When you come in for your AceLift, your treatment session will include the use of four core components, lasers, injectables, fillers, and topicals in the augmentation of the collagen and elastin to rejuvenate your appearance. Here’s how it works:
It’s fitting that “L” is the first letter in the LIFT acronym, because lasers are among the first tools in Dr. Sarnoff’s kit when it comes to rejuvenating your face and making it look years younger. She’ll employ a state-of-the-art CO2 fractional resurfacing laser to smooth the lines and wrinkles on your face.
Dr. Sarnoff will “shrink wrap” your hooded upper eyelids with CO2 fractional laser resurfacing, then use the same laser to firm and tighten your lower lids. “The beam of light is emitted in a pixilated pattern to vaporize the surface of your skin. The bridges of skin that remain untouched by the laser are the key to rapid healing,” says Dr. Sarnoff, “because the entire epidermis is not ablated by the laser. This remarkable procedure stimulates your skin to produce fresh collagen and as a result, new rejuvenated skin is born.”
Dr. Sarnoff will use Botox®, or another neuromodulator, to treat lines and wrinkles between the brows, as well as areas around the eyes, forehead, and upper lip.Collagen is key. The whole name of the game in AceLift has to do with the “ACE” acronym, the augmentation of collagen and elastin. That collagen formation happens in the healing phase, after laser treatment. Although Botox does not create collagen, by relaxing the underlying muscles of the face, the healing phase after laser will be faster and more efficient.
The lines above the upper lip, also known as “lipstick bleed lines,” are softened with Botox. Botox is FDA-approved for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe frown lines and crow’s feet. Doctors also use Botox off-label (a common and legal practice) for other areas of the face. For example, small amounts of Botox can temporarily weaken the muscle around the mouth, which, like loosening a purse string, produces a gentler, more relaxed appearance. There is synergy between Botox and the laser, helping to stimulate the formation of new collagen. When Botox is combined with fillers, it can actually make the fillers last longer.
Botox® is used to soften your crow’s feet and raise the lateral brow. The problem is that lines dampen our youth, and our happy, content look. The great thing about Botox is that it can elevate the corners of the eyebrows, eliminating that eyebrow droopiness, which can take away our youth. It restores those things that we associate with being young. Botox can give a better arch to your brows and a more open-eyed appearance Now, emanating from the outer corner of our eyes, are those pesky crow’s feet. We squint in the sun, smile, and much more. We do all kinds of things that cause the dynamic lines at the sides of our eyes to lengthen and deepen with time. Botox can smooth these lines by relaxing the contraction of the underlying muscle. This is helpful in the healing period after laser treatment to produce collagen effectively and efficiently.
State-of-the-art fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is used to smooth lines and wrinkles around your mouth as well as reduce acne scarring and improve dark pigmentation. The laser delivers light energy in a stippled fashion, ablating miniscule areas of skin without damaging the surrounding skin. This type of treatment stimulates your body to produce its own fresh collagen, and over time, rejuvenated skin is born. In most instances, the results are long-lasting, and often Botox and fillers cease to be needed.
Fillers restore volume and augment the shape of your face. Dermatologists’ use of hyaluronic acid fillers has evolved and grown. We previously used hyaluronic acid fillers to fill or spackle facial lines. It became clear a few years ago that these fillers are capable of much more than line filling. Your parentheses (smile lines) and the marionette lines (puppet lines running from the corners of your mouth to your chin) are corrected with fillers. The use of injectable fillers for restoring fullness to the skin has increased exponentially, and consequently, there are many different types of fillers available. For spackling the etched lines on the skin around the lips, it is best to use a filler that is not too thick in consistency. Fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Belotero® work well and provide immediate results. Fillers can also be used to augment the size of your lips themselves if needed to restore a more youthful appearance.
Hyaluronic acid fillers have the power to reshape, contour and volumize the face. Dr. Sarnoff says, “using hyaluronic acid fillers, we can take a face that has become like a raisin and make it into a plum—that is to say, a more youthful face. We can also sculpt the cheekbones, lift the face and create a more chiseled jawline.”
Belotero® is the perfect choice of filler to fill the U-shaped grooves under your eyes (also known as tear troughs). This helps eliminate the look of bags and dark circles under the eyes. A smoother transition in your skin from your lower eyelid to your check will make you look less tired and more refreshed.
These fillers do more than just fill, they also bring water from your body into skin. In essence, this hydration has a moisturizing effect on the skin itself. You’ll emerge with a glow and beautiful radiance to the skin.
At the end of your AceLift, you’ll be provided with professional strength and proprietary aftercare products for use at home will help you cleanse and repair your skin during both day and night.
You’ll cleanse with AceLift Cleanse, a luxurious cream cleanser that gently and thoroughly removes environmental pollutants, excess oil and makeup (key ingredients: green tea, cucumber extract, CoQ10, vitamin C), then use AceLift Repair, a silky serum that increases firmness and elasticity, evens tone and texture of skin, promotes cell turnover, and nourishes your facial skin.
For daytime care, AceLift Cleanse, a light cream will protect your skin from UVA and UVB free radical damage as well as provide fast-absorbing moisture. At night, you’ll use AceLift Night, a rich, nourishing cream to give your skin liposomal moisture. Vitamins A, C, and E will give your skin antioxidant protection against damage and promote cell turnover while you sleep.
Learn how an AceLift can rejuvenate your eyes.
Call 212.794.4000 today to make an inquiry or schedule a confidential appointment at our Manhattan Office.
For Long Island, please call 516.484.9000.
"I left feeling gorgeous with no pain or bruising. The decor and French music were a fabulous touch. I look forward to my next treatment!"