Facelift: Q&A

Ask a Question

Surgery at Age 35? Superior to Fillers? (photo)

Hello, I am a 35-year old female. I use dermal fillers in the mid face, tear trough, temple and naso-labial fold area to combat post-surgical weight loss/ageing. My fillers cost approx USD3000/12-14 months. My appearance affects my job success greatly. I seek a fresh look for my money. Upon visiting a plastic surgeon, I was advised that I was wasting $ on quick fixes. He recommended a midface lift. My dermatologist disagrees. Thank you to those who answered before. I find surgery intimidating.

Tags:

age 35-44 filler second opinion

Comment on this

22 Doctor Answers | Asked by 1135u

Doctor Answers (22)
Community Comments (0)

The aging midface

The aging midface does not drop with gravity, it looses volume. When fillers are no longer are a viable option, then surgery is the next step. Volume replacement is best treated consistently with cheek implants inserted over the maxilla. A small silastic implant is inserted thru an intra-oral incision that takes about 30 minutes under anesthesia. Expect 2 weeks of swelling afterwards. Fat injections are too inconsistent and variable. Fat injections can also be very... more

Without seeing you (and those pictures are not helpful) mid face surgery would be a big mistake.

I do midface surgery. I have invented midface procedures. I use midface surgery to repair damaged eyelids after cosmetic eyelid surgery that go bad. Midface surgery is not a reliable means of improving the cosmetic appearance of the mid face. Your plastic surgeon many not understand this. Mind you I fix the work of many famous plastic surgeons doing midface and eyelid surgery. The problem is that midface anatomy is poorly understood. How these... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Facelift surgery at a young age

I know its frustrating to repeatedly spend your money on facial fillers and its tempting to find a "permanent fix" but there really isn't one. Midface lifting procedures can reposition your midface tissues to give some volume enhancement but the results in all honesty are modest at best. Cosmetic complications and prolonged healing times are common with midface surgery and at your age I dont think its worth the risk. If your happy with the results of fillers either stick with them or... more

Thomas Buonassisi, MD

28 reviews

Vancouver Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.8west.ca

Midface at age 35

You do not need midafce surgery. Midface surgery does not work as well as many surgeons say it does. I would continue using fillers, as the are very reliable. Fat transfer is an option, but it is not as reliable as the fillers. Seeing that you are very keen on your looks, I think that you would probably continue to use fillers even after having fat transfer. For that reason, fillers are your best treatment.

Lift vs Fillers for Facial Aging

I cannot tell exactly what you need from the picture submitted, but surgery is a more permanent solution than temporary fillers. I'm not sure that a lift is appropriate; cheek implants may provide the projection and contour that you need. A physician who does not do surgery is likely to recommend fillers. I suggest you get another consultation from a physician who uses all alternatives..

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Too young for mid facelift?

I suspect that the plastic surgeon is correct in his/her evaluation and recommendations. From what I can tell from your photos, possibly a combination of mid-face, mini-facelift and autologous fat grafting would be in order. I suggest to my patients that they obtain a second opinion if they are at all uncomfortable with recommendations I make, and you may wish to consider this. Jonathan Ross Berman, M.D. , F.A.C.S.

Jonathan Berman, MD

Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drberman.com

Midface Lift or Fillers

I do not see anything in your pictures that would justify surgical intervention in the form of a lift. If you do not like the cost paid for the fillers every year, you could consider fat grafting. These are the two choices I offer all of my patients in your situation. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Midface surgery vs. noninvasive methods for rejuvenation of the face

Thanks for your question. Fillers are a great noninvasive treatment for volume loss of the face. The classic fillers are the hyaluronic acids. Another option is Sculptra which is a different compound that stimulates your body to produce collagen in the areas injected thus providing you with a natural rejuvenating response. Fat transfer if done with the proper technique has a 60-70% chance of surviving and usually does require multiple treatments to get the best results. Fat transfer is... more

35 is probably too young for facelift of any kind.

There are exceptions to every rule but seldom does the patient present at the age of 35 where a facelift of any type is indicated. The photograph provided fits this generalization. I would stick with fillers for the present time. One might consider some longer-lasting fillers if you don't like returning to the office so often.

