can be the result of aging or disease; the polylactic acid in Sculptra stimulates the production of new collagen to reverse the effects of lipoatrophy and restore a healthy, youthful facial appearance. Sculptra was originally FDA approved for the treatment of lipoatrophy in HIV positive patients, but is now approved for safe, effective cosmetic use as well. For those who opt for traditional facelift surgery, Sculptra is also an excellent complement; however, it is just as effectively used as a treatment for our Hawaii liquid facelift patients. Injections are obtained in a series of three treatments over a period of three to six months, and results may last up to two years.

Schedule a Liquid Facelift Consultation!

As an experienced Hawaii liquid facelift surgeon who has administered all of the treatments listed here countless times, I am well-versed in the best combinations of these FDA-approved injectables. Most patients are unsure which treatments may be right for their specific skin profile; I invite you to schedule a consultation with me to discuss the liquid facelift combination that is right for you!

Traditional Facelift: A Surgical Alternative

Of course, undergoing a surgical facelift (rhytidectomy) is still an option. This surgical procedure, which involves general anesthesia, is designed to create a more youthful appearance by removing excess facial fat and redraping the skin. Unlike many surgeons, I help patients achieve natural-looking results by a deep layered supra SMAS facelift.

If you are inclined to opt for traditional facelift surgery or you are unsure whether you are ready for that step, I invite you to discuss both options with me during a consultation appointment. I am an experienced Hawaii facelift surgeon who can explain the pros and cons of both options with you during that appointment.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Schlesinger at Oahu Plastic Surgery Center today! He can help you weigh the options between traditional facelift surgery liquid facelift at his Honolulu or Kona office.