You’re aging. Gracefully, for the most part. Go you!

Yet you can’t help thinking … ye olde facial firmness seems to be in need of a quick fixer-upper. You do some brief research and discover that a facelift – tightening the skin around the eyes, mouth, corners of the nose, forehead, cheeks, chin or all of the above – is a fantastic way to add some of that youthful plumpness back. Solution found!

Before you dive in, however, it’s important to ask yourself this: Is a vampire facelift better than a surgical facelift? Many people make the mistake of assuming the latter is the only option, but that’s a bad move. We’ll talk you through what it is, what it treats, the benefits of both kinds, potential side effects and cost.

 

What Is a Vampire Facelift?

 

For those that want a noninvasive option for firming skin, a vampire facelift – otherwise known as a non-surgical facelift or PRP therapy – is the perfect option. A doctor injects your face with PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, which is manufactured from your own blood (so your body won’t reject it). This stimulates the production of collagen and fatty tissue, as well as new skin cells. Not only do you get a plumper tone, you get fresher, brighter skin as well.

A surgical facelift, on the other hand, involves slicing into your skin and removing a portion of it, then stretching the rest out and securing it back in place. The result is a tightening of the skin, but in a much more invasive manner.

 

What Is It Used to Treat?

 

Non-surgical facelifts are used to treat a huge variety of cosmetic issues, including:

• fine lines
• wrinkles
• crepey skin around the mouth and nose
• crow’s feet
• mild drooping or sagging skin around the eyes or on the cheeks

 

 

With just a single treatment delivered once a month for only a few months, you can have beautifully firm skin that makes you look five, ten or even twenty years younger. Not all results are the same, but across the board, both women and men look and feel better after a vampire facelift.

 

Benefits and Side Effects

 

Both non-surgical and surgical facelifts carry the benefit of prettier skin, but a non-surgical facelift does so in a much less invasive manner. PRP therapy has a much shorter recovery time, doesn’t hurt nearly as much and enables you to go back to life as you know it much more quickly.

That’s not to say the non-surgical facelift doesn’t carry a few side effects, however. You may experience some short-term bruising and swelling after your treatment, but it typically goes down in only a few days.

However, when you get a vampire facelift, you completely avoid the biggest downside of a surgical facelift…the risks associated with going under the knife. They include:

• • Bleeding and Bruising
  • Infection
  • Nerve Damage
  • Scarring
  • Asymmetry
  • Skin Necrosis (tissue death)

 

 

 

Every year, people die while under anesthesia. Though anesthesia is overall a very safe practice, especially if you don’t have any risk factors, there are no guarantees. Why put yourself at risk when you don’t have to? Even if it’s only for the sake of family and friends, you should absolutely avoid endangering yourself when it isn’t necessary.

Plus, if you go the surgical route, that means you have to sign up for a new surgery every time you want a boost in skin firmness. Wouldn’t you rather just pick up the phone and schedule another doctor visit or two instead? And that’s not even taking into account the financial aspect …

 

Comparative Costs

 

The cost of a non-surgical facelift ranges roughly between $900 to $1600 per treatment, depending on the number of injections. Typically, doctors recommend about three treatments one month apart to achieve optimal results, though you may need more or less depending on your age and skin. Totaled, that runs between $2,700 and $4,800.

Compare that to the cost of a surgical facelift. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a surgical facelift in 2016 was more than $7,000, not including anesthesia, operating room time or ancillary expenses. That is a huge difference, as you can see.

Considering most people opt for more than one facelift in their lifetime, the cost differential can balloon fairly quickly. If you only do one facelift, that’s a $2,200 gap … by the time you get to three or four, it may climb into the five-figure range.

 

Bottom Line

 

It is important to get all of the facts before you make this decision.

Everyone would like to look younger and more youthful.  If you’re looking for younger, firmer and better skin overall, a vampire/non-surgical facelift is clearly the way to go.

 

As with any form of medical treatment, you should consult with your physician before embarking on any treatment plan. The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be deemed accurate for the purposes of diagnosing your particular medical condition.