Are you considering facial rejuvenation but unsure which approach best suits your needs? Today’s options fall into two main categories: surgical and non-surgical treatments.
Understanding the key differences between these approaches will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and budget.
Surgical Facelift Options
Surgical facelifts remain the gold standard for comprehensive facial rejuvenation, offering dramatic, long-lasting results for patients with moderate to severe signs of aging.
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift (rhytidectomy) provides the most comprehensive solution for facial aging. During this procedure, Dr. Brunner repositions facial and neck tissues, removes excess skin, and redrapes the remaining skin to create a smoother, more youthful appearance.
This surgical approach effectively addresses multiple signs of facial aging, including mid-face sagging, deep creases below the lower eyelids and along the nose, diminished lower face muscle tone, jowls from lost skin elasticity, and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw.
Mini Facelift
For those seeking a less invasive surgical option, the mini facelift offers an excellent middle ground. This modified technique uses smaller incisions and focuses primarily on the lower face and jawline, effectively addressing early jowling and sagging with less downtime than a traditional facelift.
Benefits of Surgical Facelifts
Surgical approaches offer several distinct advantages:
- Comprehensive correction: Addresses multiple concerns in a single procedure
- Dramatic results: Provides the most significant improvement for moderate to severe aging
- Long-lasting outcomes: Results last 10-15 years for traditional facelifts and 5-10 years for mini facelifts
- Cost-effective long-term: Despite higher upfront costs ($15,000-$25,000+ for traditional, $8,000-$12,000 for mini), the longevity of results often makes surgical options more economical over time
Considerations for Surgical Facelifts
Important factors to consider before choosing a surgical approach:
- Recovery time: Traditional facelifts require 1-2 weeks away from work and 4-6 weeks before full recovery; mini facelifts typically require 5-7 days off work
- Anesthesia: Surgical procedures require anesthesia, which carries inherent risks
- Possible complications: Though rare with an experienced surgeon, surgical approaches have potential risks, including infection, scarring, and asymmetry
- Investment: Higher upfront costs compared to non-surgical alternatives
Non-Surgical Facelift Options
For those seeking improvement without surgery, modern technology offers remarkable non-surgical alternatives that can provide noticeable rejuvenation with minimal downtime.
Liquid Facelift
A liquid facelift combines injectable products to restore volume and reduce wrinkles without surgery. This approach typically uses:
- Dermal fillers to restore lost volume and smooth deep lines
- Neuromodulators like Botox® to relax muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles
- Specialized products like Juvéderm® VOLUX for targeted areas such as jawline definition
Advanced Laser and Energy Treatments
Dr. Brunner offers cutting-edge technologies that enhance non-surgical facial rejuvenation:
- FaceTite Turbo: Combines FaceTite and Morpheus 8 Burst for powerful skin tightening and fat remodeling
- Fraxel® Re:pair: Advanced laser resurfacing that treats wrinkles and improves skin tone and texture
- Fractora/Morpheus8 Burst: Combines radiofrequency with microneedling to target loose skin around the jawline and upper neck
- Tri-Zone Laser Lift: Dr. Brunner’s proprietary treatment combining lasers and injections
- Ellacor: Innovative micro-coring technology that removes tiny portions of skin without heat or lasers to stimulate collagen production and reduce wrinkles
- NovaThreads: Non-surgical facelift using absorbable sutures to lift facial tissue and stimulate collagen for improved appearance of sagging skin and jowls
- SmartLipo-PrecisionTx: Advanced laser-assisted treatment that removes excess fat while simultaneously tightening skin in the neck and jawline areas
Benefits of Non-surgical Facelifts
Non-surgical approaches offer several advantages:
- Minimal downtime: Most patients return to normal activities immediately
- No anesthesia required: Reduced risks associated with surgical procedures
- Lower initial cost: $2,000-$5,000 for most non-surgical treatments
- Gradual, natural-looking results: Changes appear progressively, often looking more subtle
- Adjustable outcomes: Many non-surgical treatments allow for refinement as you see results
- “Preview” of results: Allows patients to experience facial changes before considering more permanent options
Considerations for Non-surgical Facelifts
Important factors to consider about non-surgical approaches:
- Temporary results: Most non-surgical treatments last 6-12 months, requiring regular maintenance
- Multiple sessions: Often requires several treatments for optimal results
- Long-term cost: Despite lower initial investment, ongoing treatments may cost more over time
- Limited correction: Cannot address significant skin laxity or severe signs of aging
- Subtler improvement: Results, while noticeable, are less dramatic than surgical options
How to Choose Between Surgical and Non-surgical Options
When deciding between surgical and non-surgical approaches, consider these key factors:
Severity of Aging Signs: The extent of facial aging will largely determine which approach is most effective. Non-surgical options work best for mild to moderate concerns, while surgical approaches are necessary for significant sagging or excess skin.
Recovery Preferences: Your ability to accommodate downtime is crucial. Non-surgical treatments allow immediate return to activities, while surgical options require dedicated recovery time.
Result Longevity vs. Maintenance: Consider whether you prefer longer-lasting results with a single procedure or are comfortable with regular maintenance treatments. Surgical options provide years of improvement, while non-surgical treatments require ongoing sessions.
Budget Planning: While surgical options have higher upfront costs, they may be more economical long-term. Non-surgical treatments have a lower initial investment but ongoing costs for maintenance.
Combining Approaches for Optimal Results
Many patients benefit from a combined approach—using surgical techniques to address structural concerns like sagging and excess skin, while employing non-surgical treatments to enhance skin quality, texture, and volume. Dr. Brunner often recommends a staged approach, starting with non-surgical options and progressing to surgical intervention when necessary.
The Importance of Expert Consultation
The most important step in your facial rejuvenation journey is a comprehensive consultation with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Brunner. During this personalized evaluation, she will assess your unique facial anatomy, listen to your specific concerns, recommend the most appropriate treatment approach, create a customized plan, and discuss realistic expectations for results. Ready to discover which facial rejuvenation approach is right for you? Schedule a consultation today.