Liquid Facelift Cost and Procedure Guide

Have you looked in the mirror recently and just not felt like yourself? Whether it’s a loss of volume in the cheeks and lips or fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead and eyes, recent weight loss or natural aging can cause your face to lose some of its youthful plumpness.

Luckily, there are minimally invasive facial rejuvenation procedures — like a liquid facelift, which can give you subtle plumping, lifting and smoothing without the commitment, recovery or price tag of a traditional facelift.

What Is a Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses cosmetic injectables to smooth, lift and add fullness back to the face. Depending on your needs, a combination of dermal fillers and neuromodulators (like BOTOX® Cosmetic) can be used to create a younger, more refreshed appearance for the face — without surgery.¹

A liquid facelift can treat a number of areas on the face that may have lost volume. Depending on the specific injectables used, a liquid facelift can help address the following:²

• Bags and dark circles under the eyes
• Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes
• Drooping eyelids
• Fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead
• Hollowed cheeks
• Lip lines and wrinkles
• Marionette lines
• Mild jowls
• Thinning lips

Some potential benefits of a liquid facelift include:¹

• Less expensive 
• Minimal downtime
• Minimally invasive
• Non-surgical
• Subtle, natural-looking results

If you are looking for more significant lifting or have excessive sagging skin, procedures such as a traditional facelift, mini facelift or midface lift may be a better fit for your goals.

Types of products used

Some cosmetic injectables that are commonly used during a liquid facelift include:¹

• Calcium hydroxyapatite. Mineral-based fillers like Radiesse® can be used during the procedure to smooth wrinkles around the nose and mouth as well as sculpt the jaw and cheekbones.
• Hyaluronic acid fillers. Fillers such as Juvéderm® and Restylane® are used to smooth lines around the eye and mouth as well as plump the cheeks, lips and undereye area.
• Neuromodulators. Injectables like BOTOX can also be used during a liquid facelift to smooth lines around the mouth, eyes or forehead. 
• Poly L lactic acid. Fillers like Sculptra® can be used in a liquid facelift to bring back volume to the jaw, cheeks and temple as well as smooth deeper wrinkles.

Some liquid facelifts may also use additional treatments, like thread lifts, to help address sagging skin that isn’t effectively addressed by cosmetic fillers.³

How Much Does a Liquid Facelift Cost?

The national average cost of a liquid facelift may range between $2,000 to $12,000.⁴ The total cost of a liquid facelift will be impacted by your geographic location, the expertise of the provider and the specific type and amount of cosmetic injectables used during the procedure.

Are Liquid Facelifts Covered by Health Insurance?

A liquid facelift is considered a cosmetic procedure and, therefore, not traditionally covered by health insurance plans. Provider locations may offer in-house financing to help spread out the cost of a liquid face lift, or you can apply for the CareCredit credit card and pay fora liquid face lift over time.*

How a Liquid Facelift Works

If you’re considering getting a liquid facelift, here is what you may expect during the procedure.

Preparation

When considering a liquid facelift, you’ll want to start by scheduling a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist who can analyze your face, discuss your aesthetic goals and create a personalized treatment plan to address your concerns.³

During the week before the actual procedure, you may be asked to avoid alcohol, blood thinners or certain medications or supplements. To prevent bruising, you may be advised to take arnica or bromelain pills.⁴

Procedure

During a liquid facelift, a numbing agent may be applied to the skin to decrease discomfort. Then the provider will inject the dermal fillers or neuromodulators into various parts of the face to achieve the desired results. Liquid facelifts often take about 30 to 60 minutes, but will depend on the extent of the treatment.¹ 

Recovery

Some bruising and swelling are normal after a liquid facelift. You may be advised to avoid physical activity for 24 hours after the procedure and be cautious about sun exposure.⁴ Overall, downtime for a liquid facelift is minimal, and individuals can often return quickly to their normal daily activities.¹ 

Liquid Facelift Results

Most liquid facelift results should be visible immediately, although some injectables like neuromodulators may take a few days to become fully effective. Final results should be apparent by the second week.⁵

How long does a liquid facelift last?

Although a temporary treatment, the results from a liquid facelift can last up to two years. The longevity of your liquid facelift can vary based on your age, skin type, metabolism and the cosmetic injectables used.¹

Hyaluronic acid filler may last six to 12 months, while neuromodulators like BOTOX can last an average of three to four months.⁵ Maintenance treatments will be required to maintain your liquid facelift results.⁵

Potential Side Effects

Although any cosmetic procedure carries potential side effects, those of a liquid facelift are generally minor and include swelling, bruising and redness that should resolve in a few days.⁵

In rare cases, allergic reactions, asymmetry or infections can occur. Selecting a qualified practitioner and reviewing your complete medical history can help alleviate potential side effects.⁵

Next Steps for Your Liquid Facelift

Are you ready for a refresh? A liquid facelift can offer a plump, more youthful appearance without the downtime or commitment of surgery. By combining injectable treatments that lift, smooth and restore volume, a liquid facelift provides subtle enhancements that can boost your confidence. Contact a qualified provider today to start your journey.

Financing a Liquid Facelift With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting a liquid facelift or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 20 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women’s Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.