Bridge to the lift

Sculptra is the right choice for you at this time. It will give you new natural collagen over a large area that will rejuvenate for years. A moderate CO2 laser resurfacing will renew your overlying skin. Together these will give you a refreshed very presentable appearance.

Justin Yovino, MD

13 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Surgery or fillers?

I perform many midface lifts and would not recommend it to you. You could consider cheek implants if you were looking for a long lasting (much longer) solution, albeit surgery. You might also consider other fillers such as either fat or Sculptra which last longer. Good luck.

No Midface Lift

I would not recommend a mid facelift for you. Continue with your fillers or consider fat grafting as some the other surgeons have suggested. Dr. ES

Surgery at Age 35? Superior to Fillers?

Though a bit young your posted photos shows the decent of gravity to the mid face. You could try fat grafting to the malar area using the Coleman micro droplet techniques or a mid face lift in combination with fat grafts. Very hard to advise over the internet.

Fat transfer/grafts

Besides fillers, another natural option for facial and eyelid filling is your own fat. Fat can transferred from your abdomen or thighs and injected into your face/eyelids. Whatever fat that survives will last forever. Fat also comes with stem cells which are believed to be good for the overlying skin. This procedure can be done under local anesthesia in the office.

35 usually too young for facelift

Most patients don't have significant changes warranting a facelift until their late 40s or early 50s. Massive weight loss can make it beneficial earlier but 35 is very young. You most likely would benefit more from minimally invasive procedures at this point. This includes skin care, Botox, fillers and fat transfer. Resurfacing may also help.

Facial Rejuvenation with out Face Lift: Fat Transfer

Hello, and thank you for your photos.. Just based on your photos, I do not consider you a good candidate for Rhytidectomy, you look very good. Keeping wellness, on the other hand, can be privided by the best Anti-Aging procedure : Micro fat-transferring to your face, wich not only will replenish volumes but will enhance the quality of your skin and it last much longer than the regular facial fillers and give your face a fresh, fuller look with the... more

Filles versus surgery

If you like the results of the fillers, I would suggest keeping up with them and possibly use the more long acting ones. Based on your pictures, I would not advise surgery. Seeing you in person may be a different strory.

Another option for your face .... Fat transfer

Hi Instead of a mid face lift, you should consider a fat transfer procedure instead. It works like a filler however lasts many years longer and your recovery and downtime is much quicker.

Fat transfer for early volume loss

You are a perfect candidate for a fat transfer. Our extensive experience shows very high patient satisfaction with excellent long term (> 5yrs) retention of the result. If you are thinking of having a midface lift through a lower eyelid incision you should explore the potential complications very carefully, studies have shown upwards of 5% incidence of lower lid malposition with this procedure.

Mark Glasgold, MD

14 reviews

Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

glasgoldgroup.com

Fillers or Midface lift

Thank you for your question and for providing the photos. To combat the early signs of aging like you have, there are various options that can be used. These would include an array of fillers and surgery. While each has their advantages and disadvantages, there is a role for each. The advantage of surgery is that it is more of a long lasting result. However, it entails recovery time which can be daunting for some midface lifts. Fillers on the other hand, can give a natural result with... more

Fillers vs. Midface Lift for 35 year old

Thank you for this excellent question. The decision for surgery vs. fillers has many factors. As you mention, there is cost. Surgery is more up front but can save money in the long run. There is also time -- fillers can be done in the office and you can go back to work... but you have to come back in 6-12 months. A midface lift, or, in your case, an extended lower eyelid lift with fat transposition, can be a great option. The downtime is generally about a week, but the results are much... more

Midface lift versus fillers in 35 year old

In most patients that are seeking cosmetic improvement, there are normally various options. In your case, the options presented to you are to have a mid face lift surgically performed or continue with dermal fillers. Either option will most likely lead to improvement. I'm not sure what type of fillers you have been using, but another option would be to use a longer lasting filler and this could save you some money in the long run. If you are not comfortable with the... more