Facelift or Laser: Which is Best for You?

As we age, three major changes take place: a loss of volume, sagging skin, and textural changes of the skin. In the past, the only choice patients had was surgery. But today
there are also lasers, fillers and neurotoxins. For some, a mix-and-match approach that incorporates a variety of rejuvenating options is necessary to achieve the desired results.

Chose a laser if you have mature skin that’s sun-damaged with little or no laxity. The more mature the skin is, the less elastin and collagen it contains, hence the formation of deep lines and wrinkles. Lasers, which can be used on your face as early as your 30s, help to improve the texture and tone of skin, including mild wrinkles and lines, that have resulted from exposure to the sun, age, stress and lifestyle choices. A laser can correct textural changes, discoloration, fine lines and minimal wrinkles, and it can reduce skin laxity and help tighten skin.

Choose a facelift if you are experiencing lines, wrinkles, and loose skin, especially around the jawline and on the neck. Fillers and lasers can do wonders, but for skin that’s experiencing extreme laxity, surgery may be the only option (it can be combined with fillers and/or lasers to get a dramatic result). If there is volume deficiency, correction with Voluma XC can complement a facelift. A facelift can remove loose skin, reposition fat, muscle and tissue, and correct sagging, but it cannot address volume loss or the tone or texture of skin; lines and some wrinkles may still persist.

The signs of aging are inevitable, but taking care of your skin and feeding it with the right “nutrients” may help delay the effects you see. Dr. Moraitis in Palm Harbor, Florida says that visible signs of aging can be slowed with regular use of a good sunscreen and a prescription-strength retinoid.