Pasadena, California Plastic Surgeon Explains Your Options for Facial Rejuvenation

A Pasadena, California Plastic Surgeon explains facial rejuvenation and how to make the face look more youthful. We all want to stay young looking, but how do you decide the best treatment when there are so many options to choose from? Dr. John Gross, a board certified plastic surgeon spells out the non-surgical options for quick fixes and the more involved options for surgical enhancements to the face.

By John Gross, MD
and Carolynn Grimes
The Plastic Surgery Channel

Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Options:

Injectionable dermal fillers – These are a good option for patients who show early signs of facial aging, as well as those who may not be quite ready for a facelift. Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport, these are brands of injectable botulinum toxins. These fillers work well if you want to lessen the horizontal lines on the forehead and the double (L) lines between the eyes.

Many people try injections first to get them through the early signs of aging. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Botulinum Toxin Type A was the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in 2011.

Soft tissue fillers – The second tier of injectable treatments are soft tissue fillers.  These injectables are helpful in the treatment of deep lines such as the nasolabial folds (lines coming down from each side of your nose), restoring loss of volume in the face, or even plumping the lips. Popular brand names for soft fillers are Juvederm, Restylane and Sculptra.

Although fillers can’t help with excess sagging skin, they can add more volume and give immediate results for lines and wrinkles at a lower cost and less down time than surgery. However, keep in mind these treatments aren’t permanent, and will need to be maintained to keep up your look.

Surgical Options:

Facelift – There are many different types or variations of facelifts. The facelift procedure is designed to smooth and tighten the skin on the face and neck.  Most facelifts are designed to tighten the underlying tissues and muscle, and remove excess skin.

Brow lift – A brow lift improves the creases across the forehead and on the bridge of the nose.  A brow lift will also reposition a low or sagging brow.

Eye lift – Eyelid surgery dramatically improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. It gives a rejuvenated appearance making you look more rested and alert.

Whether you’re considering a facelift, injectable soft fillers or botulinum, some of the things you need to consider are how much time you have to recover, your budget and your goals.  Your board certified plastic surgeon can help you decide if a simple rejuvenation procedure or a facelift is best for you.