What is Better: A Facelift or Botox?

chillibreeze writer — Preeti Parekh

Beauty and youth are fleeting seasons in the lives of human beings. No wonder then, that man, since times immemorial, has been engaged in a relentless pursuit of achieving eternal beauty and everlasting youth. Anti-aging methods to preserve health and beauty date back to the 7th and 6th century BC, where they were practised across the ancient civilizations of Rome and Greece in the west and India in the east. To be specific, Sushruta, was called The Father of Plastic Surgery and cosmetic Surgery, and his technique of rhinoplasty remains almost unchanged to this day.

So, what, if anything, has changed? The modern age is replete with a variety of anti-aging methods, revolutionized by the use of technology, making it safer than ever before, readily accessible to the general public and in turn, catapulting the billion dollar, cosmetic industry, to dizzying heights. It also makes for confusion, as to the right choice for an individual, in terms of the correct method which can be used, the cost, and the outcome of the procedure.

This calls for us to examine a few anti-aging methods. But before we do this, let us take a quick look at the process of facial aging. The facial aging process involves the skin, muscles and the bones. In general, the skin appears wrinkled, you get worry lines, forehead lines, laugh lines and crow’s feet around the eyes (called hyperfunctional facial lines, caused by repeated contraction of the small muscles), bags under eyes and drooping of eyelids. In addition when muscles lose tone, the fat moves down and the bones become thin and weak, the face sags and looks elongated and thin. The skin of the neck becomes loose.

It follows then, that all the anti-aging methods target to change one or more of these components, to give a rejuvenated look to the face and to the individual.

Anti- aging methods are broadly classified into two categories, surgical/invasive and non-surgical/non-minimally invasive. The surgical method is referred to as Facelift or Rhytidectomy and the most popular, non surgical method is called BOTOX (cosmetic) treatment. So what are facelifts and what is BOTOX? And which one is better for you?

Simply put, a facelift is a procedure where the facial skin is detached aesthetically, pulled or tightened and reattached back by a trained surgeon. Some methods also reposition the underlying muscles. In some cases, facelift is done along with other procedures like browlift, blepharoplasty (repair of the drooping eyelid to provide better vision), rhinoplasty (nose repair) and liposuction (removal of fat from neck and chin which takes care of a double chin).

In certain cases, mini-facelifts are carried out specifically, in those areas of the face which show signs of aging. Facelift causes wrinkles to disappear, gives a fuller face and results in a youthful, rejuvenated and natural look which boosts the confidence of people in their personal and professional lives. It can be used very effectively by both men and women of any age but preferably by those who are in their 40s.

The side effects are bleeding and infections, and sometimes scarring and a fixed facial expression. But not withstanding these, it is safe, fast, effective and can be done as an out patient procedure in a hospital or office based surgical setting. The results usually start setting in at about four weeks and are fully visible in about one year, are long lasting and do not usually need follow up sessions.

BOTOX (cosmetic) is a minimally invasive method and is also called a liquid facelift. Manufactured by Allergan Inc., it is a proven, highly efficient method for the last 20 years. It uses the toxin Botulinum Type A, which is injected near the site of facial lines, e.g., worry lines, laugh lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines which are caused by repeated contraction of the underlying muscles. Botulinum acts by relaxing these muscles and causes the lines to disappear, sometimes permanently, over a period of time. A few side effects like drooping of eyelids, blurred vision, and sometimes an allergic reaction are seen but these are temporary. Nonetheless, it should be avoided if you are pregnant, nursing a baby, and in children who are less than 12 years old.

Botox is quick acting, with the effects seen within 5 -15 days and lasting upto about 3 months, unlike a facelift, and requires touch up, repeated sessions every 6 months or so. Currently, Botox is being used along with other dermal fillers like Juvederm, which increase the long-term efficacy of Botox. It is also sometimes combined with a face lift procedure.

The costs of both Facelift and Botox treatment are highly variable, depending on the choice of the procedure and various other associated factors. Mention must be made of other nonsurgical facelifts, which can be done on a preventive basis, significant among these being, use of microelectric currents to stimulate facial muscles and regularly doing a set of facial exercises to maintain muscle tone.

In conclusion, whenever you want to opt for an anti-aging procedure, a careful and an informed choice must be made, to get the best results for you. To quote “Beauty is but a lease of Nature”; and it is never too late to start looking young and beautiful!

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in August, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Dr.Preeti Parekh has been a consultant radiologist and a life skills facilitator working with teenagers and youngsters. She writes on health issues for public awareness. She has a keen interest in movement, music and art.

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