Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and surrounding areas
As a person ages, the face begins to lose collagen and elastin, and this can lead to sagging facial features. The loss of facial volume (fat and bone) and elasticity can also result in the formation of wrinkles, lines and folds.
A liquid facelift is a technique that addresses these issues. At AM Facial Plastics, we customize different combinations of injectable treatments to lift, shape, and smooth the areas where you would most like to see changes. From the brows to the jawline, these products can offer results with very little downtime. We offer services in L.A. and Beverly Hills, and we also take consultations in Santa Barbara.
What Is a Liquid Facelift?
A liquid facelift is a process of injecting advanced dermal fillers (brands such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, Sculptra® and Radiesse®) to lift and contour facial features. Sometimes these fillers are used in conjunction with Botox® or Dysport® to eliminate motion-related lines or fractional lasers to tighten the skin and improve color and texture.
What Can a Liquid Facelift Do?
A liquid facelift can accomplish any of the following:
- provide a gentle lift of individual or overall facial features
- reduce wrinkles, creases, lines or folds
- mask bags or dark circles under the eyes
- lift and diminish jowls
- restore natural, curved facial contours
- provide a more rested, energetic look to the face — and even a friendlier smile.
Most of the commercial fillers consist of natural substances produced by the body. Generally speaking, they replace lost volume in the face or help the body regenerate its own collagen. A liquid facelift typically lasts from one to two years, depending on the products used and the facial area treated.
The Benefits of a Liquid Facelift
Immediate Results
You do not need to wait weeks to notice a change after a liquid facelift. The effects of dermal fillers can be seen right away, adding volume and softening lines almost instantly. When combined with a neuromodulator, subtle lifting and smoothing continue to develop in the days that follow.
Little to No Downtime
A liquid facelift fits into a busy schedule because it requires little recovery. Most patients are able to return to work, social events or daily routines the same day. Mild swelling or redness can occur, but it generally resolves quickly without disrupting your lifestyle.
Minimally Invasive
A liquid facelift uses fine needles or cannulas to deliver fillers and other agents beneath the surface of the skin. There are no incisions, sutures or general anesthesia, though we can use topical products to make you more comfortable. It is appealing for patients who want to rejuvenate their appearance without surgery.
Natural-Looking Results
The goal is never to make you look drastically different but to restore youthful balance and soften signs of aging. Strategic placement of fillers enhances facial contours in a way that fits into your natural look. Your friends and family may notice that you look great, but likely won’t be able to tell that you have had a cosmetic treatment.
Customizable Treatment
Every face has unique characteristics, so each liquid facelift is customized to suit your situation. We can target specific areas such as hollow cheeks, under-eye shadows or jawline definition, adjusting the type and amount of product to match your goals. The flexibility of this treatment allows for adjustments and gives you complete control over how your results evolve.
Liquid Facelift Treatment Areas
- Brows: A youthful brow sits slightly arched and lifted, but with age, the brows can flatten or descend and cast a heavier shadow over the eyes. A liquid facelift for brows can add subtle lift by relaxing the muscles that pull downward and by supporting the surrounding tissues with carefully placed fillers.
- Cheeks: Full, rounded cheeks are often associated with vitality, but fat loss and reduced collagen can leave this area looking hollow or sagging. Precision placement of fillers creates lift in a way that can reframe the entire face and restore balance between the upper and lower features.
- Jowls: The jawline gradually softens as skin laxity and fat redistribution occur with age. Once the angle between the jaw and neck blurs, the face can appear older and less defined. A liquid facelift for jowls addresses these changes by reintroducing firmness and support where tissue has shifted.
- Nasolabial Folds: The folds that extend from the nose to the corners of the mouth become more prominent as facial volume diminishes and skin elasticity decreases. Instead of using a heavy hand, we delicately layer fillers to soften the transition between the cheek and mouth while also allowing you to have full motion in these areas.
- Forehead: Repeated expressions, gravity and collagen changes contribute to lines and heaviness across the forehead. Injections here can both smooth horizontal creases. Careful treatment can also improve harmony between the forehead and brows and make the upper face look more alert.
- Lips: Aging affects the lips through volume loss, fine lines around the border and changes in proportion between the upper and lower lip. Restoring structure and hydration can revive lip shape, helping them look soft and natural rather than overfilled.
- Crow’s Feet: Fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes are among the first visible signs of aging. These lines often deepen with repeated squinting and smiling. A combination of muscle relaxation and skin support smooths this region without freezing movement, preserving the warmth and personality of your smile.
