A secret that’s not so secret anymore – face lifting procedures. In the land of highly modern amenities and futuristic architecture, face lifting procedures no longer leave people wrapped up in bandages like you see on TV shows and movies. In fact, you don’t even have to go under the knife to get a full facelift anymore!
What is a Facelift?
While we all aim to age gracefully, sometimes we just want to feel better about the way we look, and that can include undergoing a facelift to boost our confidence. As we age, our skin tends to sag and sink, due to many reasons such as gravity and muscle weakness, loss of collagen, loss of volume etc. As the name suggests, facelifts lift up the face, giving you a more youthful appearance. A facelift is actually a very common procedure that addresses the typical signs of ageing, like sagging and loose skin, deep lines or wrinkles, and fallen facial fat. Facelifts are also very individualised procedures, and they depend on the patient and their desired outcomes.
There are actually two kinds of facelift procedures, namely surgical facelifts and non-surgical facelifts. Surgical facelifts include mini facelifts and full facelifts. On the other hand, there are various types of non-surgical facelifts, including thread lifts, laser skin resurfacing procedures, microneedling with radiofrequency, Ultherapy, HIFU, Thermage, dermal filler, Botox, and skin collagen boosters.
Surgical Facelifts in Singapore
Also known as a rhytidectomy, surgical facelifts is a type of cosmetic surgery that involves a surgeon creating incisions in the facial and neck area. Depending on the patient’s facial anatomy, the facelift procedure may target the upper, middle, lower face, or neck regions, or perhaps even a combination of the regions.
Different Types of Surgical Facelifts
There are 2 main types of surgical facelifts; mini facelifts and full facelifts.
Mini Facelifts
Also known as a short-scar facelift, a mini facelift is a less invasive procedure compared to full facelifts, and it primarily aims to lift sagging skin in the lower part of the face. This procedure involves having a smaller s-shaped incision around the ear area, which improves the appearance of the cheeks and jowls. As the incisions are smaller than those of full facelifts, the scars will also be considerably shorter than full facelift scars.
Full Facelifts
Also known as standard facelifts, a full facelift can lift up drooping brows, reduce deep lines around the nose and mouth, also known as smile lines, as well as remove the excess skin around the jowls and jaw area. Full facelifts are generally best to treat moderate to severe cases of sagging.
What are the Side Effects of a Surgical Facelift?
As with any other medical procedure, there are several risks and side effects that you should be aware of before going under the knife. Although surgical facelifts are considered a generally safe procedure in Singapore, it’s best to be aware of the complications that may arise so you can make an informed decision.Some side effects of a surgical facelift are:
- Hair loss around the incision site
- Skin loss
- Fever
- Hematoma
- Pain, reddening, and swelling of the area
- Bruising
- Nerve injury
- Infection
- Scarring
How Long Will Your Surgical Facelift Results Last?
The results of a surgical facelift will depend on the individual as every face is different. As the ageing process still continues after the treatment, the results of any facelift procedure will fade over time.
The result of a mini facelift may last anywhere between 2 to 6 years, whereas full facelifts can potentially last 8 to 12 years.
Non-Surgical Facelifts in Singapore
If you don’t want to go under the knife, there are also non-surgical facelift options available in Singapore. Thanks to modern technology, there are now a myriad of options available for those looking to reverse signs of ageing without having to undergo surgery.
Non-surgical or non-invasive facelift procedures in Singapore are done much more quickly than surgical facelifts, have minimal to no downtime, and yield comparable results.
Different Types of Non-Surgical Facelifts
Depending on the individual’s concerns, facial anatomy, and desired outcomes, there are many facelifts without surgery options available in Singapore. The main advantage of non-surgical facelifts is that these procedures do not leave any scars.The types of non-invasive facelift treatments include:
- Thread Lift
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Microneedling with
Radiofrequency
- Ultherapy
- HIFU
- Thermage
- Filler
- Botox
- Light-Emitting Diode (LED Therapy)
When the pores are clogged, pressure is put onto the walls of the pores. When there is enough pressure on the walls of your pores, the walls break. The contents of the pustules can spread into your skin, which can make the acne appear worse. The immune system then reacts by sending white blood cells, which cause redness, swelling, pus, and painfulness associated with pimples.There are 4 different types of inflammatory acne, which are papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. These types of acne typically appear on the face, back, chest, and shoulders.
Thread Lift
A minimally invasive procedure, thread lifts are best for patients who are unable to undergo surgical procedures as the results are comparable to the results of surgical facelifts. Also known as a feather facelift, the threads are made of biodegradable polymers, and are inserted into your skin and will dissolve 6 to 9 months after the procedure. The pain level for thread lifts is generally rated mild to moderate.
