Because of the emergence, development and trends in facial fillers and neuromodulators, women and men are choosing to have surgical facelifts 5 to 10 years later compared to 20 years ago. In this blog post, Dr. Zubowicz explores the differences to help you understand what might be the right choice for you as you consider options for restoring a youthful look.

What is a Liquid Facelift?

Liquid facelifts (combination of fillers and neuromodulators) is a non-surgical approach to restore youth to the face primarily by camouflage. Eventually, the features of aging, (deep line, wrinkles, sagging skin) cannot be obscured by the liquid management and patients will have to consider a more formal operation to restore a youthful appearance.

Pros:

  • Liquid restoration has the advantage of being more immediate, non-surgical, less recovery time.
  • The injections are done in the office.
  • They are very safe.

Cons:

  • The products don’t last forever and re-injection will be needed.
  •  There are limits to the aesthetic gains.
  • Initially, injections are less expensive than more formal surgical procedures but when repeated over time they lose the financial advantage.

What is a Surgical Facelift?

A traditional facelift, is a surgical procedure, requiring general anesthesia that repositions and tightens the muscles and excess skin on the face and neck.

Pros:

  • Create a more defined, dramatic results taking years off your appearance. Addressing more complex aging issues like deep lines and wrinkles, loose skin, deep facial folds, etc.
  • When properly executed last many years, if not a lifetime.
  • In the past few years fat grafting (volume enhancement using the patient’s own fat) has become an adjunct to a facelift operation). Fat grafting is performed with the exception that much of the grafted fat will last a lifetime.

Cons:

  • Surgical facelifts are complex operations and for the most part require a general anesthetic, a period of recovery and patience to see the final results
  • Facelifts can be an expensive upfront cost but may be more cost effective in the long term.

Real Patient Before and After Examples of Surgical Facelifts

Facelift Surgery Before and After Photos - Female Patient 3

Surgical facelift example of volume repositioning. See the change in the volume distribution of the face. This was accomplished by surgery alone without any volume enhancement with fillers or fat. Also includes the correction of the platysma bands with surgery with the addition of removal of redundant skin and excess fat in the neck.

Facelift Surgery Before and After Photos - Female Patient 1

Surgical facelift example and formal surgical browlift which physically raises the brow and in this case allows for correction of asymmetry. Note the patient’s right eyebrow is lower than the left. The patient also had upper and lower eyelid surgery. The muscles of expression that a temporarily disrupted by botox are mechanically weakened by the surgical browlift with very long lasting if not permanent results.

Choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust

If you want to improve or enhance your look for a younger appearance and are considering a liquid facelift or surgical facelift, it’s important to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon about all your options.

When I meet with prospective patients, I explain all the procedures and options for achieving their goals and show them an extensive gallery of patients that have undergone facelifts. This allows the patient to better understand their options and it sets expectations for outcomes. I also show patients the different stages of recovery, so they have a good understanding of what to expect along this journey.

If you are interested in learning more about liquid or surgical facelifts, contact our office at 678-566-7200 to set up a complementary consultation.