Is It Better to Get a Facelift or Fillers?

There are many options available for addressing signs of facial aging, including fillers (such as Juvéderm^®) and surgery (such as a facelift). Philadelphia and Villanova’s Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons know that patients may sometimes be overwhelmed or confused by all of the different types of cosmetic treatments available and be unsure of which option is right for them. Be assured that patients don’t make their decisions in a vacuum—a trusted and experienced medical professional can make recommendations based on a patient’s goals, anatomy, and other factors.

It goes without saying that our skin and face shape can change drastically as we age. Facial fat loses volume, while less collagen and elastin—the proteins that support the strength and elasticity of the skin—are produced. While we may start off having high cheekbones, full cheeks, and a defined jawline, time can cause the cheeks to become flatter, loose skin to sag in the jawline area, and wrinkles or creases to develop around the mouth area. 

Eventually, we all start noticing signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. Many people simply live with these changes, but millions of Americans do go for anti-aging treatments and procedures every year. Women and men who are contemplating facial rejuvenation procedures to address the effects of time and gravity may be curious about whether surgical cosmetic procedures, non-surgical treatments, or a combination of both would be best for addressing the changes that bother them.

See below to learn more about what can be achieved with facial fillers and facelift surgery. 

Who Would Most Benefit from Fillers?

Facial fillers—also called dermal fillers or injectable fillers—are natural or synthetic substances injected below the surface of the skin as a way of adding volume to areas where it is needed, reducing wrinkles, and improving the contours of the face. Some people prefer fillers because they are far less invasive than surgical cosmetic procedures like facelifts—and thus require significantly less recovery (if any at all). 

Although minimally invasive options such as injectables like fillers and neuromodulators have become increasingly popular, people often don’t realize that there are limits to what these treatments can accomplish. If your main goal is to reduce lines around the lower face or add fullness to the cheeks and lips, then hyaluronic acid-based fillers can be an ideal way of achieving your desired changes. Fillers produce very subtle and natural results that can last for months or even a couple years under ideal conditions, and injectors can choose the exact right amount of volume a certain area needs. However, fillers won’t be able to address excess loose skin. If you were to attempt to fill loose skin with too much filler, the results could look unnatural. Results are also not as dramatic as the changes possible with a facelift. 

Who Would Most Benefit from a Facelift?

If you have developed excessive loose skin on the lower face that you want to tighten, facelift surgery might be the ideal option for you. The goal of the procedure is to restore a more defined jawline and a smoother, firmer, more youthful facial appearance so that patients still look like themselves, but years—even a decade—younger. Although it may seem as if fillers are the less expensive option, facelift surgery might be the most cost-effective choice in the long-term if you calculate the cumulative cost to maintain filler results with periodic treatments into consideration. A facelift can also be better for someone who is looking for more long-term results. If you have strong bone structure, good health, and have retained some natural skin elasticity, then you may be a good facelift candidate.

Some patients choose both! A facelift can address contour issues, while fillers handle more superficial age-related changes for an overall holistic rejuvenation.

To learn more about the benefits of a facelift, fillers, and other options, contact the team at Cross Medical Group. Call (215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form to request a consultation if you are interested in discussing cosmetic surgery and treatments.