When Is it Time for a Facelift?

For patients at my Toronto-area practice who want to fight signs of aging in the lower face, a surgical facelift can be an effective approach. However, with so many less invasive injectable treatments available, many men and women aren’t sure if they are better off opting for those or choosing a full surgical procedure.

As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, I enjoy using my expertise to help each patient make the right choice for his or her aesthetic goals. In this post, I will explain which patients may benefit best from BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers, and which would be a better fit for a full surgical facelift.

The Liquid Facelift

Injectable treatments are a popular, effective approach for patients looking to treat moderate signs of aging, such as wrinkles and loss of volume in the face.

• BOTOX and Dysport® work to relax specific facial muscles that contract repeatedly, causing lines and wrinkles to appear over time. This can help significantly for concerns like frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, and horizontal furrows across the forehead.
• Dermal fillers such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® add volume under the skin, helping to smooth lines and wrinkles, plump up cheeks, and recontour the face.

However, neither of these options are ideal for addressing the concerns a facelift can treat, which typically occur in the lower face and require a more intensive treatment plan. Results created by injectables are also temporary, lasting 3 to 4 months for BOTOX and up to 2 years for certain fillers.

The Surgical Facelift

A surgical facelift is a more long-lasting, dramatic transformation designed to lift and reshape the lower cheeks, jawline, and neck. Some concerns best treated with a surgical facelift include:

• Sagging skin in the lower face and neck, sometimes called “turkey neck”
• Loss of definition in the jawline, creating jowls
• Vertical banding in the neck

Each of these concerns goes beyond nonsurgical treatment, and patients interested in treating these are typically better served by a less temporary, more comprehensive facelift procedure than by injectable treatments alone.

Your Consultation

The best way to find out if you’re ready for a facelift is through a consultation. I take time during consultations to thoroughly answer patient questions, discuss concerns and desired results, and recommend the most effective option. I make sure each patient knows how his or her needs will be best addressed and take unique factors into consideration as we move forward with a custom treatment plan.

If you would like to learn more about how a facelift may help you appear more youthful and rejuvenated, take a look at our real patient before-and-after photo gallery. To take the next step in your journey, please contact my office to request your consultation. You can also call (866) 229-3223 (Toronto) or (905) 830-6711 (Newmarket).