HIFU
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy is a non-invasive skin procedure which uses ultrasound energy to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin deep in the dermis. Results will last for 1-2 years.
Botox
One of the most common types of facelift in Singapore, this facial treatment utilises various forms of botulinum toxin in the skin to temporarily paralyse the muscle activity. This minimally invasive treatment can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, results may only show after 1 to 3 days.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Apart from reducing fat and treating pigmentation issues, laser skin resurfacing treatments can also act as facelift procedures. This procedure helps to remove scars, wrinkles, age spots, as well as layers of skin to reveal younger skin underneath.
Microneedling with Radiofrequency
Microneedling is an effective way of tightening the skin, and it can be combined with radiofrequency to produce even better results. Radiofrequency energy is delivered deep into the skin with the help of the insulated needles, which stimulate the production of elastin and collagen. This improves the skin texture, reduces the depth of scars, tightens scar tissues, lifts the skin, in addition to reducing wrinkles and sagging skin.
Ultherapy
Ultherapy delivers ultrasound energy into the skin, and stimulates the production of your body’s own collagen and elastin. This treatment produces natural-looking results without any surgery or downtime, and is suitable for patients with mild to moderate signs of ageing.
Thermage
Thermage is best for those looking to improve the sagging of brows, cheeks, and jawline, as well as reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It’s a radiofrequency treatment that smooths and improves the appearance of the skin by tightening the existing collagen and encourages new collagen production.
Filler
A trendy facial treatment, facial filler is a procedure done on areas that have lines and loss of volume. The filler is injected in these areas to “fill” the area, making them appear smoother. Filler also serves as a volumizer to plump up and lift the cheeks and jawline, giving a more plump and youthful appearance.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED Therapy)
A diverse facial treatment that can be used to treat acne, acne scars, and pigmentation issues, LED therapy is a pain-free treatment that can also target wrinkles for a more youthful appearance.
What are the Side Effects of a Non-Surgical Facelift?
Although non-surgical facelifts do not require any local anaesthetic or surgical incisions, there are still some side effects that you should be aware of. Side effects of a non-surgical facelift include:
- Bleeding
- Blisters
- Bruises
- Dry or peeling skin
- Infection
- Itchy skin (pruritis)
- Lumps or asymmetry in your face
- Skin burns
- Skin redness
- Swelling
In rare cases, botulinum toxin injections and dermal fillers may also result in:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin rash
Benefits of a Non-Surgical Facelift
Not only do non-surgical facelifts not leave any surgical scars, a huge advantage of non-surgical facelifts is that they require minimal to no downtime. Other than that, some treatments are painless as they only require local anaesthetic creams to relieve the pain and cool the skin during the treatment. In addition to that, facelifts may also result in:
- Improved scar appearance
- Firmer facial contours
- Reduced appearance of lines and wrinkles
- Improved skin elasticity
- Increased lymphatic drainage
- Reduced puffiness around the eyes
- Improved moisture retention
Here shows SIDE EFFECTS of non-surgical facelifts and BENEFITS of surgical face lifting which draws the attention of the reader to surgical face lifting. Earlier in this blog I saw the side effects of surgical face lifting. Do you think the benefits and side effects of both surgical and non-surgical face lift should be organised?
How Long Will Your Non-Surgical Facelift Results Last?
The results of various non-surgical facelift treatments in Singapore can last between a few months to several years. In addition to that, maintenance treatments may also be required. Facial fillers can last longer if the affected area has less motion.
Who Are Suitable Candidates for Facelifts?
Generally, suitable candidates for facelifts in Singapore are those who are physically healthy, don’t have a medical condition that affects the body’s healing ability, and are non-smokers.
Apart from that, ideal candidates are those who have good skin elasticity and healthy bone structure. This is because facelift procedures stretch the facial skin to improve its appearance in order to remove wrinkles. Suitable candidates are also those who have loose skin in the lower portion of their face as the skin can be trimmed and tightened.
How Much does a Facelift Cost in Singapore?
Dermatologists rank acne by severity:
- Mini Facelift: Starting from $10,000
- Standard facelift: Starting from $40,000
- Laser Skin Resurfacing: $300 to $4,500
- Threadlift: $1,000 to $7,000
- Micro-needling with Radiofrequency: About $1,500 to $4,500
- HIFU: For small areas, the price is between $640 and $2,000. Meanwhile, the price is about $2,000 to $6,000 for full-face treatment
- Ultherapy: For small areas, the price is between $640 and $2,000. Meanwhile, the price is about $2,000 to $6,000 for full-face treatment
- Thermage: $2,800 to $7,000
- Filler: From $700 to $1000 per syringe
- Botox: Either $12 to $15 per unit or $450 to $800 per treatment zone
- Light-emitting diode (LED) Therapy: $100 per session
