For anyone seeking a way to get rid of wrinkles and take years off their appearance, the word facelift may spark some curiosity. Instead of slathering on wrinkle creams and trying to target each area of the face separately, maybe a facelift would offer a full-face transformation with long-lasting effects. But what is a facelift really? What are the risks and how significant are the results.

The term facelift actually refers to several different procedures used to smooth out facial wrinkles and loose, saggy skin. Facelifts are divided into categories based on how much of the face is treated, the depth of the treatment, and the incision type.

Feather Lift

The least invasive facelift option is the feather or thread lift. This procedure only lifts the outer layer of skin to tighten up the complexion and rid the face of wrinkles. Basically, a feather lift uses thread with tiny barbs on the end to literally lift the wrinkled skin until it smooths out. This facelift is a very basic lift best suited for skin with minimal wrinkles. While the feather lift is not very invasive and only requires local anesthesia, there are some down sides. In order to maintain results, the thread used to lift out wrinkles must stay in the skin, leaving the chance that threads will be visible on the face. It also carries the risk of leaving dimples in the skin where the barbs are actually pulling up the wrinkles. Results from a feather can last up to five years.

Mid Facelift

A mid facelift goes a little deeper than a feather lift to reorganize and lift the fatty tissue beneath the surface. A plastic surgeon makes several tiny incisions and moves the fatty tissue to pull up any saggy skin and plump up areas of the face most affected by wrinkles. This particular facelift focuses primarily on the cheekbones and the skin between the nose and the mouth where deep vertical creases can form. The incisions are generally made along the hairline and inside the mouth, so the procedure produces minimal visible scarring. A mid facelift is a generally safe procedure for anyone with moderate wrinkles, and should last at least five years.

Deep Plane Lift

The most invasive and comprehensive facelift procedure is the deep plane lift. The deep plane lift is designed to smooth out the entire face and targets the fatty tissue, skin tissue, and facial muscles to provide a deep lift for severely wrinkled skin. Incisions are usually made along the hairline, and tissue and muscles are redistributed to firm and smooth the facial skin. The biggest benefits to the deep plane lift are the dramatic results and the length of time those results last; most patients who undergo this procedure experience visible results for up to 15 years.

Many wrinkle creams on the market today offer safe and effective alternatives to invasive facelift procedures. To see which creams are yielding the best wrinkle-erasing results, click here.