Facelift surgery and dermal fillers are facial rejuvenating treatments widely used in plastic surgery. Anti-aging procedures have been around for years, improving numerous individuals’ self-image and esteem. Even though the two procedures inspire the same results, their execution styles are wildly different.
A facelift is a surgical procedure that aims to reduce the telltale signs of facial muscle aging. Facelift surgery is also known as rhytidectomy. The process mainly surgically lifts and tightens the facial muscles and tissues. It is important to note that a facelift does not include a brow and eye lift. However, it is advisable to have the facelift simultaneously as the eye or brow lift.
On the other hand, fillers are injectable “liquid” or a gel-like substance under the facial tissues to give your face a fuller and younger appearance. The primary cause of aging signs is the loss of volume on your face. The dermal fillers injected under the facial skins increase volume and smoothen the creases associated with aging skin.
Facelift Surgery
Also known as a rhytidectomy is a surgical cosmetic process that involves a lot of possible procedures. A facelift can affect the removal of excess skin, smoothing out skin folds, wrinkles and primarily tightening facial tissues. Choosing your plastic surgeon wisely for the best-desired results would be best.
For instance, for a facelift in Miami FL, you can visit Dr. Andres Bustillo, one of the best facelift specialists based in Miami. Generally, a facelift is a pricey undertaking ranging from $7500 to over $8000. You should consult your insurance policy provider to know your health insurance coverage.
Facelift Surgery Procedure
A facelift typically focuses on the two-thirds bottom part of the face. It also mainly involves the neck tissues. Moreover, some people are less favorable to facelift surgery. It is essential to remain realistic about the results you want from cosmetic surgery.
Traditionally, a surgeon makes a hairline incision along the edge of the face. The incision runs from the front of the ears, down the earlobe, to the back of the scalp below the ear. Excess fats are either removed or redistributed to achieve the desired results. Later the underlying muscles and connective tissues are redistributed and tightened.
With sagging skin, the facelift specialist can conduct a mini facelift to reduce jowls. For the neck lift, the incision is under the chin. After removing the excess fat under the skin, the skin gets pulled up and back for a smooth appearance.
Incisions
The incisions in these procedures are tiny. Also, they usually blend with your hairline and facial structure. They are tough to notice because they have dissolvable sutures or skin glue. The patient may need to go back to the doctor to have sutures removed on some occasions. After the surgery, you may have a surgical drainage tube and bandages around the face.
Risks
There are always a few risks associated with medical procedures. Below are a few of the most anticipated side effects after a facelift:
- Prolonged swelling
- Problems with wound healing properly
- Bleeding excessively
- Anesthesia risks
- Possible infections
- Pain or undesired scarring
- Blood clots
How Facelift Compares to Fillers
Although both procedures achieve the same results, one works better depending on various reasons. Before starting any cosmetic process, your doctor will walk through all possible outcomes and options during consultation. Below are a few reasons to choose one procedure over the other:
- Your age
- Your appearance
- The severity of the presenting issue
- Feelings of surgery for an individual
- The recovery period
- Finances
Downside of Fillers
Generally, fillers are relatively less costly than facelifts. For patients with low financial abilities, using fillers to fix the detects on the facial tissues. However, fillers are not very effective for bolder wrinkles and skin creases. Additionally, fillers are not long-lasting as compared to a facelift.
When a facelift lasts for five to ten years, fillers maintain a smooth appearance for a few months to a year. It means fillers may not be a great option for a long-term solution. Nor are they suitable for an older face structure. An older face will probably have more pronounced skin folds and loose skin.
Loose Skin
Opting for a filler poses a possible threat to appear blown up. Since fillers fill up the lost volume on the face, putting in too much is dangerous. If you attend multiple sessions for fillers, your face may appear very different from your actual result.
Filling up the lost volume may cause the skin to stretch further, speeding up the aging appearance. Loose skin may appear more frequently on an older demographic than the younger generation with healthier and more elastic skin tissues. It is safe to say that fillers aren’t advisable for old patients.
Permanent Solution
If you want to have a single procedure once and be done with it, facelifts are the way to go. As stated earlier, fillers last only for a few months, while facelifts last for ten years. If you have a busy life and don’t have time as a luxury to spare, you can opt for a one-time effective facelift.
Also, when the fillers become overused, they may stop working as effectively as before. Meaning, wrinkles start forming when you laugh, and other wrinkles around the face show. You can consider a mini facelift to pull and lift the loose skin and minimize the lines on your face. Filler fatigue is real, and you can avoid it by opting for facelift surgery.
The Best Candidates for Facelift Surgery
Just like any other surgery, there are precautions put in place for people suitable for a facelift. To qualify for a facelift, you mustn’t have any prevailing health condition that may interfere with normal healing. Also, it would be best if you were not a smoker or an abuser of substances. Being psychologically ready is a very important factor too.
Review How Facelift Surgery Effectiveness Compares to Fillers.