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The Pros and Cons of Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Facelifts

Facelifts are among the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world. Every year, millions of people have facelifts to eliminate the signs of aging and rejuvenate their appearance. As popular as facelifts are, they are not for everyone. Fortunately, there are nonsurgical facelifts that provide similar, yet temporary, changes to the face that are just as popular among those who are not ready to commit to surgery.

 

It’s important to weigh the potential pros and cons of nonsurgical facelifts and to discuss your goals and concerns with a qualified facelift surgeon.

  • What Are Surgical Facelifts?
  • Types of Facelift Surgery
  • What Are Non-Surgical Facelifts?
  • Pros of Non-Surgical Facelifts
  • Cons of Non-Surgical Facelifts
  • Key Takeaways

What Are Surgical Facelifts?

A surgical facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of the face by tightening the skin and underlying tissues to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve its overall texture. The procedure is performed on different areas of the face, including the cheeks, jowls, and neck.

Types of Facelift Surgery

There are several types of facelifts that can correct different aesthetic concerns and signs of aging in different areas of the face. Here are some of the most common types of facelifts offered at the Dr. Matt Hershcovitch, M.D., Facial Plastic Surgery clinic in Burbank, California.

Full facelift: A full facelift addresses sagging in the mid-face, lower face, and neck. Incisions are made around the ear so Dr. Hershcovitch can remove excess skin and fat and lift, drape, and tighten the underlying muscles of the face.

Mini facelift: A mini facelift is a less invasive version of a full facelift. The procedure corrects sagging in the jawline, neck, and parts of the lower face. The mini facelift utilizes small incisions and usually does not involve the removal of excess skin.

Mid facelift: A mid facelift treats sagging in the cheek and mouth areas and is often performed in combination with a full or mini facelift.

Revision facelifts: Revision facelifts are done to correct undesirable results of past procedures. 

Reconstruction: Reconstruction facelifts are done to correct deformities of the face caused by trauma, cancer, and disease for aesthetic improvements.

The above types of facelifts are surgical procedures that are best performed by a qualified, high-volume plastic surgeon. To learn the benefits and risks of each and which type of facelift is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hershcovitch today.

What Are Non-Surgical Facelifts?

Dr. Hershcovitch also offers nonsurgical facelifts to those ready to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin to rejuvenate the appearance of their face. Below are the most popular nonsurgical facelift treatments:

faceliftsDermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injectable facelift-like treatments that are used to restore volume and fullness to improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in the temples, and around the nose, cheeks, lips, and mouth. They are made of hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, and other substances, which are all biocompatible and safe to use.

Types of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers add volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. There are several different types of dermal fillers available.

Botox: Botox injectable treatment uses a form of botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze the muscles that cause wrinkles, resulting in a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Hyaluronic acid fillers: These fillers are made from a naturally occurring substance in the body called hyaluronic acid, which helps to keep the skin hydrated and plump. Dr. Hershcovitch offers Hyaluronic fillers Belotero, Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Juvéderm, and Juvéderm Voluma XC.

Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers: These fillers are made from a substance that is similar to the minerals found in bone and teeth. They add volume to the cheeks and temples. Dr. Hershcovitch offers Radiesse treatments.

Poly-L-lactic acid fillers: These fillers are made from a synthetic substance that stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep the skin firm and smooth. These fillers treat deeper wrinkles and stimulate collagen production for a more natural, long-lasting result.

Dermal fillers are not permanent, and their effects typically last for a few to several months, depending on the type of filler used and the area treated. You should speak Dr. Hershcovitch to determine the best treatment options for your individual needs and goals.

Laser Resurfacing Treatments

Laser fractionated skin resurfacing treatments stimulate collagen production to improve the texture and tone of the skin. Nonsurgical laser facelifts can address a variety of skin concerns, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne scarring, and sun damage. Nonsurgical laser facelifts are a good option for individuals looking to improve the appearance of their skin without surgery.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels exfoliate the face by removing the outer layers of skin cells to reveal a smoother, more youthful complexion. Chemical peels help improve the appearance of fine lines, acne scars, uneven skin tone, and other skin imperfections.

Light chemical peels: Light peels use a mild solution to exfoliate the outer layers of skin, resulting in a smoother and more radiant appearance.

Medium chemical peels: These peels use a stronger solution to penetrate deeper into the skin, resulting in more dramatic improvements in the appearance of fine lines, acne scars, and uneven skin tone.

Deep chemical peels: These peels penetrate the deepest layers of skin to produce significant improvements in the appearance of imperfections.

Microdermabrasion Treatment

Microdermabrasion facials are suitable for most skin types and treat a variety of skin concerns, including acne, scars, sun damage, and uneven skin tone. Multiple treatments are often necessary to achieve the desired results. 

Pros of Non-Surgical Facelifts

Non-Surgical facelifts produce some noticeable improvements in the appearance of the skin, but they are not as dramatic as surgical facelift procedures. Below are some benefits of nonsurgical facelifts.

No downtime – Recovery time is minimal, so patients can resume their normal activities right away.

No surgery – Non-surgical facelifts do not involve any incisions or surgery, so there’s no risk of scarring or complications associated with surgery.

Minimal discomfort – Non-surgical facelifts are relatively painless. A mild anesthetic can be provided to patients concerned about any discomfort.

Quick results – Non-surgical facelifts can produce visible results in just one treatment, with continuous improvements developing over the course of several weeks.

Customizable – Non-surgical facelifts can be customized to address specific areas of concern, such as sagging skin, wrinkles, or loss of volume.

Cost-effective – Non-surgical facelifts are typically less expensive than surgical facelifts, making them a more affordable option for people who want to rejuvenate their appearance on a budget.

Cons of Non-Surgical Facelifts

Non-Surgical facelifts, also known as liquid facelifts, are a type of cosmetic procedure that improves the appearance of the face via injectable treatments, such as dermal fillers and Botox. While these procedures are effective at improving the appearance of the face and reducing the signs of aging, they do have some potential drawbacks and risks that you should consider before undergoing treatment.

The downsides of nonsurgical facelifts are:

Limited results – Nonsurgical facelifts cannot achieve the same level of results as a surgical facelift. The effects of injectable treatments are usually temporary and require maintenance treatments to maintain the results.

Side effects – As with any medical procedure, there is a risk of side effects associated with nonsurgical facelifts. These include bruising, swelling, and infection at the injection site.

Pain – Injectable treatments are painless, however, some people may experience discomfort or pain during their procedures.

Downtime – Non-Surgical facelifts do not require any downtime.

Key Takeaways

Both surgical and nonsurgical facelifts have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are interested in transforming your facial features, you should learn everything you can about both types of facelifts before scheduling an appointment with Dr. Hershcovitch, MD, a leading facelift surgeon in Burbank, California

To learn more about surgical or nonsurgical facelifts, call (818) 206-2539.