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:
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.
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.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.