For the treatment of the sagging face
The treatment of the sagging face needs to be viewed from a 3-dimensional perspective. Facial sculpting and volume restoration are as important as, if not more important than, skin tightening. It’s no use tightening skin when the skin eventually has nowhere to drape and ends up still hanging loosely. Similarly, there is no point in tightening skin when the bulges like the jowls continue to weigh down on the face.
Our approach of combining either volume-replacement OR facial-sculpting with skin-tightening achieves optimal outcomes in Non-surgical Facelifts.
Our Approach
About the procedure
A facelift, medically known as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to address signs of aging in the face and neck. The primary goal of a facelift is to tighten and lift sagging facial tissues, including the skin and muscles, to create a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.
During the procedure, excess skin is removed, and underlying tissues may be repositioned to reduce wrinkles and restore a firmer contour to the face. Facelifts can target various areas, such as the jowls, cheeks, and neck.
These days there are non-surgical versions of a facelift with results that are not bad, albeit milder.
Key Considerations
As one ages (past the 30’s), fat compartments begin to atrophy (shrink). Where once the skin was supported, it now has nowhere to drape. Skin hangs loosely as the jowls, the naso-labial folds and the naso-jugal groove. Hence restoring deep supports to the face, by using dermal fillers or fat grafting, should be an important first step before, if not in conjunction, with non-surgical facelifts. This is so that the tightened skin drapes better over the face, in slightly simplified terms.
In fatter faces, the fats tend to drag the cheeks down as one loses elasticity in the skin. Jowls and the double chin feature strongly, and one loses the V-shape youthful face. The treatment objective for such patients may additionally involve removal of the double chin and cheek fats through liposuction. Facetite and Renuvion are slightly invasive procedures that not tightens skin but also removes unwanted fats in the jowls and the double chin.
Options avaialble
Non-surgical facelift treatments refer to cosmetic procedures that aim to improve the appearance of the face without the need for surgery. These treatments are often sought as alternatives to traditional surgical facelifts, which involve incisions, tissue manipulation, and recovery time. Non-surgical facelift options are generally less invasive, with quicker recovery periods. Some common non-surgical facelift treatments are explored below.
The DL lift is a filler injection technique which Dr David Loh described in an industry journal in 2018. It uses high elasticity hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers to selectively re-inflate fat compartments that have begun to atrophy, hence restoring tension within the SMAS. This provides a mild face-lifting type effect. Autologous fat grafting can also be used to substitute HA fillers in the DL Lift.
There are a number of energy devices, including Ultherapy which are non-invasive cosmetic procedures that use ultrasound technology to lift and tighten the skin on the face and neck. Unlike traditional facelift surgery, the energy-based-devices do not involve any incisions or downtime, making it a popular choice for individuals seeking a less invasive option for facial rejuvenation. Expect the results to be mild, but because it involves no-downtime, it can be repeated over the years for cumulative results.
Autologous fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or lipofilling, is a cosmetic procedure that involves harvesting fat from one part of the body and injecting it into another area to enhance volume and improve contours. When applied to the face, we would be using the autologous fat as a natural filler material. As such fat grafting can be used as a natural and long-lasting method for facial rejuvenation, commonly referred to as a “fat transfer facelift.”
Facetite and Renuvion are slightly invasive procedures that tighten skin and the underlying fat compartments internally. Energy from the internal probes causes contraction of the fibrous septae between the fat compartments under the skin. This causes a contraction of the skin and its deeper layers to give a face lifting effect. Imagine a liposuction combined with skin tightening from under the skin. Areas that these treatments are particularly effective include the double chin and the lower face.
Here’s a general guideline on the recovery time for the different procedures. It should be noted, however, that recovery times can vary based on the treatment area and individual health conditions.
| Facelift Treatment | Recovery Period |
|---|---|
| HA Filler | Most of the time there is no recovery time other than a few small puncture holes where the cannula is introduced. Occasionally (10%), there may be small bruises here and there. Especially when the treatment areas are extensive. |
| Autologous Fat Transfer | 1 to 2 weeks of downtime, with swelling and bruising. It may take a few months for final results as the transferred fat settles. |
| Ultherapy | Minimal to no downtime. Some individuals may experience temporary redness or swelling immediately after the procedure, but they can usually resume normal activities immediately. Results develop gradually over several months. |
| Facetite | 1-2 weeks of downtime, with swelling and bruises in the treated areas. The skin tightening and facial sculpting results appear gradually over several months. . |
Our Founder
Dr. David Loh founded David Loh Surgery in 2002, during the early days of Aesthetic Medicine. He obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the National University of Singapore and has over 30 years of clinical experience, with more than 20 years dedicated to aesthetics.
Dr Loh is Accredited by MOH to perform liposuction. He is best known as an international trainer for BTX and Dermal Fillers. He has published extensively on injection techniques and the management of serious complications, with one of his papers awarded a Gold Medal by the PRS Global Journal. His contributions to the field include serving as the immediate past President of the Society of Aesthetic Medicine in Singapore.
Contact Information
Tel: (+65) 6733 9114
WhatsApp: (+65) 8878 8045
Email: info@davidloh.sg
Wechat ID: davidlohsurgery
The Liposuction Hotline
Tel: (+65) 6733 5300
WhatsApp: (+65) 9153 1503