A facelift is a common cosmetic surgery procedure, gaining in popularity every year. It can be a real confidence booster, reducing deep lines and wrinkles, removing saggy skin, eliminating jowls, and improving the overall contour of the face. Many people look refreshed and even years younger after their procedure.
Plastic surgeons answer many questions before performing a facelift, ensuring patients feel at ease and setting positive expectations. One frequently asked question is “Will I still need to have Botox or fillers after my facelift?” The answer is yes, and here’s why.
A facelift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face.
A facelift addresses signs of aging in the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck. This typically includes the cheeks, jawline, and neck. A facelift can correct sagginess in the cheeks and jowls, reduce marionette lines and nasolabial folds, decrease a double chin, and smooth out “turkey neck”. Traditional facelifts do not typically focus on areas around the eyes or the forehead. Patients may opt for additional surgeries to improve these areas, or may use Botox or dermal fillers to address aging concerns in the rest of the face.
Facelifts don’t target fine lines and wrinkles.
In these areas, Botox or other neuromodulators may still be necessary. They are effective at reducing wrinkles and fine lines caused by muscle movement, such as crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, or number 11 lines. Botox keeps these muscles from contracting and effectively smooths out the aforementioned fine lines and wrinkles.
Facelifts don’t last forever.
Facelift results are not permanent. Patients can expect facelift results to last up to ten years. Individual results will depend on the person’s genetics and lifestyle factors. Aging continues after a facelift, and eventually the skin on the face may begin to sag again. Strategic use of dermal fillers can enhance facelift results and help them last longer. Fillers help restore the gradual loss of volume in the cheeks, under eye area, and around the mouth. Fillers also help smooth out fine lines that were not corrected by the facelift. Without restoring lost volume, a facelift can appear overly tight and unnatural. Periodic filler injections prolong the benefits of a facelift.
Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center
Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Cristina Keusch is dedicated to answering patient questions and concerns about facelifts and other cosmetic surgeries, so that patients will feel completely at ease with their procedures. Contact us to schedule a consultation.