Dr. Mentz has been making news lately with what he calls the Liquid Facelift. Many find the proposition of surgery scary or would just rather stave off surgery for one reason or another. If you are one of these people a liquid facelift may be the answer.
A Liquid Facelift is the technique of using the different injectable pharmaceuticals and devices on the market to achieve a more youthful appearance. Nothing can achieve the same results as a facelift but the proper use of these products in combination can provide many with the youthful appearance they were looking for.
So what exactly is an injectable pharmaceutical or device? The most recognizable name on the market today is BOTOX Cosmetic®. This highly purified protein is skillfully injected into the facial muscles that cause fine lines and wrinkles. The protein reduces those muscles’ mobility, thereby reducing the fine lines. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently reported 3,181,592 BOTOX® treatments were performed last year.
In contrast, 1,593,554 injections of hylaronic acid were performed in 2006. Don’t let the name scare you. Hylaronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found the human body. As you age your skin’s ability to produce hylaronic acid is reduced. Restylane® and Juvederm® are the two leading hularonic acid products on the market. Both are injected into the skin in the area of wrinkles giving new volume to the skin thereby reducing the appearance of the facial lines.
The down side of BOTOX®, Restylane® and Juvederm® is there temporary nature. All last anywhere from two months to nine months. How long they last depends on your unique anatomy and metabolism. Those wishing a more permanent result may decide to go with another filler not classified as a hylaronic acid but rather a synthetic collagen type substance called calcium hydroxylapatite. The FDA has approved this product for use as a dermal filler of certain facial lines. Studies show this product may last anywhere from six months to three years.
The Liquid Facelift is the use of one or all of these products to give a patient a more youthful look. The best results are achieved by those practitioners that have not only been highly trained but who perform these injections daily. Dr. Mentz has hand picked and trained his nurse practitioner, Renée Arriaga, FNP, to perform these injections as well as other services within his clinic at The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery.