Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Facelift: How Much Boost is Enough?

Are you exasperated by facial ageing that makes you look old and tired, with grumpy frown lines and a furrowed, angry-looking brow? If so, you may have been wondering about a surgical vs. non-surgical facelift. We invite you to stop wondering and start getting ready to stop the wrinkles and sagging in their tracks with the help of Dr Marcells and his team.

When Should I Choose Surgical Facelift vs Other Treatments?

When to choose facelift surgery vs wrinkle relaxers, skin resurfacing, dermal fillers, or other skin rejuvenation options is not a question of when, as age is not really a factor. If you are in good health and have realistic expectations about the benefits of surgery, you are likely a good candidate for facial rejuvenation surgery, regardless of your age.

Instead, the choice to have a surgical facelift is determined by what you want to correct

• Severe skin laxity such as droopy eyelids and jowls that does not respond to cosmetic injectables
• Visible lines and wrinkles that never go away (static wrinkles)
• Lack of facial volume, especially in the cheeks
• Better skin tone

“With each passing year, unwanted signs of visible facial ageing begin to appear,” observes Dr Marcells. For years, people typically delayed facelift surgery until their 60s and 70’s. More recently, however, men and women have discovered there are surprising benefits to early facial rejuvenation. In fact, “Facelifts performed before the age of 50 help retain, rather than recapture youth,” says Dr Marcells. “If you opt for a surgical facelift as soon as you begin to experience skin ageing, you can maximise your youthful appearance for far more years than if you wait until lines and wrinkles are etched more permanently into your face.”

3 Ways We Give Your Face a Lift without Surgery

“The facial rejuvenation benefits of deep plane facelift surgery are incomparable,” says Dr Marcells. “However, for patients who want to look more youthful without surgery, it is possible to combine non-surgical treatments to achieve many of the same results, if only for a shorter period of time.

At our practice, we offer patients:

• Wrinkle Treatments – a range of non-surgical options for facial lines big and small.
• Volume Augmentation – soft tissue fillers, fat transfer, and even implants can be used to re-contour sunken cheeks, droopy chin, and other problems.
• Muscle Relaxants – a way to lessen ‘first wave’ wrinkles and keep a second way from crashing.

Advantages of Deep Plane Facelift vs Other Surgical Facelifts

Just as there are many non-surgical facelift options, there are many kinds of surgical facelifts, such as SMAS, thread lifts, MACS, composite, mini, and others. The main differences include:

• Type of incision
• Number of tissue layers treated
• Area of the face to be treated
• Degree of invasiveness
• Risks
• Cost

“In my experience, the deep plane facelift provides the most impressive, natural-looking results,” says Dr Marcells. “The advantage is that key ligaments are tightened to allow maximum lift without making the face look tight, stretched, or ‘done.’” This complex procedure requires the highest level of both technical and aesthetic skill and is only performed by the most talented, experienced facial plastic surgeons such as Dr Marcells.

If you are curious about the incredible ways you can refresh and rejuvenate your appearance with the help of professionals, please contact us for a consultation so we can tell you about surgical vs. non-surgical facelifts with you.