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Should I Have Facelift Instead of Pearl "Fusion"?

I have a doctor recommending Pearl "Fusion" for photo aging and some skin tightening. How long do the results last? Should I save my money for a facelift instead? I'm 50 years old.

Asked 31 months ago by LinJas in Georgia

Tags:

skin sun damage

Pearl Laser

See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and they will guide your decision. They are two different procedures and if you need muscle tightening, a facelift is the only option here. If you have a lot of facial brown spots, blood vessels, then another laser is needed. Skin quality is helped with a laser, skin laxity and muscle laxity is surgery.

Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Pearl Fusion vs. Facelift

A facelift and Pearl Fusion are really not comparable. It really depends are what your needs are and what problems you are trying to address. We will often do a Pearl Fusion treatment on patients after a facelift just to complete a patient's 'tune up'. A facelift is really for skin laxity and the problems that come with it. Pearl Fusion addresses sun damage, brown spots and texture, which no amount of facelifting will address. If you have a... more

Grant Stevens, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Facelift results last longer

A face/neck lift is going to address much more of the aging issues and provide longer lasting rejuvenation results than a noninvasive skin tightening procedure. It would be best to save your money and do a face/neck lift when the time is appropriate. The face/neck lift addresses fat in the neck, lifting the jowls, reducing excess facial and neck skin, tightening of the muscles in the front and back portion of the neck, as well as tightening the SMAS layer at the level of the cheekbone.... more

William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift is very different from "Pearl Fusion" or any other laser procedure

JinLas: There is no such thing as laser or non-surgical facelift, even though there are many claims. In my practice we have available a full range of laser resurfacing, non-ablative skin tightening, HA fillers, etc. in addition to standard and short-scar or limited facelifts. We offer specific procedures to patients based on each patient's needs or wants. Your age alone is not a determinate of what procedure will give you the best result. We recommend facelift for 3-dimensional... more

Sutton Graham II, MD

Greenville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Pearl Fusion vs Facelift

While the two approaches are complimentary, they treat very different problems. Laser and light modalities are used to improve skin quality and pigment irregularities with minimal skin tightening. If the main goal is facial contouring to lift and tighten relaxed skin and muscle, a facelift is the procedure of choice.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift vs. Pearl "Fusion"

You are comparing 2 modalities of treatment that target two different problems. The Facelift, in my opinion, will give you the best result that you need for your problems. Surgical procedures will always give better results in rejuvenating the aging face. The Phototherapy with the Pearl will improve better on the skin surface sun damage, but the percentage of skin tightening is very unpredictable with this technique. At best you can obtain 15-20 % improvement on skin tightening and 60-70%... more

Gustavo A. Diaz, MD

Charlotte Facial Plastic Surgeon

Save your money for a facelift rather than Pearl Fusion

The marketing terms "Pearl Fusion" should scare you off. Combining superficial skin peels or photofacial with any non-surgical skin tihghtening procedure under the best circumstance (young thick skin) and in the best hands can only achieve 20 % of a face lift result if that.The facelift will give you a nice tight jawline and neck and when done properly can last 10-12 years.Save your money for a facelift!See before and after photos of facelift.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Pearl laser and facelift.

Hi! I agree with Dr. Rand. For most women, a well done facelift gives major, long lasting improvement and is a far better investment than Pearl "fusion".

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Save for the facelift

The results of the non-surgical therapy will not come even close to the results of a beautifully done facelift. So, I'd suggest waiting and saving for the facelift. There are many fine plastic surgeons in Atlanta. You might want to start by visiting Dr. Rod Hester.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Laser and light based therapies unlikely to replace facelift

There has been an explosion in the number of laser and light based therapies offered to reduce facial laxity, fine lines, and improve the quality and texture of the skin. These proposed nonsurgical facelift procedures can become expensive and require multiple treatments to produce a noticeable result. There is no evidence to suggest that these therapies will replace the need for facelift. The current thinking is that laser combined with fillers may delay the need for a more traditional... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The best answer is probably "both"

I practice in Florida where many of out patients have problems that are equally balanced between surface problems (which the newer lasers do quite well) and skin relaxation at an early age due to sun exposure and remaining athletic. Consequently our average 50 year old will have both a lift (extent depending on amount of relaxation) and a Mixto for resurfacing and shrinkage. The whole combination can easily be done under local anesthesia and recovery is rapid.

Nathan Mayl, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Facelift vs topical laser and light therapy treatment

Your question may be more accurately answered if photographs showing your concerns were attached. It is hard to buy clothing for someone without knowing their size or cook a meal without knowing what ingredients are available. There are 50 y/o patients that look 40 and 50 y/o patients that look 60!! In general, whatever benefits you obtain from light or laser treatment of the skin last. It's just that you continue to age / have sun exposure and "problems" can slowly return... more

Michael Kulick, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Combination treatments for best results

Hello, You have already received great answers and advice from Drs. Maas and Katz. I would just add that most (not all) patients in their Fifties and Sixties would benefit the most from a combination of treatments: Surgery for skin laxity, jowls and turkey necks Lasers / Chemical Peels for sun spots, fine wrinkles, improving skin tone / appearance Naturally, what you go with should be a beneficial combination of your goals, your anatomy, your Surgeon's well thought out recommendations,... more

Kamran Jafri, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser and light devices do not replace facelift

Generally speaking, photodamage -- brown spots and fine wrinkles -- laser treatments can be effective. For contour changes like a sagging neck jowls and deep folds, lasers, light and radiofrequency will have a minimal effect. Depending on your conditions and goals, your choice of treatments and their outcomes should be clearly spelled out and discussed with you.