Natural facelifts without surgery can soften mild sagging, but they don’t lift tissue the way surgery does. Microfocused ultrasound, radiofrequency and thread lifts give modest, temporary tightening. Fillers restore lost volume. At-home exercise has only small studies behind it. For moderate or heavy jowls, surgery is still the option that works.
This page is part of our facelift overview. It sets out what each non-surgical method does, what the published evidence shows and when it makes more sense to talk about surgery.
Non surgical facelifts options compared
Non surgical facelifts use heat, threads or injections; evidence shows mild to moderate improvement that fades within months to a couple of years.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, US) states plainly that minimally invasive treatments can’t match the results of a facelift, though they may delay surgery or complement it. That’s the right frame for the table below.
| Method | How it works | What the evidence shows | Main downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microfocused ultrasound (HIFU) | Focused heat creates tiny injury points in the deep skin and SMAS to trigger new collagen | Mild to moderate tightening; brow lift of 0.47 to 1.7 mm; follow-up only to about one year (systematic review, 2023) | Moderate pain during treatment; less effective with more laxity or BMI over 30 |
| Thread lift | Barbed sutures placed under the skin to hold tissue up | Satisfaction 98% just after, 88% longer term (meta-analysis of 26 studies, 2021) | Swelling 35%, dimpling 10%, numbness or tingling 6%, visible threads 4% |
| Radiofrequency, incl. with microneedling | Heat delivered into the dermis to stimulate collagen | Listed by ASPS (US) as a nonsurgical option; no comparable pooled data reviewed here | Results vary by device and protocol |
| Hyaluronic acid filler | Gel injected to replace lost volume, for example in the cheeks or folds | FDA-approved for cheek augmentation and moderate to severe folds; temporary | Rare vessel blockage, which can cause blindness or skin loss |
| Botulinum toxin | Relaxes muscles, for example neck bands | Listed by ASPS (US) for vertical neck bands | Wears off; doesn’t lift skin |
One point matters if you might want surgery later. A 2020 study of 72 revision facelifts in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open found scar tissue from energy devices or threads in 20 patients, which made the operation harder. Repeated treatments aren’t harmless, even when each one feels minor.
Non surgical facelifts before and after: what to expect
Non surgical facelifts before and after photos usually show subtle change: slightly firmer skin or a small brow lift, not a reset jawline.
In the 2023 ultrasound review, investigators rated 92% of 337 patients as improved at 90 days. Patients themselves were less impressed: 42% reported mild improvement at 90 days, and 53% at a year. That gap between expert ratings and how patients feel is common in this field.
Threads show the quickest visible change, because they hold tissue up straight away. The 2021 meta-analysis found complications were more frequent in people over 50, with dimpling in 16% versus 5.6% in younger patients. In my practice, I usually suggest non-surgical options only when laxity is mild and the patient understands they will need repeat sessions.
When you look at photos, check that the “after” picture was taken months later, not the same day while swelling makes the face look fuller. For surgical results, see our facelift before and after guide.
Non surgical facelifts cost
Each session costs less than surgery, but repeats add up; ASPS lists average non surgical facelifts fees from about $435 to $2,326.
ASPS (US) published these average physician fees in its 2023 statistics. They don’t include product or facility costs at every practice, and prices differ widely by city and country.
| Treatment | Average fee, US (ASPS 2023) |
|---|---|
| Noninvasive skin tightening (ultrasound, radiofrequency) | $2,326 |
| Hyaluronic acid filler (per treatment) | $715 |
| Non-hyaluronic acid filler | $901 |
| Neuromodulator injection | $435 |
| Facelift, for comparison (surgeon fee) | $11,395 |
ASPS doesn’t report a fee for thread lifts. Compare price per year of result, not per visit. Our facelift cost guide lays out the surgical side in detail.
Natural facelifts at home
Natural facelifts at home, such as facial exercise, tape and EMS gadgets, have little evidence; one small study found modest benefit from daily exercise.
Natural facelifts exercises
A pilot study in JAMA Dermatology (2018) trained women aged 40 to 65 in 32 facial exercises. They practiced 30 minutes a day for 8 weeks, then every other day until week 20. Only 16 of 27 finished. Average estimated age, judged from photos, fell from 50.8 to 48.1 years, and cheek fullness improved. The study had no control group, and one author founded the exercise program used, so the result needs confirming.
Face lift tape for the forehead
Tape pulls the skin while it’s on and stops working when it comes off. We found no clinical study showing a lasting effect. Use it as a cosmetic trick for an event, not a treatment, and stop if it irritates your skin.
At-home EMS and multi-function devices
Home microcurrent and EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) gadgets are widely sold. We didn’t find good-quality trials showing they lift facial tissue, so we can’t recommend one. Don’t buy fillers or “pens” for home use: the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says no dermal filler is approved for over-the-counter use, and needle-free injection devices aren’t approved for fillers.
Daily sunscreen and not smoking are the habits ASPS (US) links to longer-lasting facial results. For age-based advice, see facelifts at 40, 50 and 60.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Short answers on which non-surgical facelifts work, cost, exercises, face tape and when surgery becomes the better option.
Which non surgical facelifts actually work?
Microfocused ultrasound and thread lifts have the most published data, and both show mild to moderate, temporary improvement. Fillers restore volume rather than lifting. None matches surgery, which ASPS says only a facelift can achieve, though they can delay it for people with mild laxity.
Can natural facelifts without surgery fix jowls?
Only mild ones. A 2023 review found ultrasound worked less well as laxity increased and suggested surgery for severe cases. Heavy jowls are caused by tissue sliding down, and lifting that tissue back needs a surgical lift of the deeper layer.
How much do non surgical facelifts cost?
ASPS reported 2023 average US fees of $2,326 for noninvasive skin tightening, $715 for hyaluronic acid filler and $435 for neuromodulator injections. Most treatments need repeating, so the total cost over several years can approach that of surgery.
Do facial exercises lift the face?
One small 2018 study found that 20 weeks of daily exercise made women look about 2.7 years younger in photos and fuller in the cheeks. Only 16 people finished, there was no control group, and larger studies are needed before calling it reliable.
Does face lift tape on the forehead work?
It works only while it’s on. Tape holds the skin in place temporarily and has no proven lasting effect. It can be useful for a photo or an event, but stop using it if your skin becomes red or irritated.
If you’d like to know whether a non-surgical option will be enough for your face, you can book a consultation with Metropole Clinic by ABmedi. To compare every surgical and non-surgical choice, visit our guide to facelifts.
This article is for general education and does not replace a personal medical consultation.
References
Show sources
- Facelift. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, US). Accessed 2026. plasticsurgery.org
- Neck Lift. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, US). Accessed 2026. plasticsurgery.org
- 2023 Cosmetic Procedures: Average Cost. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, US). 2024. plasticsurgery.org
- Contini M, et al. A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):1522. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Niu Z, et al. A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Incidences of Complications Following Facial Thread-Lifting. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2021;45(5):2148-2158. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Alam M, et al. Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(3):365-367. jamanetwork.com
- Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, US). Accessed 2026. fda.gov
- Skouras GA, Skouras AG, Skoura EA. Revision and Secondary Facelift: Problems Frequently Encountered. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020;8(8):e2947. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
