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Facelift vs Fillers: 7 Key Differences You Need to Know

Facelift vs Fillers

Have you noticed signs of aging in your face? Then you may be looking for ways to turn back the hands of time.

The best skincare routine can only do so much, and there comes a point where you may need to do something more drastic. This is why so many people are turning to treatments like fillers and surgeries like facelifts.

Not all procedures are created equally, though, and you may be better suited for one option than the other. So when it comes to facelift vs fillers, what are the differences, and which one’s right for you? Read on to find out.

What’s a Facelift?

A facelift (also known as a rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens sagging skin on your face and neck. It reaches the deeper layers of tissue and muscles, which means that it can do the following:

  • Smooth wrinkles
  • Eliminate jowls
  • Redefine facial contours

There are three main types of facelifts:

During a facelift, you’ll go under the knife, with the plastic surgeon making incisions near the hairline and around the ears. This allows them to reposition tissue and remove excess skin, which creates dramatic changes.

What Are Fillers?

Fillers (also known as dermal fillers or soft-tissue fillers) are non-surgical injections that add volume to specific areas of your face. The goal is to reduce wrinkles and fill hollows, which will restore youthful fullness.

Plastic surgeons can use hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite, or other fillers to inject into your face. Popular areas that they target include the cheeks, lips, and under the eyes, and the fillers fix mild to moderate volume loss, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Facelift vs Fillers: The Main Differences

Now that you know a little about both treatments, you still might be asking, “Should I get a facelift, or should I get fillers?”

Keep reading to explore the key differences of Facelift vs Fillers, that can sway you toward one side or the other.

Purpose

A facelift’s purpose is to lift sagging skin and remove the excess, too. It can also eliminate wrinkles since the skin on the face and neck are tightened. Those who want more defined facial contours will benefit from facelifts as well.

Dermal fillers also serve to smooth fine lines, but this is done by adding volume with the chemical solutions. They may not be as effective for deeper wrinkles.

So facelifts make the skin more taught while fillers plump up the skin. 

Ideal Candidates

Have you seen early to moderate volume loss in your face? Then in the “facelift or fillers” debate, fillers win here. They’re excellent for tackling these early signs of aging before others notice, so typically, patients are on the younger side (they can be as young as in their 20s).

On the other hand, if you have significant aging and saggy skin, a facelift is probably the better option. While you can still get fillers, they won’t address things like droopy jowls and loose skin in the neck. Those who are older are usually the ones experiencing these issues, so patients will be in their 40s to 70s.

Invasiveness

Facelifts are invasive since you have to go through surgery. Regardless of the type you choose, you’ll have to be put under local or general anesthesia, and your plastic surgeon will have to make incisions to reposition tissue and muscle.

If that doesn’t sound ideal to you, then fillers are much less invasive. All your surgeon will do is stick a needle in various parts of your face to add volume.

Recovery

With a facelift, your body will need to heal from the repositioning of tissue and the incisions made. So allow to spend time in recovery, but also prepare as you’ll have to take it easy afterwards so you don’t rip open the stitches.

One of the best things about fillers is that there’s little to no downtime. There’s little swelling and bruising, and you can return to most normal everyday activities within minutes (you should still refrain from heavier activities for a few days though).

Results

Considering that you’re having skin, tissue, and muscle rearranged, a facelift will produce results that are much more noticeable. People will be able to tell that you’ve had surgery, especially since there’s significant swelling and bruising in the first week.

Results from fillers are more subtle. Those around you might not even suspect you’ve had them done, as swelling and bruising are minimal, and the effects are natural-looking.

Longevity

Since facelifts require surgery, you might be wondering, “Are facelifts permanent?” The answer is no, but you’ll get long-lasting results. It may be a decade or so before you need to have more work done.

The caveat to fillers is that the results are temporary. Depending on the products used and the areas injected, they may last anywhere between six months to two years.

Cost

In the US, the average cost of a facelift is around $11,400. This is solely for the procedure and doesn’t include other related expenses (such as anesthesia).

The cost for fillers is much lower, with the average being between $715 to $901. Do keep in mind that you’ll need multiple injections in a short period of time.

Should the cost of both be too much for you, consider having your procedure done in Mexico. The costs are significantly cheaper and the plastic surgeons are renowned, so you’ll still get fantastic quality surgery, but at a fraction of the price you’d pay in the US.

Facelift vs Fillers: Speak to a Plastic Surgeon About the Procedure You Want

After learning about getting a facelift vs fillers, you might have an idea of which one you’d like. 

The next step would be to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. They’ll be able to assess your personal situation and goals to reach a conclusion that’s satisfactory for your needs and lifestyle.

Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Valdez has over 16 years of experience and is a board-certified plastic surgeon.

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