Lunchtime facelifts can tighten sagging skin in just 15 minutes – here’s what to consider before getting one

The precious lunch hour during every workday is reserved for everything from having a flurry of excited conversations over hawker centre food with our colleagues, a satisfyingly sweaty workout after hitting the nearest gym, to an indulgent pick-me-up at a facial spa.

It’s hard to believe that, today, a facelift is something that we can add to the list of things to do during the hasty lunch hour. We’re not referring to traditional facelifts that involve surgically pulling the skin back and tightening the muscles underneath, but non-surgical treatments.

Heralded the “less scary” and “quick-fix” alternative to a traditional procedure, a non-surgical facelift can lift and firm the skin in a matter of minutes – right in time for you to get back to work after lunch.

Since non-surgical facelifts are the new kids on the block when stacked against traditional procedures, we speak to Dr Lee Mun Heng, Aesthetic Doctor and Medical Director of Cambridge Medical Group, to find out more about what to consider before getting a lunchtime treatment.

Understand the differences between traditional and non-surgical facelifts

Traditional facelifts involve surgically pulling back a flap of skin on both sides of the face, altering the tissues beneath it, and removing the excess skin, before stitching the skin back up.

“The biggest difference is that traditional facelifts are surgical in nature, which means incisions are needed and, of course, the effects last for several years,” shared Dr Lee. “The trade-off is that more recovery time is needed with lots of aftercare, cost, and as with any surgery, there is an inherent risk of complications.”

Since traditional facelifts come with their surgical drawbacks – we’re considering the high costs, painstaking aftercare, and real risk of complications, it’s no wonder that modern techniques cut back on the invasiveness of the procedure to offer a safer and more painless alternative.

“Non-surgical facelifts are minimally invasive procedures where not much pain is involved, [the] procedure time is short, and recovery time is minimal,” explained Dr Lee.

“Some non-surgical facelifts have the added benefit of rejuvenating the face by working on fine lines and wrinkles by improving collagen production and smoothening the skin.”

Instead of surgically snipping away excess skin, a non-surgical facelift can use non-invasive technology to target the different layers of skin for tightening.

Case in point: Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift

Take the Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift as a prime example of a lunchtime facelift: this non-invasive treatment uses thermal technology to heat the skin and stimulate collagen production, producing a tightening effect on the face by the end of lunch.

“The Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift works on both a macro and micro level, allowing full-thickness face tightening and rejuvenation. It lifts sagging skin to create a sharper V-shaped jawline, and at the same time strengthens skin tone and facial texture, reducing fine lines and wrinkles,” detailed Dr Lee.

Using two wavelengths in four distinct steps, the Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift reaches both the outer and deeper layers of the skin for visible tightening results.

The four steps are SMOOTH®, FRAC3®, PIANO®, and SupErficial™. The first step plumps up the skin and the second removes imperfections on the skin’s surface, such as hyperpigmentation and scars. Next, the PIANO® step helps to smooth out the skin’s texture, and the final SupErficial™ step peels away dead skin cells for a visible skin glow.

That means, unlike traditional facelifts that pull back loose skin without doing anything for the skin itself, the Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift firms up sagging skin and ramps up your skin’s radiance.

This lunchtime treatment can also get rid of the buccal fat (the fat that lies between your cheekbone and jawline) that lends to “chubby cheeks”, so you enjoy a more chiselled appearance.

“As no injectables are used, there is zero downtime and you can get back to your daily activities right after the treatment,” Dr Lee assured.

“The cons of non-surgical facelifts are that more maintenance periods are required, about every year or so, depending on the type of treatment you opt for.”

Other non-surgical facelift options

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the question of the best non-surgical facelift, as each facelift uses a different technology to lift the skin.

Since each technology caters to specific skin conditions, a facelift that’s best for one person may or may not be suitable for achieving another patient’s longed-for result.

“The most important thing to consider before getting a non-surgical facelift is your desired results,” said Dr Lee. It’s important to do your research and speak to an aesthetic doctor about finding a technology that’s best suited for you, he explained.

“Other factors, such as time and cost, also come into play,” advised Dr Lee.

Besides the Fotona 4D Laser Face Lift, the Cambridge Medical Group also offers other non-surgical facelifts like the Doublo Gold HIFU, Kinetic Airjet Facelift, and Face Thread Lift.

The Doublo Gold HIFU uses ultrasonic energy to lift the skin at the face and the neck. Suitable for those 25 to 45 years of age or older, the treatment is also ideal for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity.

The Kinetic Airjet Facelift uses, as its name suggests, kinetic energy to tighten the face and rejuvenate the skin. Dr Lee notes that this treatment is best suited for younger patients who are in their mid-20s to 40s and with thin skin or soft skin.

Even though the Face Thread Lift is a minimally invasive procedure unlike the others mentioned, which are completely non-invasive, it’s a facelift that you can get during your lunchtime too. Using dissolvable PDO (polydioxanone) sutures to pull back the skin, the treatment lets you enjoy lifted results for about six months at a time.

This non-surgical facelift is ideal for shaping the face of patients in their 20s with mild to moderate skin laxity or in their 30s with mild skin laxity. It can also be used to lift the skin of patients who are in their 40s and 50s.

Do you fit the bill for a non-surgical facelift?

“The best candidate [for a non-surgical facelift] is someone who is looking for a naturally rejuvenated look and enhanced jawline,” emphasised Dr Lee. “Non-surgical facelifts not only lift the face, some [also] work on reducing wrinkles and improving the firmness of the skin.”

However, even though the case for a non-surgical facelift is strong (after all, it’s a quick and painless treatment that you can do over lunchtime as an alternative to a surgical procedure), there are reasons to consider traditional facelifts too.

“That being said, if you have severely loose skin, then a traditional surgical facelift may be a better choice. Traditional facelifts are an appropriate option for severe cases whilst moderate to mild cases may opt for non-invasive treatments,” Dr Lee explained.

“Ultimately, a patient should understand his or her condition and expectations regarding an acceptable risk-reward ratio.”

It’s why stepping into a consultation room to speak to an aesthetic doctor can help you speed up your decision-making process and find out whether a lunchtime facelift is best for you.

Ask, why get a facelift in the first place?

The answer is that facelifts can do what rigorous skincare rituals or regular trips to the facial salon cannot: reverse the effects of ageing on the face and skin.

“Our cell turnover rate slows as we age, which contributes to changes that we see in ageing skin [such as] sagging skin caused by increased facial laxity,” elaborated Dr Lee. “Although eating healthy and going for facials may help [slow down the effects of ageing], they cannot reverse these effects.”

“Some of these effects, can, however, be changed to an extent with the help of a surgical or non-surgical facelift,” he underlined.

So, if you’re keeping up with your 12-step Korean skincare routines and glow-promising facials but still seeing the effects of ageing on your face, then it might be time to consider a non-surgical facelift as your next lunchtime appointment.

Cambridge Medical Group is located at 391B Orchard Road, #08-05A1, Tower B, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238874. Call 6733 0777 or WhatsApp 9155 8869 to schedule a consultation.

This article is brought to you by Cambridge Medical Group.