Products Commonly Used in Our Liquid Facelift Treatments
JUVÉDERM®
JUVÉDERM products are known for their smooth consistency that blends well with your facial tissues. A wide variety of products restore volume while maintaining flexibility, so the treated areas move naturally when you smile or speak. The formulation is particularly helpful for softening facial lines and enhancing contours and is a good choice for facial rejuvenation.
Restylane®
This family of fillers has a slightly firmer texture compared to other fillers, which makes it effective for shaping and definition in areas like the cheeks or jawline. Restylane products draw moisture into the skin, improving hydration along with volume. These products offer subtle but noticeable changes that last.
Sculptra®
This injectable works differently from hyaluronic acid fillers. Instead of producing immediate volume, Sculptra stimulates collagen production and gradually strengthens the skin’s foundation. The result is a more resilient and youthful structure with refinement that feels authentic.
Radiesse®
Radiesse contains calcium-based microspheres suspended in a gel, which not only add volume right away but also encourage collagen formation. Its ability to provide both instant lift and long-term support makes it stand out among filler choices. When used as part of a liquid facelift treatment, it contributes to firmer, more defined features with results that can continue to improve with time.
Botox®
Botox addresses dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement, such as frown lines or forehead creases. It relaxes specific muscles so the skin above them looks smoother. It gives you a softer, more relaxed expression that still allows natural movement in untreated areas.
Dysport®
This neuromodulator has a slightly different formulation than Botox, allowing it to diffuse more broadly in the treatment zone. It is particularly well-suited for larger areas and is FDA-approved for treating frown lines.
A Liquid Facelift vs. Surgical Facelift
A surgical facelift repositions skin and underlying tissues to create more dramatic and longer-lasting changes. The surgical option involves a longer recovery period and carries the risks associated with anesthesia, while the injectable approach allows you to return to normal activities quickly. A liquid facelift cannot replicate the extensive lifting that surgery achieves, but it can provide noticeable improvements in contour, balance, and freshness. The choice between the two will depend on your overall health, the type of results you want and how much downtime you are willing to have.
Preparing for Your Liquid Facelift
Getting ready for your appointment is simple, but there are a few steps that can make the experience smoother. We may suggest pausing certain supplements or medications that increase the chance of bruising, such as aspirin or fish oil, and it helps to let us know about any prescriptions you take regularly.
Some patients like to start using an oral arnica product a couple of days before their visit to reduce the chance of swelling and bruising. Staying hydrated and arriving with clean skin free of makeup or heavy creams will make your treatment fast and easy. We go over all of this with you in advance so you feel comfortable and know exactly what to expect when you walk through the door.
Understanding the Procedure
Facial fillers are injected with a tiny needle or blunt cannula into the areas of concern. Filler injections can be placed on the bone to restore volume or in the dermis to directly fill wrinkles. The technique and depth of placement are carefully chosen for each area since each requires a different approach to look natural. Dr. Moradzadeh uses top-of-the-line fillers that have local anesthetic integrated into them.
Anesthetic cream can be used to minimize discomfort and is very helpful around the mouth and lips. The entire procedure takes 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the specific treatment plan.
What To Expect Afterwards
Since this is a nonsurgical procedure, there is little or no recovery time. Most patients can return to work or their normal daily activities immediately after the treatment. The side effects are minimal as well. Patients may experience some localized pain, bruising, redness or swelling around the injection site for a few days after the procedure.
Recovery Tips for the Best Results
- Use ice in short intervals. Cooling the treated areas for a few minutes at a time can help minimize swelling and redness without interfering with the filler.
- Keep makeup and skincare products off the treated zones for the rest of the day. Allowing the skin to stay clean reduces the chance of irritation and gives the injections time to settle.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated the first night. A propped position can help reduce puffiness and keep pressure off your face while you rest.
- Skip intense exercise for 24 hours. Heavy activity increases circulation, which can worsen swelling and bruising right after treatment.
- Avoid pressing or massaging the treated areas unless directed. Fillers need time to integrate smoothly, and extra pressure may shift the product from its intended position.
- Limit alcohol and salty foods right after treatment. Both can contribute to extra swelling, so choosing lighter meals and staying hydrated helps you recover more comfortably.
Is a Liquid Facelift Right for You?
