The first signs of getting older often show on your face, with fine lines around your eyes, mouth, and on your forehead. Your face may lose some of its firmness and volume, resulting in sagging cheeks and chin. If you want to fight the natural aging process, you have multiple options to choose from. Opt for a surgical facelift or a liquid facelift to take years off your face and bring back that youthful look.

Learn about both procedures here to better understand which one — liquid facelift vs. facelift surgery — might be the right fit for your goals.

What is a Liquid Facelift?

Unlike facelift surgery, the “liquid facelift” does not require surgery or incisions. Instead, this procedure uses injectable fillers like JuvedermⓇ or BotoxⓇ to fill out your face and reduce the appearance of the lines and wrinkles.

Fillers can be used around the eyes, around the mouth, on the lips, in the cheeks, and along the neckline and forehead. Because no incisions are necessary, there is almost no downtime during recovery. You’ll see the results almost immediately. The liquid facelift procedure can be done in an hour or less, depending on the number of injections needed.

While there is little recovery involved in a liquid facelift, you may experience some minor swelling and redness for a day or two. There can be bruising along the injection sites. Any side effects noted usually go away in a few days.

What is a Surgical Facelift?

A surgical facelift is more involved; it requires general anesthesia and can take up to four hours to complete. The plastic surgeon will make tiny incisions around the hairline and ears to lift the facial tissue and tighten it. Any excess skin is removed to create added definition in your cheeks while reducing sagging along the chin and jawline.

Results won’t be noticeable immediately until the swelling goes down. You may experience some discomfort, which can be relieved by pain medication.

Along with a traditional facelift, you have the option of a mini facelift. While this is also a surgical procedure, it’s less invasive and designed for earlier stages of aging.

Pros and Cons of Facelift Options

One of the primary benefits of a liquid facelift vs. facelift surgery is that it yields results right away and has fewer side effects and less recovery time. This treatment is also less expensive than a surgical facelift because you don’t have the cost of anesthesia or an operating room.

The main benefit of choosing a surgical facelift is that it provides permanent results. It takes many years off your face and continues to last with some maintenance required. With a liquid facelift, the dermal fillers are absorbed back into the body over time. You can expect results to last only about 12 months before needing another session.

The Best Candidates for a Facelift

The best candidate for either type of facelift is someone who wants to look younger. They should be healthy and not have any major medical problems. For the surgical facelift, the ideal candidate is someone who can handle general anesthesia and wants permanent results. They may have moderate to severe signs of aging that they want to be corrected.

Patients who are interested in the liquid facelift may show more minor signs of aging and want to try out a less invasive facelift before doing anything permanent. In fact, it’s quite common for patients to start with a liquid facelift for a few years before moving to a surgical procedure.

Choose a Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust

If you’re considering a facelift, Dr. Leo Lapuerta provides both non-surgical liquid facelifts and the traditional facelift procedure for his patients. He will sit down with you and discuss your goals and your medical history to help you decide on which treatment is best for you. Many patients choose to have a facelift as part of their Mommy makeover in Houston.

As a triple-board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta has more than 20 years of experience providing optimal results for his patients, whether through facelifts or other procedures, such as liposuction. He will answer any questions you might have about the procedure you select to help you feel confident and reassured.Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Lapuerta and his team.