Choosing the Right Facelift for Your Goals

Aging affects the body inside and out, but one of the first places most people notice it is in the face. The delicate skin around the eyes can start to wrinkle, and once-firm cheeks can start to sag. At the first signs of aging, many people go out and buy the latest cream or serum that promises to make them look years younger, only to find that the products haven’t delivered on their promises. 

Does this sound familiar? Are you, like many of them, now considering getting a facelift? 

When it comes to facelifts, you have many choices. Frederick H. Watkins, MD, understands that there’s an overwhelming amount of information about facial treatments, and it can be difficult to navigate it all on your own. To help you decide which treatment may be right for you, Dr. Watkins compares a traditional surgical facelift with a liquid facelift.

The liquid facelift

The first thing you should know about a liquid facelift is that it technically isn’t a facelift at all. Instead, it’s a treatment that combines two very effective facial treatments — Botox® and dermal fillers — to give you a smoother, younger looking face. Because both treatments are injectables, the term “liquid facelift” aptly describes the process and effect.

Botox

When you make facial expressions, you contract certain muscles in your face. Over time, these facial muscles can begin to stay in a semicontracted state and thus push up the skin above them to form wrinkles. Botox® causes the muscles to relax, which then causes the skin above them to smooth out. Botox is especially effective at treating wrinkles between your eyebrows, across your forehead, and around your eyes.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers help restore the volume under your skin that you tend to lose as you age. Made mostly of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occuring substance your body already produces, it helps plump up your skin to make it firmer, smoother, and more youthful looking. 

Here are some reasons to consider a liquid facelift:

• Your wrinkles are just beginning
• You only want a subtle change
• You need fast results
• You’re concerned about pain 
• You can’t afford any downtime
• You want to save money
• You’re unable to undergo surgery
• You want a “trial run” before committing to surgery

With liquid facelifts, you can get touch-ups as time goes by to keep things looking good.

The surgical facelift

Unlike a liquid face, a traditional surgical facelift literally lifts up the sagging skin on your face and repositions it. The procedure can be done with local anesthesia or general anesthesia.  Dr. Watkins makes an incision at your hairline so he can access your facial tissue.

Before undergoing your procedure, Dr. Watkins discusses your goals and lets you know exactly what’s possible, so you can make decisions based on realistic expectations. He then designs your treatment plan.

He may remove excess fat and skin, move tissue from one place to another, or shore up loose skin that’s begun to droop. 

Here are some reasons to consider a surgical facelift:

• You have sagging jowls
• You have deep lines and wrinkles
• You’ve lost muscle tone
• You want a permanent change
• You want dramatic results
• You’re willing to deal with surgical pain
• You can take a few weeks to heal
• You’re a nonsmoker
• You can afford this elective surgery

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, then a surgical facelift may be better suited to your goals. 

We hope this comparison helps you make a more informed decision about how to pursue your goals. If you have any questions, we’d love to discuss them with you. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with the practice of Frederick H. Watkins, MD, today.