Liquid Facelift

The midface is built in layers. Beneath the skin, fat is divided into separate compartments, some lying close to the skin and others deep, near the bone. Thin fibrous walls (retaining ligaments) separate the compartments and anchor the skin to the deeper tissue. In youth the compartments are evenly full, and the cheek has a smooth, rounded contour.

With age, the compartments change at different rates. Some lose volume, including the deep fat of the inner cheek, while others hold their volume or settle downward. The fibrous walls keep the skin anchored while the fat between them shrinks, which deepens the crease across the cheek and the fold beside the nose and mouth. The upper cheek flattens, and its fullness collects lower on the face. Collagen in the skin and supporting tissue also declines with age.

Hollowing, creases and descent come from one change, the uneven loss of volume in the midface compartments.

A liquid facelift addresses this compartment by compartment. Restoring volume where it has been lost supports the tissue above it and gives a subtle lift. Facial fat transfer follows the same principle with the patient's own fat. A liquid facelift uses Sculptra to stimulate the body to build new collagen in these compartments.

Patients who do well have early to moderate volume loss in the midface: a flattening upper cheek, early hollowing of the cheek and a deepening fold beside the nose and mouth. Skin quality is reasonable, and the patient is comfortable with a gradual result that builds over several sessions. Dr. Kim assesses candidacy at consultation, along with medical history and any prior filler or injectable treatments.

Patients with significant jowling, loose neck skin or substantial descent of the midface are better served by a surgical facelift or mini facelift, which repositions tissue. At consultation Dr. Kim identifies which of your findings volume restoration can improve and which need surgery.

At consultation, Dr. Kim reviews your goals, medical history and any previous injectable treatments, and standardized photographs are taken. He places Sculptra in the deep medial cheek and outer cheek compartments, where loss of volume affects the shape of the midface.

Treatment takes a minimum of two sessions, around one month apart. Further sessions depend on the individual. Each session builds on the last, because the collagen develops gradually in the weeks between visits. Dr. Kim personally performs every injection.

After each session, Dr. Kim emphasizes deep massage of the treated areas. Massage distributes the product evenly and provides mechanical stimulation to the tissue while collagen begins to form. He gives you specific instructions at your visit.

Sculptra works through the body's own collagen production, so results appear gradually over weeks to months and continue to develop after each session. Onset is delayed, and the degree of response varies from patient to patient with individual metabolism. The collagen typically lasts for a few years. Dr. Kim reviews your results at each follow-up and plans further sessions as needed.

Facial fat transfer places the patient's own fat in the same midface compartments. Significant jowling, loose neck skin or substantial descent of the midface is better addressed with a surgical facelift or mini facelift.