Doing my facelift is a smart decision?

I am proud to announce that I am launching my own newsletter! You are receiving this because you have been a loyal follower of mine and I want to share with you important dates and events that happened since the beginning of the year. On top of that, you will read my own insights on facial plastic and aesthetic procedures which will help round your opinion and improve your decision-making.

Lots of patients come to my clinic telling me “I don’t want to pay that much for facial plastic surgery! I prefer doing injections!”

So, is this really a smart decision?

My answer to you is NO! And let me tell you why.

Basically, a few years back, a person with skin imperfections sought creams and peelings, while the one who had aesthetic imperfections went after plastic surgery. With the rise of Botox and fillers, patients started opting for these injectables instead of surgeries due to the instantaneous and effective results with 0 downtime! Besides, these people actually think they are making a smarter financial decision considering that the surgery costs more.

I hear a lot in the clinic “I don’t have a budget for a surgical facelift, I will keep doing injections for a while, and then once I have enough money and courage to do the lift, I will definitely proceed with it!”.

The truth is, this is not exactly the proper way of thinking especially in the field of aesthetic medicine.

In the cases of moderate to advanced face and neck sagging, fillers are a short-term solution, especially for those who are not ready to commit to surgery; and a facelift is better for those who want dramatic results and are ready to make a long-term investment. Together, we can work and find a treatment plan that works perfectly for their lifestyle.

What matters to me as a doctor is a patient education, so I will be sharing with you my thoughts to explain to you in a simple manner my medical point of view to hopefully change your opinion on this issue:

• Is the facelift surgery very expensive and maybe its price needs to be adjusted?
• Is it a smart decision to postpone the indicated surgery from a financial standpoint?
• Does the patient have realistic expectations about the facelift surgery, especially with the recent advances made in this field?

Is the facelift surgery very expensive and maybe its price needs to be adjusted?

Finding a service expensive is relative to the person. The best way to explain to you how the pricing is actually fair is through this analogy: buying a car.
You can buy a Ferrari or a small Korean car. They both do the job of transporting you from point A to point B but the ride is certainly different! Not only is the experience on another level, but the car is also durable compared to the cheaper option.
If you cannot afford a Ferrari, then how about buying a “Ferrari outcome” for a price of a German car? This would be the best-balanced investment: low risk, high rate of satisfaction, and a reasonable price! (it’s a win-win situation!)

Is it a smart decision to postpone the indicated surgery from a financial standpoint?

The facelift surgery is a one-time fee that lasts way longer and doesn’t require any maintenance the way fillers do.
If you do simple calculations of 3 mL of fillers every 3-4 months over 3 years the financial cost will be way more than a surgical facelift! This can potentially make fillers cost more in the long-term, as you will have to touch up your treatment multiple times a year.

“The longer you use fillers, the more money you can expect to spend.”

Does the patient have realistic expectations about the facelift surgery, especially with the recent advances made in this field?

I personally think patients are misinformed about the surgery.

The past decades have seen significant growth in aesthetic surgery. Not just in regard to the number of surgeries, but the quality of procedures. These advancements allowed us, plastic surgeons, a greater understanding of both facial anatomy and the aging process:

Tension isn’t done at the skin level anymore (at least in the good and professional clinics), facial vectors and directions of lifting are many clearers nowadays, and the incision line is hidden more than ever. From our side, we developed during the last 5 years a technique named Cosmos Facelift TM, which is a mixture of a facial deep sub-SMAS vertical facelift (going under the layer that should be injected and not only taking sutures over it), and a jawline sharp horizontal lifting.

Major Events

February 21: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Do you conduct in-depth research before choosing your doctor?
Research is a crucial step to getting the desired outcome.

Dr. Georges is the only member of the American Academy of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the UAE!

Being a part of this organization doesn’t only increase the doctor’s credibility and trustworthiness; it also means that the members are always keeping up with the latest trends and guidelines.

Only trust your face to a certified facial plastic surgeon. Your face is going to represent you for a very long time so choose well your facial surgeon!

Check Dr. Georges’ profile.

February 23: Dubai Derma

Dr. Georges was a guest speaker within the scientific activity of the largest skin gathering in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent region: Dubai Derma!

The speech was about creating glamorous lips with the customized STYLAGE lip range.

Vivacy’s brand new hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler is purely dedicated to augmenting the volume and contouring the sensitive lip area.

The new mix helps in the formation of a better shape and a greater fullness.

It’s time to glam it up!

March 8: Women’s day

March 8, was a memorable date on which Dr. Georges and his team celebrated women’s day.

This message is for all women who offer unconditional support: thank you for all the small and the big things that you do!

It is time for you to show the world what you are capable of, it is time to aim high and soar.

We are lucky to be surrounded by such powerful ladies.

Honor, love, and respect women always!

March 23: IMCAS Live Webinar

March 23 was another important date on which Dr. Georges Ziade was one of four internationally renowned experts explaining in detail their techniques in facial contouring in a live webinar.

This was a part of the IMCAS Academy, the emphasis was on the facial contouring techniques.

IMCAS helps build bridges between aesthetic plastic surgery and dermatology, reinforcing knowledge in each field as well as the areas of study at the junction of the two fields.

March 25: Arrival of the Meso Gun Injector in the UAE Market

We’ve got some thrilling news for you, the latest “Meso Gun Injector” is now available in the UAE!
The U225 is the most sophisticated mesotherapy injector currently available on the market.

What’s in it for you?

This unique piece of machinery incorporates the most advanced precision and safety techniques, it is less harmful to the tissue and guarantees intensive use and very long-lasting reliability.

March 28: Ramadan Offers

This Ramadan is all about glorifying your skin!
Benefit from the offers both in the UAE and Lebanon.
Whatever your face needs, we’ve got you covered.

Stay tuned for the upcoming issue, meanwhile, if you’ve got any questions or comments We’re Listening!