What is Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation?

The AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program is designed to support you at any stage of life, providing a lifelong approach to maintaining your skin health and facial aesthetics. In your teens and 20s, the focus is on preventive care, such as sun protection, moisturizers, and acne management. For those with genetic concerns like asymmetry, skeletal soft tissue issues, or naturally thin lips, fillers can enhance harmony and balance. In your 30s, the program often incorporates advanced skincare systems, chemical peels, and light lasers to address fine lines, discolorations, and overall skin health. Treatments like Botox® for early wrinkle prevention and fillers for volume restoration in areas like the under-eye region may also be recommended. As you move into your late 30s and beyond, more advanced technologies such as RF microneedling, PRP therapy, and fractional lasers are introduced to rejuvenate and maintain youthful, glowing skin. This comprehensive program ensures optimal results at every phase of your aesthetic journey by tailoring treatments to your specific age and needs. 

The term “liquid facelift” traditionally refers to using injectables like fillers, biostimulators, and neuromodulators such as Botox to replicate the effects of a surgical facelift. While these treatments can restore volume and smooth wrinkles, they fall short of addressing the full complexity of the aging process. Aging is a multifactorial phenomenon involving changes in skin texture and elasticity, loss of collagen, shifts in fat compartments, bone resorption, and alterations in facial shape. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh emphasizes that these multidimensional changes cannot be fully corrected with injections alone. 

To address the aging process comprehensively, Dr. Azizzadeh developed the AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program, which integrates advanced skincare, cutting-edge lasers, energy-based devices, chemical peels, neuromodulators, fillers, and biostimulators. For patients seeking more natural volume restoration, he often recommends fat grafting instead of fillers, especially for those with poor outcomes or who prefer a more organic approach.  Moreover, Dr. Azizzadeh avoids the common pitfall of overloading the face with fillers, which can lead to unnatural or distorted appearances. For many patients, early surgical interventions, such as a deep plane facelift, lip lift, buccal fat pad repositioning, blepharoplasty, brow lift, or neck contouring, are essential to achieving natural, long-lasting, and harmonious results. By addressing aging at every level—skin, fat, bone, and overall structure—Dr. Azizzadeh ensures a balanced, authentic, and individualized approach to facial rejuvenation. 

The Eyes are a significant focus of Dr. Azizzadeh’s AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program, which incorporates a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation at all stages of life. The aging process of the eyes is nuanced, involving changes such as loss of cheek and brow volume, bone resorption around the eye socket causing a sunken appearance, drooping of the brow tail leading to exaggerated hooding, bulging of deep fat pockets due to structural weakening, and decreased skin elasticity. To achieve optimal outcomes, treatment must address these multifactorial changes. Non-surgical blepharoplasty refers to injectables like fillers, neuromodulators such as Botox®, advanced skincare, and lasers to address signs of aging around the eyes without requiring surgical incisions.  

For early signs of aging, non-surgical treatments can yield remarkable results. Fillers can restore lost volume in the tear troughs and brow region, creating a more three-dimensional and youthful contour. Botox® can smooth crow’s feet, lift the brow tail to reduce hooding, and soften glabellar lines. Skincare, lasers, and fractional CO2 treatments can improve skin texture, fine lines, and elasticity. However, precise technique is crucial, as poor injection practices or overuse of fillers under the eyes can result in aesthetic issues such as the Tyndall effect or unnatural appearances. As aging progresses, conservative surgical procedures like blepharoplasty, fat grafting, or brow lifts may be necessary to maintain natural, harmonious results that cannot be achieved through non-surgical means alone. Additionally, long after someone has undergone surgery, non-surgical interventions remain integral for maintaining results and addressing new signs of aging. Dr. Azizzadeh’s approach ensures that each treatment is tailored to the individual, combining non-surgical and surgical techniques for the most balanced and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. 

