The term "face lift" refers to a large family of procedures designed to improve the appearance of the face and make it younger-looking.
This is because as one ages, the skin and muscles lose their integrity.
This loosening of the body structures leads to the sagging of the features.
The loosening is most easily seen in the face and neck area, mainly because these are the highest points in the body and most greatly affected by gravity.
And since the face is one of first things that one makes first impressions of, a lot of people are conscious of the aging signs on their faces and would want to reverse the aging process.
In its early years, face lifts were only for the very rich and the very famous.
They are the ones most determined to hide the signs of aging from their appearance.
Recent developments have made this procedure available to a wide range of people.
Now, a face lift is considered a normal, run of the mill procedure to undergo.
Despite its popularity, a lot of people are still reluctant to have it done.
Doctors approached this problem by developing procedures for a face lift that is non surgical in nature.
A face lift that is non surgical addresses people who would like to subtract years from their appearance but do not want the risk of a surgical procedure.
These types of procedure make use of heat which is directed towards the dermis layer of the skin.
The heat induces the production of collagen, which is responsible for the suppleness and firmness of the skin.
However, it should be noted that these procedures do not serve as a replacement for a surgical face lift.
They only delay the need for one.
They work only for people in their forties and fifties who only have minimal wrinkling and loosening of the skin.
In some people, one session of this procedure does not have any visible effect.
The doctor may prescribe future sessions before any effect becomes noticeable.
This only compounds the expenses on the part of the patient.
These procedures may seem to have lots of potential, but they also pose serious threats.
Because these procedures for a face lift are non surgical, they are non-invasive.
However, there still are dangers involved.
The site of the procedure may become swollen and red.
In contrast, there are cases when the skin becomes blanched and white.
This may be temporary, but there have been cases when the discoloration did not disappear and they have become permanent.
As these procedures make use of heat, burns and blisters may develop on the skin.
Once these lesions resolve, scars may remain and disfigure the face.
In even more extreme situations, there may be bumps and depressions that develop.
They can also be transient or permanent.
In any case, when any of these side effects develop, whether they are temporary or permanent, they can damage a person's self esteem.
When the side effect is permanent, then it leads to even more surgeries and attempts to regain youthful appearance.