Facelift or BOTOX? Comparing Surgery to Injectable Treatments
Facial lines, wrinkles, loose, sagging skin, and a loss of facial volume are common concerns as people age. When cosmetic imperfections such as these age a person beyond their years, many consider cosmetic treatment to turn back the hands of time.
Suitable options for treating facial wrinkles and sagging skin include BOTOX® Cosmetic, dermal fillers, and facelift surgery. Dr. Ken Smart offers all these services at his plastic surgery and medspa center that serves Frisco, TX, Plano, TX, and the North Texas area. He helps patients consider a facelift vs. BOTOX injections and fillers, and which option is better to meet their unique needs and desires.
How Does BOTOX Treat Facial Wrinkles?
BOTOX treats lines and creases by targeting the facial muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles. During a short, minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Smart strategically administers injections of BOTOX Cosmetic, which contains a diluted version of the botulinum toxin. BOTOX temporarily prevents the muscle contractions responsible for many facial wrinkles. Within a few days of treatment, facial skin relaxes to smooth out wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance.
How Do Dermal Fillers Address the Signs of Aging?
Dermal fillers are another type of cosmetic injection. However, they work differently than BOTOX. Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to add volume where collagen cells have been depleted. Cosmetic injectables can fill out sunken facial features; smooth out lines, creases, or deep folds; and fill in recessed scars. As with BOTOX, dermal filler treatment is fast and minimally invasive; results are usually apparent within several days of treatment.
Pros and Cons of BOTOX and Cosmetic Injectables
BOTOX and cosmetic injectables are excellent options for treating signs of facial aging. Many of our patients opt to undergo BOTOX or cosmetic injectable treatment to test out results before committing to plastic surgery. These treatments are less invasive than surgery, have a lower risk of complications, require little to no downtime for recovery, and are more affordable than a facelift.
The drawback of BOTOX and cosmetic injectables is their lack of permanency. Treatment results are temporary. To maintain treatment results, patients require touch-up appointments. BOTOX results usually last three to four months, whereas dermal fillers may last as long as 12 to 18 months.
How Does a Facelift Address Signs of Aging?
A facelift is a plastic surgery procedure that smooths out facial lines and wrinkles and lifts facial features by removing excess fat and tissues. Dr. Smart can perform a mini or traditional facelift, depending on the degree of alterations required. Facelift surgery addresses the signs of aging on the lower two-thirds of the face, from the cheeks to the upper neck.
Pros and Cons of a Facelift
The benefits of a facelift are its long-lasting results. The alterations made during facelift surgery are permanent. Patients may develop new wrinkles or creases as the skin ages, but they can expect facelift results to last at least 10 years. Drawbacks to consider are the cost and invasiveness of treatment. No surgical procedure is without risks. Still, the risk of facelift complications is low, and many people believe the cost of the procedure is a valuable investment since its results are so long-lasting.
Which Treatment Is Right for Me?
The choice between a facelift and BOTOX or other cosmetic injectables is personal. Dr. Smart carefully discusses each of his patient’s aesthetic goals and explains every treatment option (and treatment recovery) to allow them to make an educated choice regarding which treatment is right for them. If a patient decides they are better suited for dermal fillers or injectables, they may later choose to undergo a facelift. Similarly, patients who undergo a facelift may also receive BOTOX or cosmetic injections.
Contact Us
If you are unhappy with your appearance due to facial wrinkles or other signs of aging, Dr. Ken Smart can create a cosmetic treatment plan customized to your needs and desires. To learn more about the treatments available at our plastic surgery and medspa center, send us a message at your earliest convenience.
