Sprucing Up Your Look

Surgical Facelift Versus Liquid Facelift: Which Is Right For You?

by Tammy Tucker

If you're beginning to hate looking in the mirror due to the signs of aging, you may be wondering about two popular options: surgical facelifts and liquid facelifts. While both are called facelifts, these two options are extremely different -- and are thus suited for different people. Below, you'll learn more about both surgical facelifts and liquid facelifts so you can determine whether one of them might be right for you. 

Surgical Facelift

Surgical facelift is a type of surgery in which the doctor removes excess skin and fat in the face. The muscles below the skin are then tightened before the skin is repositioned and fixed into place with tiny sutures along the hairline. A surgical facelift can correct many of the problems associated with aging -- in fact, it can potentially make you look decades younger. 

Surgical facelift is best suited for patients who can say "yes" to the following questions. 

  • Are there significant wrinkles and folds in your face? While a liquid facelift can correct smaller issues like fine lines and volume loss, only a surgical facelift can correct the deeper wrinkles and folds. Only a surgical facelift can actually remove excess skin. 
  • Do you want a dramatic change in your appearance? Surgical facelift offers a truly dramatic change. It's likely that other people will immediately notice the difference in your appearance, so it's not something you can necessarily conceal. A liquid facelift offers less dramatic results.
  • Can you commit to one to two weeks away from work? Surgical facelift is performed in either a hospital or a facial surgery center. While you can usually return home that day, you'll need some time to heal at home.

Liquid Facelift

A liquid facelift is a series of non-surgical procedures rather than one single surgery. In a liquid facelift, problems like facial lines and folds can be resolved in a matter of minutes. This type of facelift is best suited for patients who can say "yes" to the following questions. 

  • Do you want a fast and easy treatment? Liquid facelift takes less than an hour, as it involves a short series of injections. 
  • Are your main concerns fine lines and facial folds? Fine lines and facial folds (those which develop due to volume loss) are the main reasons to consider a liquid facelift. If your concerns are more serious -- for example, excess skin -- a surgical facelift is likely a better fit for you. 
  • Are you willing to repeat the treatment regularly? A liquid facelift isn't a long-term solution like a surgical facelift is. Liquid facelifts use products such as Botox and dermal fillers, which last for around 3-6 months and 4-18 months respectively. To maintain your results, you'll need to have a new treatment before the products completely dissipate. On average, this may mean that you'll need to have a liquid facelift around once a year -- possibly more often than that.

Is a liquid facelift or a surgical facelift right for you? It all depends on your individual needs and goals. Use the information above to determine which procedure is better suited for you, and then contact your local facial surgeon services for help.

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