Are facelifts effective for removing wrinkles?

A facelift is cosmetic surgery, performed by a plastic surgeon. A facelift is designed to tighten the muscles of the face and also rearrange the skin over the affected areas. This provides a tighter look to the skin of the face that is often lost as we age. When the body gets older, there is less elastin and collagen in the skin, which allows gravity to pull the skin downwards, causing sagging and wrinkles. The goal of a facelift is to tighten this skin over the muscles of the face to smooth the appearance of the skin over the face and eliminate the look of wrinkles.

Types of facelifts

When considering a facelift as a solution to the signs of aging and wrinkles, you will need to consult a doctor to help you decide which specific procedure is best for you. There are several different kinds of facelifts to choose from. A mini facelift, sometimes called a weekend face lift, is a popular option that targets smaller, specific areas of the face instead of the whole face like a standard facelift would. Mini facelifts are shorter procedures with a shorter recovery period, which is one of the reasons they are so popular. Another option is a liquid facelift. A liquid facelift differs from a standard facelift in that it is a nonsurgical option for the treatment of wrinkles. In this procedure, filler materials are injected beneath the skin where wrinkles occur, smoothing out the appearance of the skin of the face.

Facelift cost

The cost of facelifts varies widely depending on the type of procedure that is chosen. A major factor of the cost of a facelift for the treatment of wrinkles is that cosmetic surgery is almost always regarded as elective surgery. These types of procedures are rarely covered by insurance. Also, aside from the monetary cost that can range into the thousands of dollars, time off work for recovery also needs to be calculated into the overall cost of having a facelift.

Facelift side effects

The major downside of surgical facelifts is the myriad side effects that can occur with the procedure. Starting with the most dramatic, facelifts do not always go as planned. Occasionally, the skin looks much too tight, impeding facial expressions and giving an extremely unnatural look. Another side effect of facelifts is the swelling, bruising and recovery time involved. It can take days to weeks before the true results of the facelift are able to be seen. As the years pass after facelift surgery, the skin will continue to lose its elasticity, often causing the repaired skin to begin to sag anew. The surgery may need to be repeated in these cases. As always, with any surgical procedure, there are also serious risks and consequences to be considered with facelift procedures from illness to infection or even death.

Safer alternatives to facelifts

For those who do not feel that facelifts are appropriate for their situation, there are several alternative options to facelifts. One of the safest and most effective alternatives to facelifts is a quality anti-wrinkle cream. Anti-wrinkle creams that contain ingredients like Retinol and Argireline have shown dramatic and proven results in the reduction of wrinkles when used regularly. For information on the best anti-wrinkle creams, check out the wrinkle cream reviews.