Facelift or Fillers?

If you are looking to give your face a rejuvenating boost, a cosmetic procedure can reverse the signs of aging. But are dermal fillers your best option or should you consider surgery? The answer depends on the overall condition of your skin and what results you wish to achieve.

Both facelifts and fillers can address visible signs of aging, smooth the skin and give an overall more youthful appearance. However, the two procedures are distinct and offer different advantages.

Fillers are a minimally-invasive technique that can add necessary volume to depleted, sagging skin. Excellent for replenishing the cheeks and plumping out the skin, fillers come in a range of formulas and that can be injected into the skin. Temporary fillers, such as hyaluronic acid-based ones, are generally the most frequently requested; however permanent fillers can also be used. Fillers are commonly used to:

• Restore volume in the cheeks
• Smooth out fine lines and deeper creases (frown lines and smile lines)
• Enhance lips

A facelift is a surgical procedure that repositions underlying tissues and trims excess skin to create a tighter more taut appearance. Medically termed a rhytidectomy, a facelift can be full or partial, depending on the extent of aging and the area of concern. A facelift is an excellent option if you want to:

• Address severe skin laxity and deep creases
• Restore or enhance facial definition, especially in the chin and jaw
• Remove excess fatty deposits associated with a double chin
• Achieve long-lasting results

Neither fillers nor facelifts can halt the aging process, but they offer restorative results that can help maintain a graceful appearance as an individual matures.

Weighing Your Options and the Results

If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, here are a few guidelines to help you determine what might be best for you:

• Goals. Are you looking for increased volume and wrinkle reduction or would you like to address severely sagging skin? Think about what concerns you most as you weigh your options.
• Age. Fillers can enhance the appearance at most ages, but are particularly suited for those with early signs of aging and volume reduction (late 30s-early 50s). For those with advanced aging, surgery is generally considered the gold standard.
• Skin elasticity. More important than your actual chronological age is how well your skin is holding up against the tides of time. If the skin has lost too much elasticity, fillers are limited in scope.
• Recovery time. If you are looking for a procedure with no downtime, fillers may be your best bet.
• Medical history. Most fillers are highly tolerated, but certain ones may cause adverse side effects in those with allergies. Because surgery requires the body to heal, any candidate for surgery should be healthy and a non-smoker to ensure optimal recovery.

Fillers and surgery are not necessarily mutually exclusive procedures. Fillers can be combined with a facelift to increase the effects of the surgery.

Your Facial Rejuvenation Consultation at Beverly Hills Profiles

A facial rejuvenation procedure can refresh your appearance and help you maintain your best face. Dr. Litner and Dr. Solieman are acclaimed cosmetic surgeons known for delivering impressively subtle and natural-looking results. Experts in combining surgical techniques with fillers, they can determine the best treatment for you. Contact Beverly Hills Profiles for a comprehensive surgical consultation.