This Article Has Been Medically Reviewed By
April 28, 2025
Exploring ways to refresh your appearance can feel confusing, especially when you’re deciding between a facelift vs. fillers. Both options help reduce signs of aging, but they do so in very different ways. Emmett Plastic Surgery helps patients understand the difference between facelift surgery and dermal fillers, so each person can feel confident in their next step. Knowing what each treatment can do helps you choose what’s right for your face and your goals.
Why Your Face Changes Over Time
As you age, your face naturally loses volume and your skin starts to sag. These changes happen gradually, often starting with hollowness in the cheeks, temples, or under the eyes. Skin can also become looser around the jawline and neck. These two issues, volume loss and sagging skin, call for different treatments.
What Fillers Can Do – Add Volume and Smooth Shadows
Fillers work well for early signs of aging caused by volume loss. They can:
- Add fullness to the cheeks and temples
- Smooth deep lines around the mouth
- Brighten tired-looking eyes
- Plump lips and soften fine lines
Dermal fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, and Radiesse offer a subtle lift and more youthful contours with little to no downtime. Results typically last about a year, making fillers a flexible option, especially if you’re just starting to notice changes.
What Fillers Can’t Do – Lift Loose Skin
Fillers are not made to fix sagging skin or jowls. When there’s too much looseness around the jawline or neck, adding volume only pushes the skin outward. This can leave your face looking puffy or unnatural. If you notice sagging that creates jowls or a “turkey neck,” fillers alone won’t give you the smooth, lifted look you want.
When a Facelift Makes the Most Sense
A facelift is the most effective way to lift and tighten sagging skin. It:
- Reduces jowls and lifts the lower face
- Smooths deep folds and creases
- Restores a defined jawline and neck
This surgical option addresses gravity-related aging that fillers can’t fix. A well-done facelift removes excess skin and repositions deeper tissues, creating a refreshed look without changing who you are. For natural-looking results, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in facial rejuvenation.
Why Many People Choose Both
For many, ideal results come from combining a facelift with fillers or fat transfer. A facelift tightens and lifts, while fillers restore fullness where it’s been lost. Together, they create a more youthful, balanced appearance.
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and starting to see early signs of aging, fillers might be enough. But if you’re dealing with noticeable sagging or deep folds, a facelift with or without fillers offers longer-lasting improvement.
Learn More About About a Facelift and Fillers
Choosing between a facelift and fillers depends on what you want to improve. That’s why meeting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is so important. Your plastic surgeon will examine your facial structure, listen to your goals, and give honest recommendations, so you never feel overdone or unsure.
Learn more about facelift or fillers, Emmett Plastic Surgery in Denver offers both options with your safety, comfort and goals in mind.
