Are Fillers or Facelift Surgery Right for You?

3 Minute Read: 

Age-related facial changes begin sooner than anyone would want. It seems like these start creeping up as early as your late 20s or 30s, and sadly, the laws of aging only inform us that these will get worse. 

Aging signs always start small, a discoloration here, a wrinkle there, and even the best skincare products cannot halt the aging process for long.

After a time, many women and men start to consider the notion of cosmetic treatments. While facial surgery undoubtedly offers the biggest bang for your buck (in terms of correction and longevity), most people don’t want to jump right into surgery, especially if they are only in their early 40s.

Fortunately, there are non-surgical cosmetic treatments that can postpone the need for more invasive surgical corrections. These include dermal fillers like JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® and neuromodulators like BOTOX® Cosmetic. 

But, when are these treatments no longer as effective? To know that, it is best to understand exactly what these treatments target (and what is above their ability).

Understanding Injectables: What Are They, and How Do They Work?

Cosmetic injectables fall into two categories: neuromodulators and dermal fillers. 

• Neuromodulators, like BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®, address dynamic lines and wrinkles on the face. These lines form due to repeated muscle movements like blinking, squinting, smiling, and even scowling. Neuromodulators (or neurotoxins) work very differently than other cosmetic injectables. 

Instead of filling areas beneath the skin or stimulating collagen production, these injectables temporarily prevent the facial muscles from contracting; when they can’t contract, they can’t form wrinkles. This process is very safe and usually smooths these types of lines for three to four months before needing an additional injection.

• Dermal fillers, like JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®, consist of hyaluronic acid and “fill” the areas beneath the skin where injected. This reduces static lines and wrinkles (the ones due to age) and can even restore volume to facial areas like the cheeks and lips. 

Fillers like Sculptra® Aesthetic also restore volume; however, these works by stimulating your tissues to produce more collagen.

• The RHA® Collection is the newest product to revolutionize the injectables game. This line of injectables combines the benefits of both neuromodulators and fillers, offering improvement for both static and dynamic lines while increasing volume in the treated areas.   

When Are Injectables Best?

Injectables are a great “starter” treatment. While these options are not permanent (neuromodulators last three to four months and fillers last roughly nine to 18 months), they offer noticeable improvement to some of the most frustrating signs of aging. 

There is no limit to the number of injectables you can get over the years; however, these treatments cannot tighten sagging skin or lift tissue. When these types of issues occur, it may be time to consider a facelift.

Understanding Facial Rejuvenation Surgery: What Are Your Options?

Facial surgeries, like facelift surgery, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and brow lift surgery, address excess skin and sagging tissues in their respective facial regions. Facelift surgery addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, eyelid surgery addresses the upper and lower eyelids, and brow lift surgery addresses the forehead and eyebrow region.

These surgeries offer long-lasting solutions. Even though they cannot stop the natural aging process, the changes made to your tissues are permanent and will not need touch-up treatments every few months or every year the way injectables do.

When Should You Consider Combining Treatments?

Even if you’ve decided to take the plunge and opt for facial surgery, you can still benefit from injectables. Maybe you had a facelift but decided that BOTOX® Cosmetic was enough to address your crow’s feet or frown lines. Or, maybe you still want more facial volume in your lips or cheeks after a facelift. A dermal filler can be a wonderful addition to facial surgery.

In reality, these two treatments are not mutually exclusive. They offer benefits for different concerns and work in different ways.

Tired of Signs of Aging? Consider Facial Rejuvenation Treatments in Scottsdale, AZ

If you are still confused about which cosmetic treatment is right for you, contact the team at AZ Plastic Surgery Center by calling (480) 359-1019 or filling out our online contact form.