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Plastic Surgery Trends in 2021: Facelift Surgery Is Up, But Are Facial Fillers Down?

Posted April 05, 2021 By: The Office of Birmingham Specialists

Facelift, Facial Rejuvenation, Injectables


2 Minute Read:

Since the start of COVID-19, plastic surgeons have seen a steady increase in facial enhancement surgery requests. This is partially suspected to be a result of the rise in video conferencing.

Woman preparing for facelift surgery with surgical lines being drawn on face.

Staring at your reflection for hours under harsh lighting showcases problems that could benefit from cosmetic surgeries and treatments. This would make it seem obvious that all facial procedures (surgical and non-surgical) would rise in popularity. However, the actual trend in facial treatments may surprise you!

Facelift Surgery Is Up, But Facial Fillers Are Down

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has seen a surprising trend come out of 2020 and into 2021. The demand for facelift surgery is increasing while requests for dermal fillers (facial fillers)—such as JUVÉDERM®—are on the decline.

This is surprising for two reasons. First, dermal fillers have been steadily increasing for years. Secondly, dermal fillers are a much more affordable option.

In reality, more people are turning away from dermal fillers because they realize that fillers need to be repeated every few months. Not only does this make fillers costly and semi-permanent, but it’s also becoming increasingly difficult to go for touch-up appointments during the pandemic.

It’s not easy to go out for repeated appointments and every time you go out is a potential danger in terms of exposure.

To learn more about maintaining your injectable results during quarantine, check out our blog here.

In comparison, facial surgery (such as facelift surgery) is seemingly permanent. And while it is a more considerable one-time investment, COVID has also made it clear to everyone how important self-care is. During a time when we can’t have the everyday joys that we are used to, such as traveling and events, at least we can all prioritize caring for ourselves.

Should I Get a Facelift or Facial Fillers?

If you are looking to make improvements to the contouring, lines, and overall appearance of your face, you might not know which route you should take. Both facial fillers and facelift surgery offer benefits, so it’s a matter of finding out which is right for your desired outcomes.

A facelift can offer more permanent and drastic results. The ideal candidate for a facelift has good skin elasticity, is in good health, and has prevalent wrinkles or sagging skin. On the other hand, facial fillers—such as Restylane®—can smooth out wrinkles to achieve a younger-looking face for several months.

It is generally said that if you are not ready for surgery or feel that you are only dealing with minor issues, then a facial filler is the right choice for now.

Interested in Learning More?

Book a consultation with our doctors to get a professional’s input on which procedure is right for you. Schedule an appointment by calling 205-298-8660 or filling out this form.