Facial Surgery Myths
Myth: Non-surgical nose job with fillers can produce the same result as rhinoplasty surgery
Truth: Fillers may help in camouflaging small bumps or depressions, but the results are temporary. Fillers cannot make the nose look smaller, cannot significantly change the appearance of the nose, will not last permanently and are not free of complications. They are not a replacement for a well performed naturally appearing long lasting rhinoplasty.
Myth: Over-the-counter skin creams can reverse your skin’s aging
Truth: There are many worthwhile products that can improve complexion, moisturize, and minimally diminish very fine lines, but there is no “miracle in a bottle” that is scientifically proven to reverse facial sagging or produce a “lifting”. Options like fillers, Botox or Dysport, medically supervised skin care, and surgery can give you a fresher, younger appearance that cannot be achieved with over the counter creams. If it “sounds too good to be true”, it is!
Myth: Stem cells from fat will replace the facial fillers that are currently available
Truth: There is a lot of optimism about the role of stem cells in the future. However, there are still many unknowns, including whether procedures utilizing stem cells for aesthetic procedures are safe long term, whether they are effective, how to best harvest the fat, what will stimulate the stem cells and whether they are an improvement over fat injections alone. At this time, there are no cosmetic procedures that utilize stem cells that are approved by the FDA. Perhaps there will be in the future, but at this point, the marketing of stem cell cosmetic procedures is far ahead of the science. Beware of anyone currently marketing these procedures.
Myth: Permanent facial fillers are better than temporary fillers.
Truth: There are a number of excellent temporary fillers that are available and can be individualized for a specific patient’s needs. In general, permanent fillers are not used by the majority of plastic surgeons because of the long term problems that have resulted with them that can’t necessarily be corrected with or without surgery. The only reasonable filler that has any permanence is micro fat injections. Approximately 30-50% of the fat remains permanently. The fat is your own tissue so it is not possible to be allergic to it or to reject it.
Myth: Topical anti-aging creams can lift the face
Truth: There are numerous improved skin care products. The most important ones currently on the market are sunscreens that protect you from both UVA and UVB rays and Retin-A which can help with acne and some fine wrinkles improve the complexion and diminish some pigment irregularities. There are no topical products which fulfill the claim of lifting the skin. There is no “facelift in a bottle”.
Myth: Injections with Botox/ Dysport and dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, or Sculptra can replace a face lift
Truth: Fillers and cosmetic injections are among the most frequently performed procedures. They certainly may be beneficial and can provide a nice temporary improvement. However, when there is a significant amount of looseness of the skin, they cannot replace surgery. Fillers have a limit of what they can achieve. A “liquid lift” is not a replacement for a face lift and is not a face lift.
Myth: Botox is the same no matter where you get it
Truth: Botox that is promoted at a severely discounted rate may be very diluted and may in fact not even be Botox. Often so called “bargains” turn out to be more costly in the end. “Botox parties” and “filler parties” have a history of disasters” across the United States and in other countries. As in most things, you usually get what you pay for. It is important that you receive injectables in an appropriate medical office, have it injected by trained personnel, that you fully understand not only the benefits but the potential problems as well and have a full informed consent It may be a non-invasive procedure, but it is still a medical procedure.
Myth: Over-the-counter skin creams can reverse your skin’s aging
Truth: There are many worthwhile products that can improve complexion, moisturize, and minimally diminish very fine lines, but there is no “miracle in a bottle” that is scientifically proven to reverse facial sagging or produce a “lifting”. Options like fillers, Botox or Dysport, medically supervised skin care, and surgery can give you a fresher, younger appearance that cannot be achieved with over the counter creams. If it “sounds too good to be true”, it is!
Myth: Fractionated laser skin treatments can significantly tighten the skin non-surgically
Truth: There are a lot of false claims about fractionated laser treatments which can improve discoloration, sun damage, fine lines and minor scarring. However, any degree of skin tightening which is unpredictable in any particular patient is minimal. Non-surgical treatments that claim maximum improvement with minimal recovery do not exist.
Myth: Facelifts are being replaced by “skin tightening non-surgical procedures”
Truth: There are some less invasive procedures including some lasers that may improve complexion, tone of skin and minor wrinkles, however, they do not replace face lifts for those who have any significant degree of laxity of the skin. Many of the stated claims of these “skin tightening non-surgical procedures” cannot be validated and only produce a temporary improvement.
