Plastic surgery vs fillers? Good genetics, educated skin care, and a habit of controlling sun exposure keep your face smooth and wrinkle-free for years.  Eventually, however, time and age impact us all. Textural skin changes, connective tissue degradation, and gravitational soft tissue descent are slowly progressive processes that visibly signal to you and to others your stage in the passage through life. Settling contours, fine wrinkles, creases, and facial shape changes all contribute. 

Fortunately, many anti-aging procedures and treatments turn back the clock on your appearance, from Botox to dermal fillers to well planned and executed plastic surgery. Choosing the right treatment for a fresh, youthful appearance will depend on your situation and aesthetic needs. To help you decide, here’s a breakdown on plastic surgery vs. injectables: 

What plastic surgery treatments are best?

Plastic surgery can dramatically reverse signs of aging, but the best plastic surgery is also subtle and doesn’t look like you’ve had surgery at all. For facial rejuvenation, a facelift tightens and smooths the face and loose neck skin.  You can also opt for a brow lift or eyelid surgery to target specific areas.  Surgical procedures are highly “operator dependent.”  Not all facelifts are the same. The best anti-aging surgery repairs and replaces aging features, but doesn’t alter your identity.  A great surgeon will create changes that help you look naturally younger, but you’ll still look like yourself.  

What are dermal fillers?

Face fillers, also called dermal fillers, are made of a gel-like substance that’s injected under your skin to temporarily fill in fine lines and smooth away wrinkles and folds. Fillers are also used to plump thin lips, restore lost volume to cheeks, and enhance facial contours. Dermal fillers are a great way to correct the signs of aging beyond wrinkle creams and other topical skin care products. 

Other plastic surgery alternatives

Neuromodulators like Botox also temporarily smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, though the treatment is limited to frown lines between the brows, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. To stimulate collagen production, which allows your face to fill in lines by itself, you can also choose non-invasive skin-tightening treatments that involve lasers, ultrasound, or radiofrequency (RF).

Pros and cons of plastic surgery

Choosing to have elective surgery isn’t a decision you should make lightly. Plastic surgery is permanent, and while the results can be improved over time with other procedures, there is no way to return to your pre-surgery appearance. However, because surgery is permanent, you won’t need additional treatments to maintain your newly-youthful appearance. While many people assume plastic surgery is more expensive than alternative procedures, years of maintenance treatments for dermal fillers eventually evens out the cost.

Pros and cons of non-surgical treatments

Dermal fillers are a fantastic way to quickly achieve a youthful appearance without the recovery time associated with surgery. Because fillers and other non-surgical treatments are temporary, you can “try them on”— they won’t last forever if you don’t love how you look. On the other hand, the temporary nature of fillers means you’ll need follow-up treatments in order to maintain the results. Also, dermal fillers only address surface skin issues—they can’t tighten loose skin or reposition aging and sagging tissues like surgery can.

Facelift vs. fillers: Which is right for you?

If you’re still not sure whether plastic surgery or a non-surgical facelift is the best decision for you, we can help. At Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery in San Diego, we’ll listen to your concerns, answer all your questions, and present you with a range of options that will best help you meet your aesthetic goals. Dr. Steve Laverson is a highly-skilled plastic surgeon committed to enhancing and refining the extraordinary beauty of every patient. Let him do the same for you.

Fill out our contact form or call (858) 295-4001 to schedule a consultation today.