Non-Invasives vs. Surgical Procedures, Which is Best?

When is it best to take a surgical or a non-surgical approach to facial rejuvenation? Dr. Clifford Clark of Orlando and Dr. Robert Grant of New York City discuss the pros and cons of utilizing non-surgical options to revitalize patients in the middle of life.

By: Clifford Clark III, MD and Robert T. Grant, MD
and Adam McMillon
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com

Can Non-Surgical Procedures Fix Your Face?

Botox® and fillers lead the way in top procedures performed by plastic surgeons when it comes to non-invasive options. The ease in which they can do away with wrinkles and reestablish volume without surgery has attracted many would-be patients. Even so, the patients still ask their surgeon: “Will this really help my face?”

“The answer is yes, but in certain cases surgery is still the better option,” says Dr. Clark. “A 50-year-old man who comes in to improve his lower neck area is not going to find success with fillers, what he needs is surgery.”

Dr. Grant believes that a middle-aged man looking to revitalize himself to get back into the workforce is going to find more practical success with non-invasive fillers. “You have a 50-year-old man who wants to get a new job, wants to look good and needs to get back to work quickly. That’s not someone I’m going to put under the knife, “says Grant. “ What he needs is fillers and neurotoxins (Botox®). I can normally get a rejuvenation with those techniques that will achieve his goals, while severely cutting back the down time… time that he needs to enter interviews.”

It’s About Balance and Patient Goals

“Let’s say a 70-year-old woman with a sagging neck and loose jowls comes in to see me about non-invasive options to revitalize her face. I’ll offer my best advice as a board certified plastic surgeon and suggest surgical treatment to get the best result,” says Clark. “The fillers in this case might work in some small areas, but to get the result she wants, surgery is the proper course of action.”

“While surgery in a 70-year-old patient will more than likely be the best option”, says Grant,  “it’s not the only scenario.” What if she’s planning to attend her daughters wedding in a month and only wants to cover a few wrinkles here and there? “In that case, she’s out of time for surgery, so we can use our expertise as board certified plastic surgeons to utilize fillers and neurotoxins to give her what she desires.”

In the end, surgical vs. non-surgical is not a battle to the finish but are allies that compliment each other based on a patient’s goals. “Ultimately, it’s all about the patient,” says Clark. “It’s great to have this toolbox of different tools to meet their goals, whatever they may be.”