Can Nonsurgical Face-Lifts Zap Wrinkles?

July 8 -- Since birth, twin sisters Kathy and Karen Ritter have been nearly inseparable, doing everything from twirling batons together in elementary school to dating the same guy in high school. But now, at 43, they're sharing something neither of them wanted: wrinkles.

A few months ago Good Morning America began searching the country for twins who wanted a non-invasive makeover, a pain-free way to turn back the hands of time. The Ritter twins — now Karen Cascadden and Kathy Fitch — fit the bill perfectly. Each will undergo a different type of nonsurgical face-lift that does not involve scalpels, sutures or scars.

The sisters say they are both ready for a makeover, and they'll do it together.

Dr. Howard Sobel (drsobel.com), a cosmetic dermatologic surgeon based in New York City, will use a cold or "Cool-Touch" laser on Cascadden, while Dr. Michelle Copeland (drcopeland.com), another New York-based cosmetic surgeon, will use a "hot" rejuvenation-combination technique for Fitch. The non-ablative therapies, which involve no cutting, are gradually making their way onto the market in major cities.

Unlike traditional treatments, which alter the top layers of skin and require days or weeks of healing, the nonsurgical face-lifts work on the tissue beneath the skin, and can be done in just minutes in the doctor's office. The nonsurgical techniques are aimed at a younger clientele, who are too busy to deal with the days or weeks of healing.

"This is for somebody who doesn't want a lot of down time," Sobel said. "Not for someone who is 70 plus years old and has lots of skin that needs tightening. This is more for people in their 30s to 50s who have fine lines and now have some loosening of skin and find gravity is winning out and don't need to go under the knife."

The Cool Method

The CoolTouch technique takes 20 minutes and stings a little, Sobel said. The patient is awake during the procedure.

"We give a topical agent to numb the skin, or if needed a pill to relax you," Sobel said. "It feels like a light rubber band snapping your face."