Have you ever considered facial rejuvenation treatment and wished you had help from an expert to choose the right option? Well, your wish has come true – Dr. Dragana Spica, one of the UAE’s leading plastic surgeons, shares her expert insights into facelift and dermal fillers.
The choice isn’t always straightforward because both surgical facelifts and non-surgical fillers offer unique benefits. But the starting point of your choice is definitely your individual needs and aesthetic goals.
Let’s see what Dr. Dragana Spica says about the long-term effects, maintenance requirements, and cost-effectiveness of these popular anti-aging solutions.
Understanding the Differences: Facelift vs. Fillers
Facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a plastic surgery designed to address moderate to severe skin laxity and deep wrinkles by lifting and tightening facial skin and repositioning facial tissue. This cosmetic procedure offers you long-lasting results, and you are an ideal candidate if you have moderate to severe signs of aging.
Dr. Dragana performs this surgery by making discreet incisions along your hairline or behind the ears to lift and tighten the underlying muscles and remove excess skin. The recovery period usually lasts between 2 to 4 weeks, but the results are transformative – your face appears smoother, firmer, and about 10 years younger.
Dermal Fillers, on the other hand, are non-surgical, injectable treatments designed to restore lost volume, smooth fine lines, and enhance facial features. Dr. Dragana recommends dermal fillers if you want to replenish different facial areas that have lost their volume, like cheeks, lips, tear troughs, and under-eye hollows.
Dermal fillers are a great choice if you want immediate results with minimal to no downtime. They are a popular treatment for people who want quick enhancements without surgery. The effects of dermal fillers depend on their type. Hyaluronic acid fillers can last 6 months, while collagen-stimulating fillers like Sculptra can last 2 years. Since dermal fillers are the non-surgical solution, you need to maintain the results once or twice a year.
When to Choose a Facelift
According to Dr. Dragana Spica, a facelift is a great option if you have significant skin laxity, deep wrinkles, or jowls that non-surgical procedures can’t properly address. Also, if you want long-term results that don’t require frequent maintenance and if you are in good overall health, a facelift is your thing.
When we talk about losing skin elasticity, this skin concern can develop because of aging, genetics, or major weight loss. Loose skin generally develops on your cheeks, along your jawline, and on your neck. These concerns can easily be solved with a facelift. Plus, you can combine a facelift with other aesthetic surgeries like eyelid lift surgery to enhance overall facial harmony and achieve even more natural-looking results.
After the recovery period, you will definitely find long-lasting benefits that outweigh the downtime. As Dr. Dragana Spica says, “A facelift provides comprehensive and dramatic facial rejuvenation. It tightens and lifts saggy skin and restores youthful facial contours”. A facelift really represents a transformative, age-defying plastic surgery.
Facelift vs. Fillers – Maintenance and Long-Term Effects
Although a facelift plastic surgery provides you with long-lasting results, it requires a more significant commitment in terms of undergoing surgery and recovery. Dermal fillers are convenient because they give you instant results but require repeating the treatment to maintain the results.
So, Dr. Spica points out that maintenance plays an important role when deciding whether to have a facelift or dermal fillers. Facelift results naturally wear off over the years. As you are aging, they are aging also. But with regular skincare, sun protection, and occasional touch-up treatments, like Botox or lasers, you can extend the results and age gracefully.
On the other hand, dermal fillers need continuous maintenance because your body gradually absorbs the injected material. If you rely on fillers, you should have touch-up treatments every 6 to 24 months to keep the desired results.
When we talk about cost-effectiveness, weighing the investment is also important when deciding whether to go with fillers or a facelift. Fillers give you great results, but the frequency of procedures and costs may add up over time. A facelift is more expensive at first but could be more cost-effective in the long run for people who need extensive anti-aging procedures.
Making the Right Decision – Consult with an Expert
In the end, the best approach to anti-aging procedures depends on your unique facial anatomy, aging concerns, and aesthetic goals. According to Dr. Dragana Spica, consulting an experienced plastic surgeon who can create a treatment plan to suit your needs is crucial.
As Dr. Dragana always points out, “There is no one-size-fits-all treatment solution.” During consultations, Dr. Dragana carefully examines your skin quality, facial structure, and skin concerns. Then, she can recommend the best treatment approach for you. Whether it’s a facelift or dermal fillers, Dr. Dragana’s goal is to achieve natural-looking and harmonious results.
This thought leader in the aesthetic world points out that combining these two approaches can sometimes be beneficial. You can first undergo a facelift to lift and firm saggy skin and later use fillers to add volume to facial areas that continue to age. This combo approach could be a great long-lasting plan that adjusts to your aging process.
