Facelift or Non-Surgical Lift? An Honest Comparison
Injectables, threads and energy devices promise a “lift without surgery”. A facelift promises more. Here is what each can realistically do, what it costs you in downtime and risk, and how long it lasts.
Photo: Pexels
Key takeaways
- A surgical facelift repositions deeper tissues and removes excess skin; it is the only option that substantially corrects jowls and neck laxity.
- Non-surgical treatments (fillers, wrinkle-relaxing injections, threads, ultrasound and radiofrequency) give subtler, temporary results with less downtime.
- Results of non-surgical treatments usually last months; facelift results last years, although ageing continues.
- Choose a qualified, registered practitioner and have a proper consultation that covers risks, not just results.
As we age, the face loses volume, the skin loses elasticity, and the tissues beneath slowly descend — which is why jowls form and the jawline softens. There is now a long menu of treatments that claim to “lift”. They do very different things.
What a facelift does
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is surgery to lift and tighten the lower face and often the neck. The surgeon repositions the deeper layer of tissue (often called the SMAS), removes excess skin and closes the incisions, which usually run in the hairline and around the ears.1
- Best for: jowls, loose skin along the jaw, and neck laxity.
- Recovery: swelling and bruising for two to three weeks; most people feel “socially ready” after two to four weeks.2
- Longevity: results typically last many years, although the face continues to age.
- Risks: bleeding (haematoma), infection, scarring, numbness, hair loss around incisions, asymmetry and, rarely, nerve damage affecting facial movement.2
What non-surgical options do
- Dermal fillers restore lost volume in the cheeks, temples or jawline, which can make the lower face look lifted. Hyaluronic acid fillers typically last 6–18 months.3 Read before you book fillers.
- Wrinkle-relaxing injections (botulinum toxin) soften lines caused by muscle movement and can subtly lift the brow; effects last about three to four months.3
- Thread lifts use dissolvable sutures to lift tissue. Results are modest and temporary.
- Ultrasound and radiofrequency devices heat deeper layers to stimulate collagen. Studies show mild to moderate tightening that develops over months.4
Non-surgical treatments can refresh a face. They cannot remove loose skin.
Side by side
- Size of change: surgery — significant; non-surgical — subtle to moderate.
- Downtime: surgery — weeks; non-surgical — none to a few days.
- How long it lasts: surgery — years; non-surgical — months, needing repeat sessions.
- Cost over time: repeated non-surgical treatments can add up to a sum similar to surgery over several years.
Who is a good candidate for which
Non-surgical treatments tend to suit people in their thirties and forties with early changes — mild volume loss and fine lines. A facelift tends to suit people with clear skin laxity and jowls, usually from their late forties onwards, who are in good health and do not smoke.1
Choosing a practitioner
For surgery, choose a surgeon who is on the specialist register for plastic surgery in your country. For injectables, choose a medically qualified, registered practitioner. If you are considering treatment abroad, read how to check a clinic abroad.
Sources
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Facelift: what to expect. plasticsurgery.org.
- NHS. Cosmetic procedures: facelift. nhs.uk.
- NHS. Cosmetic procedures: dermal fillers; botulinum toxin. nhs.uk.
- Fabi SG. Noninvasive skin tightening: focus on new ultrasound techniques. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2015;8:47–52.