Men And Women Restore Youth With 'Liquid Facelift'

Each year, millions of people find the fountain of youth flowing through a series of injectables. It's called a liquid facelift, a non-surgical facelift, where a trained practitioner uses a variety of injectables, including Botox and fillers.

The dermal fillers and injectables used in the liquid facelift procedure are approved for use in the United States.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the use of injectables increased 21 percent in the United States last year, with just over 7 million procedures performed, costing a total of $2.7 billion.

Karen Beecham, 62, is among the millions of men and women who want to look younger without surgery.

"As we age it seems like we wake up in the morning after a good night's sleep and it looks like you haven't even been to bed," said Beecham.

Beecham said despite always taking care of herself, she just doesn't like what she sees in the mirror.

"You go in and pat a little something under your eyes to cover up a few wrinkles, or put a little something more to puff your lips up," Beecham said. "But you can only fix so much with makeup. It effects how I feel about myself during the day."

She started to notice a few wrinkles here and some sagging there, typical signs of aging. Not wanting to have surgery, she went to Injectable Aesthetics in Edmond where Natausha Spears, a former Mrs. Oklahoma and now registered nurse, will restore Karen's youth with a "liquid facelift."

"It's a way for a patient to come in and kind of have treatment from the forehead down to the neck," said Spears.

After her face is numbed with cream, Spears begins a series of injections of botulinum toxin to paralyze the muscles and derma filler to plump areas of Karen's face.

"I love to put filler in the cheeks, as we age we tend to lose our cheeks." Spears said. "Botox can actually lift an eyebrow."

After a little over an hour of lifting, plumping, smoothing and re-contouring Karen's face, the procedure is complete. According to liquidfacelift.com, the risks or side effects from the liquid facelift are minimal, and can include temporary redness, swelling and bruising after the procedure. In addition, a small percentage of people experience drooping, sagging and lumps.

While most people can tolerate a liquid facelift, Spears said her office goes through a thorough screening process along with a medical doctor to make sure it is safe. If you experience any of the following, you may not be a good candidate for the liquid facelift procedure:

Diabetes

Cardiovascular disease

Neuromuscular disorders

Certain bleeding disorders

Autoimmune disorders

Allergies to individual products used in the procedure (your specialist can test for tolerance)

Meanwhile, we checked in with Karen at her two week follow-up appointment. She said after a few days of being sensitive and some bruising, everything healed the way she had hoped.

"I see a difference in my skin without the makeup on and then once you apply the makeup, the smoothness and how everything kind of goes on better," Beecham said. "The area she worked in here, the neck, my husband noticed that immediately."

In the before and after pictures, you can see fine lines smoothed out and the lift along the cheek, jawline and neck, which Spears said in some, can shave off five to 10 years.

"If it's done correctly, the right amounts placed and the right fillers are placed in the right area, it actually can look really natural and just enhance your natural beauty," Spears said.

"I don't want to be looking like I'm in my 20s or 40s because I'm not, but I want to look refreshed and like I'm rested and I'm ready for the day," Beecham said. "I would do it again."

Spears said Botox can last three to four months, while fillers, can last nine months to two years. Beecham's liquid facelift cost $2,499.00.