What is a One-Hour Face Lift?

A one-hour face lift is a cosmetic procedure that typically requires only about an hour to perform. Purported to tighten facial skin and take years off the appearance of the face, it is generally less invasive than a traditional face lift, costs less, and requires less recovery time. This type of procedure is generally best suited for people experiencing the early signs of aging, who do not need a dramatic change. There are a few different methods that doctors may use to perform a one-hour face lift. Some of the most popular techniques include the thread face lift, the liquid face lift, and the mini face lift.

The thread procedure is a type of one-hour face lift that utilizes threads to lift and secure sagging skin into a tighter, more lifted position. Doctors who perform this generally use a small needle to insert barbed threads under the skin. One end of the thread attaches to the sagging skin, while the other end acts as an anchor and attaches to the underlying tissue. Thread lifts do not require any incisions or stitches, and are typically performed in an outpatient setting, under local anesthesia.

Another kind is the liquid face lift. It addresses one of the primary causes of sagging facial skin — the loss of collagen that accompanies age. Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm™, Radiesse®, Restylane®, and Sculptra®, typically fill in the loss of volume in the skin caused by decreased collagen levels, and also stimulate the body to produce more of its own. In the liquid lift procedure, doctors inject dermal fillers and Botox® under the skin, giving sagging tissues a subtle lift. Botox® enhances and prolongs the lifting effect of dermal fillers by paralyzing the depressor muscles that pull the face down.

Finally, the mini lift is a one-hour face lift procedure that addresses only the sagging skin of specific areas of the face, including the cheeks, lower eyelids, jawline, and neck. This differs from a traditional face lift, which typically addresses the entire face. The mini face lift is usually done endoscopically, which is when the doctor makes small incisions and uses a special instrument with a camera attached as a guide to perform the procedure. Since this is minimally invasive, it is typically performed in an outpatient setting, under local anesthesia, and generally has a relatively short recovery period of about one week.