Hyaluronic acid and facelifts: what are the differences?
Facial ageing is a natural, gradual and multifactorial process. It results from changes in the skin, fat, muscles and bones that develop over time. Faced with these changes, aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery now offer several effective solutions to restore facial harmony. Among the options most frequently considered are a facelift and hyaluronic acid injections.
These two approaches have different objectives, address distinct indications and are complementary rather than competing. The choice between a facelift and hyaluronic acid injections relies on a precise medical assessment considering age, skin quality, degree of laxity, the patient's expectations and the benefit/risk balance.
Facelift: a surgical response to skin and muscle laxity
A facelift is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting laxity of the deep and superficial tissues of the face and neck. Contrary to common misconceptions, a modern facelift does not involve pulling the skin, but repositioning anatomical structures in their natural position.
It mainly addresses excess skin, tissue descent and loss of definition of the facial oval.
Principles and objectives of a facelift
A facelift treats sagging of the facial oval, drooping cheeks, jowls, neck laxity and overall loss of facial firmness.
The procedure relies on repositioning the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a true pillar of facial support. The skin is then redraped without excessive tension to achieve a natural, lasting and harmonious result.
Indications for a facelift
A facelift is mainly intended for patients with pronounced skin and muscle laxity, significant loss of definition of the facial oval, visible excess skin and advanced ageing of the middle and lower thirds of the face.
It is generally indicated from the fifties, but chronological age is never the sole criterion. The indication depends above all on clinical examination and tissue quality.
Hyaluronic acid injections: a non-surgical facelift
Hyaluronic acid injections are now among the most frequently performed procedures in aesthetic medicine. This substance, naturally present in the body, restores volume, improves skin quality, corrects certain wrinkles and allows non-surgical facelift techniques to be performed.
Unlike a facelift, injections do not act on excess skin, but on volume loss and structural imbalances.
Mechanism of action of hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid works through several mechanisms: restoring lost volume, supporting deep structures, improving skin hydration (particularly Skinboosters) and improving skin quality. There are different types of hyaluronic acid with varying degrees of cross-linking, adapted to each anatomical indication.
Indications for hyaluronic acid injections
Injections are particularly indicated for cheekbone volume loss, moderate facial sagging, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, redefining the facial oval (without major laxity) and improving skin quality.
They are often offered from the thirties or forties, or after the fifties in the absence of major laxity.
Is it a question of age?
It is less a question of age than of skin laxity. If skin laxity is moderate, patients tend to choose a non-surgical facelift with hyaluronic acid injections. If skin laxity is pronounced, a surgical facelift is more appropriate for those seeking a perfect result.
However, while there is no age limit for hyaluronic acid injections, facelift surgery should be performed before 70 to limit anaesthesia-related risks, but above all because beyond this age the skin is no longer sufficiently elastic.
What results can you expect from a facelift and injections?
Both treatment protocols offer natural results and effects on the facial oval. It all depends on expectations.
A surgical facelift provides deep, lasting results. It offers overall rejuvenation estimated at between 10 and 15 years, with notable improvement in facial structure and contours. The effects are visible long term, generally for 10 to 15 years, even though natural ageing continues.
Injection results are immediate or almost immediate, with a natural effect when performed precisely and sparingly. Injection sessions give patients a younger, softer and more rested appearance, all naturally.
They plump areas that have lost volume over time and correct certain imperfections. Hyaluronic acid can also complement a facelift. Its effects last between 10 and 18 months depending on the areas and the patient's metabolism.
For wrinkles in the upper third of the face, botulinum toxin is the solution for treating certain expression lines caused by muscle contraction (forehead lines, glabellar lines and crow's feet).
Can a surgical facelift and hyaluronic acid injections be combined?
Within a modern, comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation, combining the two techniques is common and appropriate.
A facelift repositions tissues and restores structure. Hyaluronic acid injections then optimise the result by restoring targeted volume and improving skin quality. This complementary approach provides more harmonious, natural and lasting rejuvenation.
Which solution should you choose according to age and degree of ageing?
As each face is unique, the decision must always follow a thorough medical consultation. Broadly speaking:
• Between 30 and 40, the first signs of ageing most often appear as fine wrinkles, moderate volume loss or subtle changes in facial contours. Hyaluronic acid injections act preventively and precisely to correct these changes while preserving facial radiance, freshness and natural movement.
• Between 40 and 60, skin ageing becomes more noticeable and depends closely on skin quality and elasticity. A personalised aesthetic medicine approach combining hyaluronic acid injections with other techniques (fractional ablative laser, medium-depth peels) provides balanced, natural results. When laxity begins to develop, the possibility of a mini-facelift can also be discussed.
• From 60, when laxity of the skin and deep tissues is more pronounced, a facelift is the most suitable solution for those seeking a perfect result.
