CAN I HAVE FILLERS AND THREADS INSTEAD OF A FACE LIFT?

Treatment of the aging face has many benefits. Generally speaking, there are surgical procedures such as a facelift and there are nonsurgical products and services. As in all areas of medicine, we first must determine the most accurate diagnosis. The aging face has many regions that foretell the advancement of time.

The sagging neck, droopy upper eyelids, forehead as well as bags of the lower eyelids are the main areas of concern. There are many facial muscles that control the movement of the skin. And, in doing so create wrinkles throughout the face.

Profound sagging no matter where in the face is best served and treated with direct surgical procedures. For example, upper eyelids, cheeks, and neck respond well to face and neck lift as does upper and lower lid blepharoplasty.

Over the past decade or so, multiple products and services of non-surgical nature have been devised. These try to turn back the aging process. Botox and fillers have withstood the test of time. However, they are not effective in reducing or eliminating severe sagging of the above-mentioned areas.

Certain types of absorbable threads have come onto the market. These attempt to produce collagen creation in the skin. They attempt to slow down the sagging process. These non-surgical methods are not a substitute for surgical procedures. They have minimal effect on the overall sagging and aging process. Furthermore, they are temporary.

Facelift vs Fillers

In most instances, they do not produce the dramatic improvement that surgery will create and they certainly, do not have longevity. Just as a 30-year-old may not be a candidate for a facelift, a 50 or 60-year-old may not be a candidate for threads. Botox and fillers seeing to transcend the limitations placed upon us by some of the other non-surgical techniques. In other words, Botox and fillers can be an improvement in and of themselves or in conjunction with serious facial surgery. Also, these nonsurgical techniques can be used as maintenance once you’ve had a facelift or a blepharoplasty, they can extend the longevity.

So, the answer is nonsurgical procedures do not replace facelift surgery. However, they can either maintain it once it’s performed or give a temporary improvement prior to surgical procedures.