This article has been reviewed and approved by a licensed plastic surgeon. Dr. Marie Forséni and injection nurse Sara Ghannad on August 18, 2024.
Getting older is a luxury, but we don't always appreciate the signs of aging that appear on our faces. Many people look in the mirror and no longer recognize themselves. Deep folds in the skin, wrinkles where makeup settles untidily during the day, and loose skin that droops and gets in the way can be reasons for a change. But what's best for you – a facelift or fillers?
Both methods have their pros and cons, and it all depends on your skin type and what you want to achieve. Read on to get an idea of what might be best for you – a facelift or fillers.
What is a facelift?
Level XNUMX facelift is a surgery in which the skin of the face is tightened and excess skin is removed. The procedure is done to rejuvenate the skin and remove wrinkles, deep folds and loose skin on the face. A facelift is often combined with neck lift, where the same thing is done on the neck.
The incision is usually made in the hairline and behind the jawline to make the scar discreet.
Benefits of a facelift
Long-lasting results
A facelift provides results that last for ten years or more, making it a good investment for those who want to avoid repeated visits to the injection nurse.
Multiple improvements at the same time
A facelift both smooths out wrinkles, deep skin folds and removes loose, sagging skin. Therefore, the procedure is beneficial for those of you who are older and have several signs of aging that you want to address. You can also combine the facelift with a neck lift if you have a so-called turkey neck with loose skin around your neck.
Customizable
A facelift can be easily customized to your specific needs. You can choose to focus more on a specific part of the face, such as the forehead, cheeks, or chin, or have a more or less dramatic result.
Disadvantages of facelift
An invasive procedure
A facelift is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia and has a longer recovery time. You will need to wear a headband to protect your skin after the procedure, so if you want to be discreet about your procedure, you will need to stay home for a while.
Higher cost
Surgical procedures cost more money. A facelift almost always costs over 50,000 SEK, making it a large investment. Therefore, it is important to consider your options before making a decision.
Risks of surgery
As with all forms of surgery, a facelift carries risks, both from infection after the procedure and from the anesthesia, especially if you are a little older. At Estetikcentrum, experienced surgeons work who can determine the risks and make an informed choice together with you at your consultation.
What are fillers?
Fillers are – unlike a facelift – not a surgical procedure but an injection treatment. There are different types of fillers with varying hardness and quality, which are used for different parts of the body. Lip fillers is the most common type and extremely trendy right now, but fillers can also be used to add volume to other parts of the face that have suffered from signs of aging.
Typically, fillers contain hyaluronic acid, which also occurs naturally in the body, to restore volume to areas such as the cheeks, the area around the eyes, the forehead and the jawline.
Benefits of fillers
Non-invasive method
With fillers you avoid anesthesia and long recovery times, and therefore minimize the risks. There are risks with fillers also, but they are often minor and if you visit a professional clinic with a trained injection nurse they can often be avoided completely.
Results immediately
With fillers, results are visible immediately after treatment. You will likely experience some bruising around the injection site and some swelling for the first few days, but your results will be clear at your follow-up visit a week after treatment. This is incredibly fast compared to a facelift where the final results can take up to six months to complete.
Variation and adaptation
Fillers can be used in many different ways and fill in exactly where you want extra volume. You don't always want to tighten up your entire face, but you may have looser skin around your eyes or chin that you want to isolate. In that case, fillers are a good alternative to a facelift.
Disadvantages of fillers
The results don't last long.
Fillers are a smooth, non-invasive method, but that also means that the results are temporary, lasting only between six months and two years. After that, you either have to have another treatment or choose a different treatment method.
Less effective treatment
Fillers work best to counteract lost volume and wrinkles in specific areas, while facelifts provide a lift to the entire face, and can smooth out deeper wrinkles and remove sagging skin.
The result may look unnatural
With repeated treatments over time, fillers can give a swollen appearance and alter the natural contours of the face. This can give an unnatural, caricature-like look. Therefore, one should be careful with the “blindness” that fillers can cause, and always go for a consultation and get expert advice before treatment.
Facelift or fillers – summary
There are pros and cons to both types of treatment, and what you choose largely depends on what results you are looking for, what your budget is – short and long term – and how specific areas you want to treat. The best thing to do is book a consultation with us to get advice directly from our experts.
Would you like advice on your choice of whether to book a facelift or fillers? Book a consultation with our fantastic surgeon Dr Marie Forséni who can give you expert advice and help you with your decision. Book your consultation hereYou can also Contact Us If you have questions, we will help you.