Non-surgical cheek augmentation is a minimally invasive procedure that enhances the contour, volume, and definition of the cheeks using injectable fillers or biostimulators. This approach provides a non-surgical alternative to traditional implants or fat grafting, making it ideal for individuals seeking subtle enhancements or those who want to avoid surgery and downtime. By carefully injecting fillers into specific areas of the midface, a skilled practitioner can restore lost volume caused by aging, create a more youthful lift, and improve facial harmony. Commonly used fillers for this procedure include hyaluronic acid-based products like Juvederm®, Restylane®, and the RHA® Collection, as well as biostimulators such as Radiesse® or Sculptra®. Certain fillers are better suited for providing structure and support, while others are ideal for softer, more natural enhancements. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh meticulously selects the best product for each patient, tailoring the approach to their specific needs and anatomy. 

Safety and precision are paramount in non-surgical cheek augmentation. Injecting fillers deeply and with a keen understanding of facial anatomy is critical to avoiding rare but serious vascular complications. Dr. Azizzadeh’s expertise ensures a safe procedure by navigating vessels and other delicate structures, resulting in a highly effective and safe treatment. For patients seeking alternative or more permanent options, fat grafting can provide natural volume using the patient’s own fat, while a deep plane facelift can address more advanced midface aging by repositioning deeper tissues for long-lasting, comprehensive rejuvenation. As part of his AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program, Dr. Azizzadeh offers a holistic approach to cheek augmentation, combining non-surgical and surgical options to achieve natural, balanced, and harmonious results. 

Non-surgical chin augmentation is a minimally invasive procedure that enhances the shape, projection, and overall definition of the chin using dermal fillers or biostimulators. It is an excellent option for individuals with mild to moderate concerns, whether they have a genetically recessed chin in their youth or age-related bony resorption that affects the chin’s projection and overall facial balance. By injecting fillers such as Juvederm®, Restylane®, or the RHA® Collection, skilled practitioners can create a more harmonious facial profile, improve jawline definition, and restore symmetry. Some fillers are better suited for adding structure and projection, while others provide softer contouring. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh tailors the filler choice and technique to each patient’s unique anatomy and goals, ensuring safe and natural-looking results with minimal downtime. 

For some patients, particularly those with significant genetic changes or structural issues, non-surgical options alone may not be sufficient. Dr. Azizzadeh often evaluates whether surgical procedures may be more appropriate, especially for individuals needing more comprehensive changes. A combination of procedures, such as surgical buccal fat removal or repositioning, chin augmentation with an implant, and deep neck lift or contouring with submandibular gland refinement, is sometimes necessary. These techniques address genetic factors, soft tissue laxity, and deep structural changes that can occur at a younger age, providing long-lasting, natural results. As part of his AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program, Dr. Azizzadeh integrates both non-surgical and surgical options, ensuring that each patient receives the most effective and tailored treatment plan for their specific needs and stage of aging. 

Lips are a central focus of non-surgical facial rejuvenation and the AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program, with treatments tailored to enhance their appearance while maintaining balance and natural harmony with the rest of the face. Over time, the lips can lose volume, elasticity, and definition due to aging, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors. For younger patients, subtle enhancements with hyaluronic acid-based fillers like Juvederm®, Restylane® or the RHA® Collection can add volume, define the vermilion border, or correct asymmetries, achieving a more hydrated and youthful look. For older patients, treatments often address age-related changes such as vertical lip lines (commonly referred to as “smoker’s lines”) or the downward turning of the lip corners, which can create a sad or tired expression. Neuromodulators like Botox® can also be used strategically to soften dynamic lines or enhance the upper lip with a “lip flip.” 

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh’s approach emphasizes a holistic view of the lips, ensuring they harmonize with surrounding features such as the nose, chin, and midface. Lip treatments are often combined with advanced skincare, laser resurfacing, or energy-based devices to improve the texture and elasticity of the perioral skin. For patients with more significant structural or age-related concerns, surgical options like a lip lift may be considered to enhance lip shape and restore a youthful aesthetic. By integrating these techniques into the AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program™, Dr. Azizzadeh provides customized, natural-looking results that align with each patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals. 

Because a liquid facelift involves the use of injectable treatments, a patient does not need to have facial rejuvenation surgery. This non-surgical facelift can provide patients with a safe, effective option for early volume loss and aging process. 

