Dr. Jimmy C. Sung of Tribeca Aesthetics® explains “non-surgical facelift” alternatives for a youthful, sculpted look.
When you place yourself in the hands of a skilled New York plastic surgeon, a facelift can work wonders by providing a youthful appearance while maintaining an overall natural look. However, a surgical facelift may not be needed for everyone, especially for those who are experiencing mild or moderate laxity and are not mentally ready to go “under the knife.” The non-surgical approach is also appropriate for someone who is looking to prejuvanate their face and maintain a youthful look.
Given the advancements in energy-based technologies, there are now various non-invasive alternatives to facelifts that may be better aligned with an individual’s current condition and goals.
The best way to determine the right path forward is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sung of Tribeca Aesthetics®, a New York-based plastic surgeon experienced in both surgical and non-surgical facelift options. During the consultation, Dr. Sung will assess your unique needs and goals and discuss the various options available to you. He will also answer any questions you may have, ensuring you feel fully informed and comfortable with your decision. Dr. Jimmy Sung is an expert in facial rejuvenation and a highly sought-after thought leader in facial aesthetics. Here is his recent interview with Business Insider.
While a non-invasive procedure cannot fully replicate the effectiveness and permanence of a surgical facelift, it can tighten the facial soft tissue without the risks and downtime associated with a surgical facelift. Advancement of Energy-Based technologies and development of clinical protocols can safely provide the fuller, tighter look many desire:
Specific examples of energy-based facelift alternative treatments include Ultherapy Prime, Sofwave, Thermage FLX, Opus Plasma, Fontana 4D, and Density by Jeisys.
Surgical facelifts: Individuals with significant facial laxity who are otherwise healthy in body and mind are potential candidates for surgical facelifts. Various methods of facelift techniques can address patients’ concerns. Dr. Sung can provide insights into which technique will be most beneficial for the patient’s condition. For optimal results, patients often benefit from a hybrid approach combining minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures, such as brow lift, eyelid surgery, fat grafting, nano-fat treatment, and energy device treatments.
Non-surgical facelift alternatives: The ideal candidates for non-invasive face lift treatments are those with mild to moderate laxity who desire non-invasive treatments with realistic expectations. The key to non-surgical regenerative facial is patience and persistence. It takes time for the collagen to regenerate and for maintenance treatment to be sustained. Meanwhile, proper nutrition and a positive lifestyle are also important. Therefore, ideal candidates will also be willing to commit to improving and maintaining their overall wellness.
Surgical facelifts: The results of a surgical facelift are long-lasting, often lasting for 10 years or more, and significantly influence your facial contour. However, while the procedure can reverse signs of aging, it cannot halt the natural aging process; subtle changes will continue to occur over time. The results of surgical face lifts can be modified with additional surgery.
Non-surgical facelift alternatives: The results of non-surgical facelifts can last up to one year. Annual treatment is recommended as maintenance.
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Surgical facelifts: As we age, our faces become less firm due to laxity and loss of volume. Numerous studies on the aging face has shown the role of facial fat. Therefore, modern facelifts incorporate repositioning facial fat and combining fat grafting to restore volume loss.
Non-surgical facelift alternatives: There is no risk of fat loss when an experienced and skilled surgeon chooses the appropriate device and uses anatomically guided techniques. Patients need to understand that Energy-Based Devices are technique-driven; therefore, experience, level of training, understanding of the science, and skills are crucial factors in clinical outcome. Since fat loss is a natural part of the aging process, it is essential to protect against any additional loss. This is why each part of the face and each layer of the facial soft tissue should be treated with the proper energy modality and level. Dr. Sung approaches non-surgical treatment with the same earnestness and precision as an operation. Each treatment is tailored to the individual patient’s anatomy and clinical condition, targeting each layer of the face with optimal energy safely and effectively.
Surgical facelifts: Facelift recovery typically takes about three to six weeks, with initial swelling and bruising peaking in the first few days before gradually subsiding. Patients are advised to rest and refrain from strenuous activity during this period. A soft diet is recommended for the first few days. When sleeping, the head should be slightly elevated. Follow-up appointments are crucial for monitoring healing, removing sutures, and ensuring the optimal removal of drains, thereby ensuring optimal results.
Non-surgical facelift alternatives: Most patients experience minimal or no downtime with Energy-Based treatments. You can typically resume most of your daily routine immediately after energy-based therapies. While mild side effects, such as redness or slight bruising, may occur, they usually subside on their own within hours or overnight.
Surgical facelifts: A common misconception is that surgical facelifts often result in overly exaggerated, unnatural transformations. Modern facelift techniques, as practiced by Board-Certified plastic surgeons like Dr. Sung, understand the aging process anatomically, prioritize subtlety and natural-looking results, recognizing that even minor, precise adjustments can have a profoundly impactful effect. Therefore, when you are considering a potential facelift procedure with a New York City plastic surgeon, an in-depth discussion must be made between you and your surgeon to ensure that your goals and aesthetics are a good match.
Non-surgical facelift alternatives: Dr. Sung will utilize energy-based devices to enhance your body’s natural processes, such as collagen production. In turn, results will build gradually over time (rather than materialize all at once) and there’s no risk of the “lift” looking artificial.
