Those looking to refresh their appearance now have more options than ever. Surgical and non-surgical facial procedures can do different things, but sometimes they do the same thing in different ways. If you’re looking to freshen up your appearance, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can help determine what’s best for you.
Surgical options include facelifts, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and brow lifts. Facelifts help repair loose skin and tighten facial muscles. Results typically last at least 8-12 years, but factors such as smoking and skin quality can affect the result’s longevity. Eyelid surgery helps repair droopy eyelids and may involve removing excess skin, muscle, and fat, and results usually last at least 10-15 years. Brow lifts improve the appearance of the forehead, eyebrows, and the area around the eyes by raising the soft tissue and skin of the forehead and brow. Depending on the type of brow lift, results can last 5-10+ years.
Non-surgical facial treatments include Botox, injectable fillers, and Kybella. Botox is great for wrinkles and works by targeting the tiny muscles around your eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and forehead. Fillers are used to fill in fine lines and folds by replacing lost volume. Botox and fillers are both temporary solutions and need to be repeated to maintain the effects.
Kybella is a newer product on the scene and helps reduce your double chin. Kybella is a bit different than Botox and fillers in that once results are achieved, re-treatment is not expected to be required.
In addition to non-surgical options, you can also revitalize your appearance with skin treatments like Microneedling, which uses a specialized pen to crate micro-injuries to the skin in order to naturally produce collagen and elastin. You may also look at Intense Pulsed Light treatments, which rely on photothermal energy to stimulate collagen synthesis. Both of these are low-downtime procedures that can correct skin imperfections.
Both surgical and non-surgical options have pros and cons. The key is to find which one(s) are best for you and your specific aesthetic goals. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Poulter today or call our office at (309) 663-1222 or Toll Free at (888) 841-4108.
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