Aging changes are tough to take for all of us. The natural tendency is to seek the least invasive procedures to reverse those changes. So how do I know if I need a facelift?

Aging of the face involves at least things:

1. Sagging
2. Atrophy (loss of volume)
3. Changes in the skin itself such as thinning, fine wrinkles, blotchiness, etc.

Each of us has a different aging pattern but whatever pattern a person has, it is some combination of the above factors.

Less invasive treatments such as Botox, fillers, laser treatments, etc., provide some benefit from #2 and #3 above, but surgical lifting is really the only treatment for #1 (sagging). FOCUS ON WHAT IS BOTHERING YOU SO YOU GET THE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR THAT PROBLEM!

Less invasive treatments really do not substitute for, or compete with, a facelift; they do completely different things. When viewed in this way, it is easier to decide what type of procedure you want or when you are ready for a facelift.

MYTHS:

MYTH #1: Fillers can delay the need for a facelift.

MYTH #2: Fillers can temporarily lift the face.

MYTH #3: Non-invasive procedures are cheaper (in the long run)

These myths are commonly reinforced in magazines but are really, well, myths; they are NOT true.

WEIGHING PROS AND CONS OF FACELIFT VS. NON-INVASIVES

Money: Non-invasive procedures cost significantly less than surgical ones. Keep in mind, however, that the cost of injectables and other treatments adds up fast and over the course of a few years, non-invasive treatments may NOT be less expensive than a facelift.

• Improvement: As mentioned above, surgical treatments and non-surgical treatments do different things and one does not substitute for the other.
• Recovery time: A facelift requires 3 weeks for the total recovery and most non-invasive treatments are associated with a much shorter recovery period.
• Risks: Naturally, a surgical procedure has more potential risks than a non-surgical one that doesn't require incisions. But do not be naïve, there is no treatment that is without potential risk.
• Natural look: A well-performed facelift will make you look like a crisper version of yourself, not a different person. Same with well-performed fillers. Either type of procedure in the wrong hands can make you look strange.
• Longevity: This is where a surgical procedure has tremendous advantages over the less invasive treatments. The surgical benefit will last many years and there is no non-invasive procedure that provides that longevity.

Consult a Plastic Surgeon

Consult a plastic surgeon to determine which option is best suited to your pattern of aging. You may decide to have injectables or you may decide to have a facelift or you may decide on both.

Dr. Charles Thorne is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of cosmetic experience. Book an online consultation with Dr. Thorne or schedule an in-office consultation now.