Surgical facelifts: No surgical procedure is entirely risk-free. While doctors like Dr. Sung take meticulous measures to limit this risk—maintaining peak sterility, evaluating the patient’s preoperative health, and monitoring for complications during and after surgery—they are still obligated to acknowledge the potential and inherent risks. Risks associated with facelifts can include, but are not limited to, infection, hematoma, bleeding, seroma, nerve injury, contour irregularity, scarring, tissue loss, and complications related to anesthesia.
Non-surgical facelift alternative: The risks of non-invasive facelift treatments vary by procedure but are generally mild and temporary. Moreover, the likelihood of these risks occurring significantly decreases when you choose a medically licensed practitioner. It is important to be aware that aestheticians are not licensed medical provider and “Clinical” aestheticians is a misleading marketing term. Your medical doctor should outline the specific risks associated with your personalized treatment plan.
Why did we group cost and maintenance? Because they are interlinked. Regardless of whether you’re in NYC or a less expensive metropolitan area, a surgical facelift will have more upfront costs than non-surgical procedures. However, it’s a one-time surgery that typically doesn’t require any ongoing maintenance after recovery. Alternatively, non-invasive procedures will require maintenance sessions.
Dr. Sung believes in crafting bespoke treatment plans for individual patients, meaning that the technologies he suggests to one person may vary from what he proposes to another. However, based on the effectiveness and overall customer experience, he commonly recommends the following procedures for New Yorkers seeking a non-invasive alternative to facelift.
Ultherapy Prime rejuvenates the facial tissue through the targeted delivery of focal ultrasound energy. By stimulating collagen and elastin production beyond the deepest layers of your skin—reaching the SMAS layer consisting of muscle fibres and connective tissue.
Importantly, Ultherapy Prime equips the practitioner with the visualization needed to concentrate the energy at the optimal spot and depth, achieving clinical benefits without damaging adjacent nerves or inadvertently dissolving fat.
Since your body requires time to produce collagen, most recipients begin to notice the benefits within 2-3 months after treatment, with results lasting up to 12 months.
What can New York patients expect from this FDA-approved alternative to a surgical facelift? In a process that involves zero scalpels or needles, Dr. Sung delivers the ultrasound energy to highly targeted areas, carefully assessing both the ideal depth and anatomical location. The procedure, typically lasting about an hour, is often described as a warming sensation, which most recipients find manageable.
Click here to learn more about Ultherapy Prime
Sofwave uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production, it can reduce wrinkles and puckering, tighten loose skin, and enhance facial contours, all of which contribute to an aesthetically defined shape.
FDA-approved Sofwave, like Ultherapy Prime, utilizes ultrasound technology to rejuvenate facial tissues. The significant difference between Sofwave and Ultherapy Prime is that Sofwave is unfocal ultrasound with a frequency (11.5 MHz) that targets he mid-dermis to stimulate the production of collagen. Sofwave does not transmit energy beyond the deep dermis, eliminating any risk of fat loss. During your consultation, Dr. Sung will carefully evaluate your condition and listen to your goals. He will explain which technology and approach will best address your face’s unique needs.
Click here to learn more about Sofwave treatments
Thermage FLX directs radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen and elastin production within the skin’s soft tissue. While this tool is particularly effective for the face, jowls, and neck, it can also be applied to other parts of the body.
Many patients report a noticeable face-lifting improvement upon receiving the treatment. While these initial benefits may fade, they will soon return to reach their full impact about two to three months post-treatment.
Completely non-invasive, this procedure is performed with no scalpels or needles. In a session lasting approximately 60-90 minutes, Dr. Sung will strategically focus the RF energy to where it will best serve the unique contours of your face. As the fourth iteration of this specific technology, Thermage FLX has received multiple upgrades designed to minimize discomfort. At the same time, recipients describe feeling heat; most would not describe the sensation as painful.
Click here to learn more about Thermage FLX
Opus Plasma is yet another non-invasive treatment that can yield natural results. This tool differs from the others listed here, as well as traditional laser resurfacing, due to its inclusion of plasma technology.
Opus Plasma works by harnessing plasma energy to strategically create micro-injuries that trigger the body’s natural healing process. This not only improves the skin’s laxity but also contributes to the diminishment of wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation. Importantly, Opus Plasma is designed for use on even the most delicate skin, including the areas surrounding your eyes.
Click here to learn about Opus Plasma
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Based in New York City, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sung brings a wealth of experience performing surgical facelifts and energy-based procedures. His plastic surgery journey began as the Chief Administrative Resident in the esteemed plastic surgery program at the University of Pittsburgh. Today, he is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and serves as a faculty member in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.
However, he offers more than just surgical expertise, as he is a passionate proponent of regenerative aesthetic treatments. Recognized as a thought leader in the field, he is frequently invited to lead medical seminars and consult for leading news publications such as CNN, New York Magazine, Women’s Health, and more.
Equally skilled in both surgical and non-surgical facelifts, he offers unbiased guidance to his New York patients, creating a thorough treatment plan that reflects their unique facial features and preferences.
To schedule your private consultation with Tribeca Aesthetics® or to obtain more information about our services fill out this contact form and we will get back to you within one business day.
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