The choice largely depends on individual needs rather than age alone. Younger patients in their late 20s to early 30s may seek a liquid facelift to address early signs of aging, such as minor volume loss or subtle contouring, particularly in areas like the cheeks or under-eye region. For older patients, a liquid facelift can be an excellent option to enhance facial harmony or maintain a refreshed appearance, especially when they are not yet ready for surgical intervention. The decision should be based on factors such as the extent of aging, skin quality, volume loss, and personal goals. Consulting with an expert like Dr. Azizzadeh ensures that each patient receives a personalized assessment and a treatment plan tailored to their unique anatomy and aesthetic aspirations. 

The procedure usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. 

The results of a liquid facelift typically last between 6 to 36 months, though recent studies suggest that hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers may last longer, particularly in areas like the cheeks and chin where there is less movement. While fillers and biostimulators remain effective for extended periods, it’s essential to recognize that aging is a continuous process. Even as the fillers persist, the face continues to undergo volume loss, bone resorption, and skin laxity over time. This means that while the injected areas may still retain some improvement, the overall facial structure continues to change, requiring maintenance treatments to address ongoing signs of aging. Programs like the AZ Aesthetic Maintenance Program are particularly beneficial, as they focus on adapting treatment plans to both the durability of fillers and the natural progression of aging, ensuring patients maintain a youthful and balanced appearance. 

While liquid facelifts are generally considered safe, potential long-term side effects may occur, though they are rare. These can include the development of granulomas (inflammatory nodules), persistent swelling or edema, and, in extremely rare cases, vascular occlusion that could lead to tissue necrosis. Some patients might also experience delayed-onset hypersensitivity reactions, or in uncommon instances, cysts or abscesses at the injection sites. Additionally, reports have noted the occurrence of lasting lumps or irregularities in the treated areas. 

It’s important to emphasize that the risk of such complications is relatively low when the procedure is performed by a highly skilled and qualified professional. Moreover, many of these side effects can be effectively managed or reversed if detected and addressed early. Choosing an experienced provider significantly reduces the likelihood of adverse outcomes and ensures safe, natural-looking results. 

A liquid facelift is intended to help rejuvenate the facial appearance, but the procedure does not involve the removal of excess skin. 

A liquid facelift is designed to help a patient bolster their facial appearance. Other treatments may be explored if the procedure does not deliver the desired results, including a deep plane facelift. 

Choosing between a liquid facelift and a deep plane facelift depends on your individual goals, anatomy, and stage of aging. A liquid facelift, which uses injectable fillers to restore lost volume and subtly lift the face, is ideal for younger patients with minimal sagging or volume loss. It provides a quick, non-surgical solution with minimal downtime, though the results are temporary and require ongoing maintenance. 

On the other hand, a deep plane facelift is a surgical procedure designed for patients with more advanced signs of aging, such as significant skin laxity and deeper structural changes. This technique lifts and repositions underlying tissues for longer-lasting, natural-looking results. It’s often better suited for older individuals or those seeking comprehensive facial rejuvenation. 

If you’re weighing the benefits of a liquid facelift versus a deep plane facelift, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh can help guide you. As a globally recognized expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Azizzadeh takes a personalized, patient-centered approach. He educates patients about all available facial rejuvenation options—both surgical and non-surgical—ensuring they feel confident and informed in their treatment decisions. With his unparalleled expertise, Dr. Azizzadeh will work with you to create a customized plan that aligns with your unique needs, goals, and vision for your appearance. 

After your consultation, you can make an appointment for the procedure. The process is fairly simple and happens in the office. The staff will mark the areas to be injected, and the surgeon will use very fine needles to inject fillers into your lips in the most artistic approach. 

The entire procedure usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. Afterward, ice might be given to treat any swelling and discomfort. So, if you want to correct thin lips or lines around the mouth but do not like lengthy procedures or staying in hospitals, a lip augmentation procedure appeals to you. 

Recovery time can be different for everyone. With injections, swelling will typically occur for a week, sometimes two. Icing after will aid in the healing process. It is also recommended not to work out for 48 hours after injections.