If you’re considering a facelift or other cosmetic surgery for your face, you may want to try a liquid facelift first. It actually has benefits that can’t be obtained from surgery, such as restoring natural facial contours and volume. (In fact, more and more cosmetic surgeons are augmenting surgery with liquid facelift products to restore natural, 3-dimensional contours to the face.) In addition, the results from a liquid facelift are typically subtler than those obtained through surgery.
Still, a liquid facelift is not for everyone. Patients who are highly allergic or hypersensitive to medicines or foreign substances — or who have certain types of cardiovascular disease, neuromuscular disorders, or other severe health issues — may not be good candidates for the procedure. Also, patients should never undergo a facial filler procedure in the presence of any active skin sore, herpes outbreak, rash, or other infection in the area near the site of the injection. The procedure should be postponed until the area is fully healed. Dr. Moradzadeh can advise you of any potential risks after reviewing your medical history.
Liquid Facelift Considerations
A liquid facelift procedure may not provide the type of dramatic improvement you’re looking for. Some individuals want significant lifting and tightening, and injectables are not able to reposition tissue in the same way as surgery. Since the effects on the face are usually subtler than the results of a traditional facelift, you may want to opt for cosmetic surgery.
Fillers and neuromodulators work best for restoring volume, softening lines and refreshing expression rather than creating major structural change. Dr. Moradzadeh will give you his professional opinion during your consultation. He will also explain how the benefits and limitations of each option apply to your specific facial features, so you can make a decision with clear expectations.
Is a Liquid Facelift a Good Option for Men?
A liquid facelift can be just as effective for men as it is for women, though the approach is often different to maintain masculine features. Restoring volume in the cheeks or jawline can create stronger definition, while softening lines around the eyes and forehead can give a refreshed appearance without making the face look overdone. The treatment is adaptable, allowing adjustments that enhance your natural structure while preserving a rugged or athletic look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liquid Facelifts
Can a Liquid Facelift Be Combined With Other Treatments?
A liquid facelift treatment can be combined with other non-surgical options, and in many cases, that is how the best outcomes are achieved. Fillers and neuromodulators address volume loss and wrinkles, but they do not improve skin tone or texture, which is where resurfacing, light-based therapies or collagen-stimulating treatments may come in. Pairing them together can refresh both the structure and the surface of your skin.
Are Results Reversible?
Some products used in a liquid facelift, particularly those made from hyaluronic acid, can be dissolved. Others, like stimulators that encourage collagen growth, are not reversible but fade gradually as your body processes them. We go over exactly what is being used during your appointment so you know how long to expect the results to last and what options are available if you ever want to adjust them.
Will I Look Natural or “Overdone”?
Looking natural is always the goal, and the way fillers are placed has just as much impact on the outcome as the type of product chosen. When volume is restored in the right places and in the right amounts, the face looks balanced and refreshed.
How Long Will My Liquid Facelift Results Last?
Longevity depends on several factors, including the specific products used, the areas treated and how your metabolism processes them. Some fillers may gradually fade within six months, while others can maintain volume closer to a year or more, and collagen stimulators often create improvements that continue to build and then last even longer. Because results vary from person to person, we customize a maintenance plan that helps you enjoy smoother contours and refreshed features for as long as possible.
How Much Does a Liquid Facelift Cost?
Pricing is not the same for everyone since it depends on how many areas are treated and how much product is required to reach your goals. A small touch-up in one area will naturally cost less than a more extensive refresh that includes the cheeks, lips and jawline. The type of filler or neuromodulator chosen also influences the total. We review your treatment plan in detail during the consultation and provide a clear estimate so you can make a confident decision without any surprises.
About Us
Arash Moradzadeh, MD, is a dual board-certified ENT and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at AM Facial Plastics in Beverly Hills. His training includes medical school at UC San Diego, residency at Washington University in St. Louis, and advanced fellowships in both facial plastic surgery and regenerative medicine. He is known for his expertise and his commitment to advancing the field. He has taught at Washington University and continues to be a resource for colleagues and medical students. At his private practice, Dr. Moradzadeh offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical treatments in a safe, comfortable setting, with an emphasis on natural-looking results.
Choose a Minimally Invasive Option With the Liquid Facelift in Beverly Hills
A liquid facelift can refresh facial contours, smooth lines, and restore balance without the recovery required by surgery. At AM Facial Plastics, we provide injectable treatments for patients in L.A. and Beverly Hills, CA, and we offer consults in Santa Barbara. To schedule a consultation, call (310) 659-9900 or contact us through the online form.
