Facelift or Botox: Which Cosmetic Treatment is Right for You?

There’s more than one way to achieve a more youthful appearance. Here at Charlotte Plastic Surgery, we actually offer our clients several treatments to provide them with a more vibrant look, including both surgical and non-surgical interventions. Botox® and face lift surgery are two of the most common approaches to improving your face.

As you try to determine which method is right for achieving your cosmetic goals, there are a number of factors to weigh. One important step in the process is meeting with one of our surgeons for a one-on-one consultation, where we can help you understand whether a facelift or Botox® is best for addressing your needs.

In the meantime, here are a few considerations to make as you wrestle with the decision of getting a facelift or Botox®.

The Pros and Cons of Having a Facelift

Let’s start with some details about the facelift procedure.

A facelift is a surgical intervention where the surgeon will make small incisions at the hairline and/or behind the ears. From there, the surgeon will be able to lift up the skin, better accessing the muscle, tissue, and additional skin beneath. The surgeon will pull upward on this deep facial tissue, gently pulling it back into a more youthful position, and potentially remove any excess, sagging skin.

The results of a facelift may include the elimination of jowls and sagging skin, as well as the minimization of wrinkles, creases, and other fine lines.

Facelift procedures are primarily designed to address the appearance of the lower half of the face. There are additional procedures to impact the forehead, eyebrows (forehead or brow lift), and eyelids (eyelid surgery), and these procedures are often done at the same time as a facelift.

Also note that you can choose between either a full, traditional facelift or the slightly less invasive “mini facelift.”

No matter which option you choose, you can anticipate some advantages as well as some potential drawbacks. Some of the pros of having a facelift include:

• Ideal for those with moderate to severe aging, a facelift will offer results that are more dramatic and more visible than a facial injectables option.
• The effects of a facelift will typically last longer than an injectable; in fact, facelift results can last for a full decade or more.
• A facelift can also address deeper and more serious skin issues, which injectables like Botox® may not be able to improve

At the same time, it’s important to be aware of some of the potential downsides to choosing a facelift surgery. These include:

• Because a facelift is a surgical intervention, it requires patients to go under anesthesia, which means you must be healthy enough to undergo the operation
• With a facelift, you can anticipate a recovery time of two to four weeks, during which time you may be restricted from certain activities such as exercise or social engagements
• The immediate aftermath of a facelift may include some discomfort, bruising, and swelling. The worst of it is usually over after the first two days, however.

The Pros and Cons of Choosing Botox®

Let’s now turn our attention to Botox®.

This is an injectable treatment, designed to relax specifically targeted muscle groups in your face. The goal of Botox® is usually to improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes, mouth, and forehead.

As with a facelift, there are both some pros and some cons to consider. Some of the primary benefits of Botox® include:

• It’s a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require any kind of anesthesia or sedation. It’s done in our office in as little as 15 minutes’ time.
• There’s no downtime needed, which means you can resume work or social activities right away.
• Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, Botox may be a more cost-effective option.

On the flipside, Botox® comes with a few notable drawbacks:

• Botox® results tend to last about three months, which isn’t bad, but also isn’t anything like the longer-lasting effects of a facelift.
• If you’re looking for ongoing results, you may need to commit to regular Botox® treatments.
• Botox® doesn’t come with surgical downtime, but it may be accompanied by some initial swelling or bruising, although this is very rare.
• Botox® isn’t strong enough to address some of the more advanced effects of age, such as sagging, loose skin, jowls, or “turkey neck.”

As you seek to decide between Botox® or face lift, there’s obviously a lot to think about, and there’s no one right answer. It really comes down to what you’re trying to accomplish through your cosmetic procedure.

Botox® or Face Lift: Deciding Which Procedure is Right for You

As you try to make a fully informed decision about whether to pursue Botox® or a face lift, we welcome you to come speak with a provider from Charlotte Plastic Surgery.

This can prove a clarifying experience for a couple of reasons. For one, it allows our surgeons to hear the goals you’re hoping to accomplish, evaluate the quality of your skin, and recommend a course of action that will address your specific needs.

Additionally, a consultation allows us to qualify you. We’ll talk to you about your medical history and the overall state of your health and ensure that you are a good candidate for a safe, low-risk procedure. Patient well being is our top priority, and we advise certain patients to avoid having surgical intervention if there are complicating medical conditions in play.

During your consultation, the surgeon will also be happy to answer questions, explain these procedures in greater detail, and set the proper expectations for you.

Choosing Between a Facelift or Botox®

It’s perfectly normal to seek options for looking and feeling a little bit younger. Facelift surgeries and Botox® injections offer you a couple of solutions, and each comes with a mixture of pros and cons.

As you navigate these options, we invite you to join us at Charlotte Plastic Surgery, where we can talk you through the possibilities in greater detail. Reach out and set up an appointment with us whenever you’re ready to take the next step toward a refreshed, more youthful appearance.

Not feeling quite ready to set an appointment for your consultation?

Download the latest edition of our Facial Rejuvenation eGuide for a closer look at all of your surgical and non-surgical options today!