The liquid facelift – a procedure which rejuvenates the face with a variety of injectables rather than surgery – strikes many men and women as a good way to save money. The truth is that over time a liquid facelift costs more than a facelift. In addition, a lunch-hour face lift, a procedure designed to be done in a hurry, may trade safe technique and comfort for speed. This is never an ideal situation for any facial plastic surgery.
Liquid Facelift vs. Facelift
With a liquid facelift injections of Botox or fillers are injected into facial areas to ease lines and wrinkles and add volume to sunken or hollowed areas. A liquid facelift helps with crow’s feet, lines around the lips, and creases along the nose, mouth, and chin.
With a traditional facelift, incisions are made in the hair of the temples and then continue in front of and behind the ears, ending in the lower scalp behind the ears. Through this incision, the connective tissue layer and skin of the face is lifted, rejuvenating the lower cheeks, jawline and neck. There are other techniques in facelift surgery, including the midface lift which targets the cheeks and midface region as well as a variety of limited or “mini” lifts which utilize less extensive approaches. Facelift techniques can be combined with forehead lifts and/or eyelid lifts to address the upper face as well.
A Cost Comparison
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average cost of a facelift in 2012 was $6,607. A facelift is a one-time procedure that does not involve repeat touch-ups for results that wear out after several months. Compare that to Botox injections that cost an average of $326 and fillers that range in price from $550 to $941. After receiving injections in multiple areas of the face, you’re easily spending thousands of dollars.
The other thing you have to consider is that Botox injections generally last three to four months. Other fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane, last six months to a year. If you need injections twice a year to maintain your looks, at the end of ten years you will have spent tens of thousands of dollars. When compared to a $6,600 facelift, you’ve spent far more money undergoing a liquid facelift. In fact, the cost of injectables over the course of just three years is likely to cost more and produce less than a traditional facelift.
Problems with Discount Facelifts
Some men and women also look at “discount” or “affordable” facelifts as a way to save money. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Surgeons who perform discounted facelifts often sacrifice safety and quality. They may work out of an unaccredited facility or have insufficient experience so you face a higher risk of complications, botched results, and infection. Unsatisfactory results can lead to additional surgeries, meaning you end up spending twice as much money to have your botched facelift corrected.
What Should I Do?
Instead of risking your safety or final outcome, talk to a board certified plastic surgeon about financing a facelift. Plastic surgeons offer a variety of low- or no-interest payment options to their patients that allow the cost of a facelift to be spread out over a span of months or years. This way you enjoy a safe, permanent procedure with a positive outcome and you don’t have to come up with the entire cost upfront.
Dr. Sheldon Kabaker is a board certified facial plastic surgeon with decades of experience in facelift surgeries. Schedule a consultation with the Oakland plastic surgeon by calling (415) 379-9015 or read more about the facelift.