You have more options than ever when it comes to taking years off your appearance. Weighing the benefits of nonsurgical options like dermal fillers vs. a surgical facelift and their cost can be daunting for many of our Atlanta patients. Knowing which one is right for you will depend on many factors, including your cosmetic concerns, budget, and comfort level with things like recovery time and side effects.
Understanding Fillers vs. Facelifts
Dermal fillers and facelift surgery are 2 of the most popular anti-aging strategies at Buckhead Facial Plastic Surgery. And while both can help you look naturally refreshed, they work very differently and target different elements of facial aging. Each option has advantages and drawbacks; determining which will benefit you most will depend on the final result you’re aiming for.
Filler Benefits
Dermal fillers are volumizing products that create more rounded facial contours, which are a hallmark of youth. As we age, we lose collagen and fat in the cheeks, lips, temples, and forehead. This causes facial expression lines and loose skin, and it also creates hollowness in the cheeks and under the eyes. Dermal fillers plump up areas of the face that are affected by age-related volume loss and restore a more curved, soft, and youthful-looking face shape.
Injectable treatments are often used in the early stages of facial aging before surgery is necessary. I’ve also used fillers to prep the face for a better outcome in case a facelift is needed.
Facelift Benefits
Facelift surgery tightens the skin, reducing wrinkles and creating a more contoured jawline. It is ideal for someone who is bothered by sagging skin or the appearance of jowls. It is best for those with advanced signs of aging who need more dramatic results.
Facelift surgery includes repositioning the facial fat pads to help improve facial volume and contours. However, dermal fillers are often used after facelift surgery to maintain the results and provide more significant facial volume enhancement.
What can a facelift do that fillers can’t?
Unlike a facelift, fillers can’t remove extra skin or provide any significant degree of skin tightening. Fillers also can’t lift the facial muscles or fat pads and, therefore, the results don’t last as long either. The results from most fillers last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years (although some last longer), while the results of facelift surgery can last 10 years or more.
Consultations, Cost, and Maintenance
Consultations
Both procedures should only be performed by a skilled, trained professional, such as a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. This ensures your doctor has received in-depth education and training in facial plastic surgery procedures.
Board-certified facial plastic surgeons can also perform dermal filler injections, and I often perform them at my practice. As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, my background in facial plastic surgery and understanding of facial anatomy ensure my patients receive accurate filler placement with reduced side effects like bruising.
Cost
With dermal fillers, you’ll be paying per syringe. The exact amount will depend on what type of filler you choose, how many syringes are used, and how many treatments you have. The longer you use fillers, the more money you can expect to spend.
Facelift surgery is a 1-time fee that covers everything from the surgery to the facility fees and anesthesia costs. While the upfront amount is much more than fillers, you will save money in the long run because your results will be more substantial and last longer (10 years as opposed to 1 year).
Maintenance
A facelift requires no maintenance, but some people like to enhance their results with dermal fillers or other injectable treatments, like BOTOX®. Dermal fillers will require touch-up treatments anywhere from once or twice a year to every 2 years, depending on the filler type. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon can help you choose the best option that’s right for your goals and budget.
To find out whether facelifts or dermal fillers may be right for you, book now online or call us at (404) 233-3937.
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