The concept of a laser facelift, as it is marketed today, is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that utilizes a laser device to enhance the appearance of the face. Laser facelift procedures resurface the outermost layers of the facial skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The laser face lift technique can be used on isolated areas of the face, such as the forehead, around the mouth, under the eyes, or it can be used on the entire facial area.
The laser facelift technique, however, has a lot more in common with other non-surgical cosmetic techniques like dermabrasion and chemical skin peels than a true facelift. It is a skin rejuvenating method that works to firm the collagen structure in the skin which produces a very slight skin tightening effect. It may tighten a few millimeters of skin while a true facelift can tighten in excess of an inch (25 millimeters) or more. In essence, the traditional laser facelift as is currently done (while great for improving the texture of the skin) is more marketing hype than anything close to a true facelift.
But the use of the laser in a more conventional way may be useful in facelift surgery. And I am not talking about using is to cut and raise the skin flaps like one would use facelift scissors or electrocautery. Recently I have been experimenting with the use of the Smartlipo probe for blind undermining of the skin flaps for limited facelifts. By using the 1mm probe, which is introduced through a small stab incision at the ear lobe, one can raise skin flaps in front of and below the ear. The light of the laser probe makes it easy to see its depth underneath the skin. The laser should be used on low energy. The skin flaps can be raised without any bleeding.
Once the skin flaps are raised, they can be pinched up around the ear and trimmed. This results in a minor facelift similar to that of the Lifestyle Lift or Quicklift. While the deeper SMAS layer can not be elevated with this semi-closed technique, it does produce a nice tuck-up of the jowl that is definitely better than laser facelifts that are described today. It can easily be performed under local anesthesia or light sedation.
My type of laser facelift is good for those who may have previously considered a threadlift or have just a bit of jowling. Using the laser probe results in no bruising and very minimal swelling. It creates a complementary facial procedure to many other cosmetic techniques, such as skin resurfacing, or for those who just want a little ‘perking up’. Incisions and resorbable sutures are still used at the end as this is still an excisional procedure. But the laser probe provides a blood less and less traumatic way to mobilize a lit bit of facial and neck skin.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana