It’s important for men and women interested in wrinkle treatments to understand the risks as well as the benefits.  With the servicescosmetic dermatologist Westchester NY of an experienced and licensed cosmetic dermatologist Westchester NY trusts, your procedure with likely go smoothly with no unpleasant or unexpected side effects – however, an empowered patient should always be prepared an ask their doctor what they can expect.

While a traditional facelift or s-lift (also called a “mini-facelift”) used to be the only ways to significantly improve the appearance of wrinkles, Botox is now the standard wrinkle treatment for patents interested in looking younger.  Botox and cosmetic surgery each come with advantages and risks.

Advantages and Risks of a Facelift
Whether the patient chooses a traditional facelift or a mini-facelift, both carry the same pros and cons.  A facelift is a permanent procedure with excellent results.  The surgeon can tailor his work to the patient’s exact specifications, and excess sagging skin can also be removed.  However, as a facelift is a surgical procedure which requires general anesthesia, it carries the risk of surgical complications like bleeding and infection.  Scars may also be visible (though a good surgeon will hide them in the hairline).  The procedure may cause pain or numbness in the face and swelling that lasts for weeks.

In addition to the risks brought on by surgery, a poor surgeon can botch the procedure and produce undesirable results – such as asymmetry, skin contour irregularities, or skin discoloration.  A typical facelift patient has up to eight weeks of recovery time to look forward to before being able to return to work.  The procedure cannot be reversed, but patients dissatisfied with the results have the option of having additional surgeries to correct poorly done facelifts.

Advantages and Risks of Botox
Botox offers excellent wrinkle-reducing results at a cost far more affordable than cosmetic surgery.  A favorite of dermatologists in CT, Botox can be used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and forehead.  Many injectable dermal fillers (such as Radiesse and Juvederm) are also available to fill in lines around the mouth and nose.  The results last up to four months, and the procedure involves no general anesthesia and little pain.

Botox carries two main disadvantages.  First, the results are temporary – patients need to have the procedure repeated every few months to maintain results (when compared against the permanent results of a potentially botched facelift procedure, however, this becomes an advantage).  Botox also can’t deliver the lifting results that surgery can, nor can it remove sagging skin.  Results with Botox are more comfortable and require less recovery time, but they aren’t as dramatic as the results seen with a facelift.  Botox has a low risk of complications, but it may not be safe during pregnancy and some patients have reported a loss of muscle function (known as “freezing”) in the forehead.  While this is not harmful, it may limit a person’s ability to show facial expressions.

Knowing the risks as well as the advantages of any cosmetic procedure helps patients weight their options and make smarter choices.  Being well-informed about your treatment options will help you to make the best decision for you.