Although some procedures, like breast augmentation and tummy tuck, have grown significantly in popularity since 2000, others, like the face lift, have seen a significant decline. Facelift popularity dropped by 23% from 2000-2009, even though the overall number of cosmetic procedures has increased by almost 70%. In part, this is due to the increasing popularity of a number of nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and Restylane. However, there is not currently any nonsurgical cosmetic procedure capable of doing what a facelift does, and it is unlikely that there ever will be one, which means that a facelift will forever be an essential component of facial rejuvenation.

There are three main components to facial aging. First, changes in the skin due to aging and damage cause it to lose glow and elasticity. Second, the force of gravity, combined with the changes in the skin, lead to sagging tissues. Third, due to changing patterns of fat storage, many people lose volume in their face. Although advanced skin care can help the skin retain its youthful luster and some measure of elasticity and facial fillers can restore volume, no nonsurgical treatment can lift sagging tissues.

This is not to say they haven’t tried. A number of nonsurgical skin treatments promise to give lifting and firming of the face, but these treatments fall short because they only work on the skin, which is only one part of the complex equation of facial sagging. In order to get natural-looking, long-lasting results, a procedure must operate on the multiple levels of facial aging, which requires surgery capable of accessing the deeper tissues.

The good news, though, is that the new treatments give more options for facial rejuvenation, helping people whose signs of aging do not merit a facelift, as well as improving the results for some facelift patients.

You have probably heard the innovations in injectable treatments described as a “liquid facelift,” but the truth is that these procedures will never take the place of the real facelift. To learn more about facial aging and how to get the best results for you, please contact Dr. Vasdev Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas today.