Treat Loose Facial Skin Without A Facelift

As a plastic surgeon regularly treating patients following Massive Weight Loss (MWL), I see many patients who are unhappy with their facial appearance. Many look for a way to treat loose facial skin without a facelift.

Obese patients commonly have full round faces with heavy necks and often look younger than their actual age.

Today’s bariatric procedures frequently result in patients shedding 50 kg or more. Therefore, there is a significant loss of facial fat volume with a noticeable increase in skin laxity. Younger patients (or those older patients with good skin elasticity) may be lucky enough to escape this “deflated beach ball” appearance, but most do not. While skin laxity of the body can be hidden by clothing, unfortunately, facial changes have no place to hide.

The negative impact of MWL occurs as fat decreases. Facial skin becomes saggy, giving the jowls a droopy, “St Bernard-like look”, with the neck skin having a “turkey-like” appearance. Paradoxically, MWL patients feel on top of the world. They are healthier, thinner, no longer diabetic or hypertensive, have more energy and have never felt better about themselves. At the same time, however, they have never looked older. In the pursuit of better health, they have traded their youthful facial fullness for a more aged appearance.

Looks can adversely affect patients, affecting their work and social relationships. People involved with sales or in professions where appearance is critical need to look their best. Weight loss also worsens the natural ageing process. In youth, the face is like a plump grape, but sadly with age, it begins to look more like a raisin. Volume loss accentuates facial shadows, lines, and wrinkles, which deepen over time. The round plumpness of youth vanishes and a gaunt, tired appearance replaces it.

Weight loss and ageing are similar in that there are:

1. Volume loss
2. Skin laxity
3. Thinning of the skin

At Precision Aesthetics, there are many options to treat this. Those patients with excessive skin laxity will require a facelift procedure to redrape loose skin of the face and neck. However, those with moderate laxity may benefit from an innovative holistic approach using a newer range of injectables on the South African Market known as Biostimulators combined with RF(Radiofrequency) treatments. This is one procedure to treat loose facial skin without a facelift.

Skin ageing and weight loss involve a decline of collagen and thinning elastic fibers (elastin). Collagen and elastin form the ‘scaffolding’ of the face. As they diminish with age, we lose structure and elasticity in the skin resulting in sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. Biostimulators are compounds we can inject to stimulate new tissue growth to replenish the lost collagen and elastin.

Biostimulator injections can add volume and tighten and thicken skin. They can be combined or used alone with Fillers to enhance results.

These areas are suitable for treatment with biostimulator injections

• Temple volume loss and tightening
• Cheek volume loss with tightening
• Accordion lines on the sides of the mouth
• Chin lines
• Jawline contouring

Dr Ching has vast experience treating MWL patients over the last 15 years and has an extraordinary passion for facial aesthetics in these patients.

Dr Ching uses his knowledge and understanding of facial fat compartment anatomy and facelifting techniques to assess your suitability for bio-stimulator treatments. Biostimulation combined with Radiofrequency treatments such as Morpheus8 or Facetite™ enhances results.

At Precision Aesthetics, we use ALL the available Biostimulators on the market depending on each patient’s specific needs. As all patients are different, a different treatment plan is designed for each patient treat loose facial skin without a facelift.

We use the following Biostimulators:

Radiesse®

FDA-approved Radiesse® is a calcium-based dermal filler using microsphere technology to stimulate the body to make new collagen for a natural, soft look that lasts.

It is the ideal choice for total facial contouring. Radiesse® provides instant volume, lifting and contouring for the whole face and even improves overall skin quality by stimulating the skin’s natural collagen to grow. Hence, the skin regains its youthful tightness and elasticity.

Radiesse® is safe, effective and long-lasting and continues to work overtime. The cream-like texture of Radiesse stays soft, feels natural and remains in place for many months to years after treatment.

Benefits of Radiesse® dermal filler treatment:

• FDA approved
• Safe and effective
• Minimal downtime
• Immediate results
• Stimulates collagen
• Long-lasting
• Volumizing & rejuvenating

HArmonyCA™

HArmonyCA™ dermal filler has a unique approach. It consists of both Calcium Hydroxyapatite microspheres and Hyaluronic Acid in a single syringe. When injected, the HA provides immediate volume and projection. Still, as the HA degrades over time, the CaHA acts as a scaffold to help the generation of natural endogenous collagen. In so doing, the volume and projection are maintained over time.

Benefits of HArmonyCA™ dermal filler treatment:

• Immediate results
• Stimulates collagen
• Volumizing & rejuvenating
• Safe and effective
• Minimal downtime
• FDA approved
• Long-lasting

Sculptra®

Sculptra® is a synthetic Poly-L-lactic acid facial injectable treatment that stimulates the skin’s own collagen production. It gradually rebuilds collagen, restoring the skin’s scaffolding from the inside out. It reduces the appearance of smile lines and smooths facial wrinkles, delivering a more youthful-looking overall appearance.

Sculptra® must be injected every 6 to 8 weeks, and a minimum of 3 sessions are required to obtain optimum results. As Sculptra® works overtime, there is a gradual yet noticeable improvement in skin laxity, thickness, and texture, and increasing and maintaining volume.

It is the ideal biostimulator for those patients with moderate skin laxity who do not require much volume replacement.

An impressive 94% of Sculptra® clients agree that their treatment results looked natural two years after treatment.

Benefits of Sculptra® dermal filler treatment:

• FDA approved in 1999
• Safe and effective
• Minimal downtime
• Immediate results
• Stimulates collagen and skin tightening
• Long-lasting
• Following an in-depth consultation and examination, a suitable treatment plan is formulated.
• Over the next 3-6 months, a series of Biostimulator injections are scheduled, combined with RF treatments such as Morpheus8 or FaceTite if required, to lift, tighten and volumize the face.
• As a specialist facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr Ching routinely injects the various facial fat compartments with fat during Facelift surgery. With this significant experience, he is thus very comfortable using Biostimulators. It is of the utmost importance to select an experienced injector as, with all Biostimulators, there is no margin for error. Unlike HA fillers, Sculptra®, Radiesse® and HArmonyCa™ cannot be dissolved if injected incorrectly.

It is, however, vital to acknowledge that “how we look affects how we feel”. The quality-of-life aspect is crucial to these patients. By performing facial rejuvenation procedures, we can not only make them look younger and feel better about themselves. We also give them a face to match their new and healthier bodies.