Should I Get Surgery or Injections?

posted in Face by Dan

Non-surgical procedures are—generally speaking—more popular and more effective than they ever have before. There are new non-invasive techniques being developed all the time, and the results are often quite promising. With all the headlines these innovations have grabbed, it’s understandable that patients might wonder: should I get surgery or injections?

Should You Get Surgery or Injections?

In the end, this decision is not always an either or proposition. For example, a facelift and an injection of Juvederm are not necessarily interchangeable, the decision resting only on the preferences of the patients. The best option is almost always guided by what’s best for the patient balanced against what will be the most effective way to achieve results.

That’s why when it comes down to deciding whether you should get surgery or injections, much will come down to your desired final results. As always, these are decisions you should make under the advisement of Dr. Polsen (or another highly qualified plastic surgeon). This blog is not intended to replace any type of medical advice. You should make all decisions about what procedure is best for you during your consultation with Dr. Polsen.

The Advantages and Limitations of Injectables

Most of the buzz from non-surgical, non-invasive approaches surrounds a very basic category of procedures: injectables. Simply, “injectables” can be defined as any cosmetic material that is injected to produce an aesthetic effect—at least for the purposes of this discussion. When it comes to injectables, patients have several options to choose from, but the two big categories are:

Botox: This particular injectable is designed to eliminate wrinkles by relaxing select, targeted muscles of the face. These are muscles that, through their contraction, cause a kind of permanent tension to become visible. These can include so-called “frown lines” or “concentration lines.” Botox can diminish those lines for (usually) around three months.
Dermal Fillers: When the wrinkles in your face are caused by loss of volume rather than muscle contractions, Botox will not be an effective treatment. In those cases, surgeons will typically recommend dermal fillers as a way to restore volume and minimize lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers (such as Juvederm and Voluma) are easily the most common, and can usually produce results that last anywhere from 18-36 months—depending on the treated area and type of filler.

The primary benefit of any type of injectable treatment is twofold: the results tend to manifest very quickly (almost immediately in the cases of some dermal fillers). Additionally, there’s no appreciable recovery period, though some patients might experience some slight bruising after their injections. But most patients are able to return to normal activities immediately after their appointments.

Limitations of Injectables

The advantages presented by injectables are quite impressive, but there are drawbacks to these procedures as well. The drawbacks might include the following:

Subtle results: In most cases, injectables are only able to achieve subtle results
Temporary results: Depending on your injectable choice, you may only get to enjoy a few months of results before having to schedule maintenance injections (if you intend on keeping those results visible).
No Solution for Excess Skin: In general, injectables cannot offer a solution for the effects of substantial amounts of excess skin. This means that injectables will usually only be effective on certain types of wrinkles.
Targeted Results: In most cases, injectables are not a good option for treating widespread issues.

When Should You Use Surgery?

Discussing the limitations of injectables is not meant to diminish what they’re capable of. But patients should have a good idea of when injectables might be an effective treatment option and when they might need to consider alternative approaches.

In many cases, when it comes to making the face appear more youthful, that means a procedure such as a facelift. Of course, there are many facelift techniques, ranging from a “full” facelift to various “mini” facelift procedures. Whatever surgical technique will work best for you, the basic principles behind facelifts are pretty similar: excess skin is removed—eliminating lines and wrinkles. The end result is a face that looks more youthful.

Facelift is a surgical procedure, meaning that patients should expect a significant recovery period—although the details of that recovery period will vary depending on the technique employed to get your results. However, it may take several weeks for you to see your final results.

The Benefits of a Surgical Procedure

The drawbacks of surgery are relatively unsurprising. The discomfort and recovery period—though well managed—can be an inconvenience. And surgery does tend to require a more significant time commitment than, for example, Botox injections. However, the benefits of a surgical approach can be significant:

Bold, natural-looking results: A surgical procedure such as a facelift allows surgeons to a great deal of flexibility in terms of the results. This allows surgeons to either make subtle changes or to make big and bold transformations—all the while keeping a natural looking results. In other words, injectables can target a specific wrinkle, but a facelift can take years off your face.
Permanent Results: Plastic surgery produces results that are effectively permanent. Of course, it won’t stop the aging process—eventually, wrinkles and lines may begin to appear again. But it can turn back the clock a few years, and that result will be effectively permanent. You won’t have to come back in every few months to maintain your results.

The Best Approach for Your Results

Maybe it’s better to think of injectables and surgery as complimentary tools (rather than competing alternatives). In some cases, injectables will the appropriate tool to achieve your desired results. In other cases, the best “tool for the job” will be something like a facelift. Deciding between the two will largely depend on your desired final outcome.

Some outcomes are better served by injectables—while other outcomes will require surgery. In many cases, the way to figure out which approach is best for you is to consider the final result you want and then work backwards. After all, the most important thing is that you’re happy with your final transformation.

To find out more about what these procedures can do for you, contact the offices of Dr. Charles Polsen to schedule a confidential consultation.