Comparison Guide
Facial Surgery or Medical Aesthetics?
Five surgical procedures and seven non-surgical treatments, side by side: what each approach can and cannot achieve, how recovery compares, and when each is the right conversation to have.
This is a summary guide, not medical advice. Every face, every skin and every goal is different; the right plan can only be defined in consultation with our medical team.
Book a ConsultationA starting point, not a prescription. The comparisons on this page are intentionally simplified to help you understand the landscape of options. They do not replace a clinical consultation; surgical and non-surgical treatments are frequently combined, and what is right for one patient may be unsuitable for another. Our surgeons will assess your individual case and advise honestly, including when no treatment is the better answer.
The Fundamental Difference
Structure vs Surface
Surgery repositions and removes tissue, changing the underlying structure of the face. Medical aesthetics works on muscle activity, volume and skin quality without incisions. Neither replaces the other; they solve different problems.
Facial Surgery
Facelift, dermalift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, otoplasty
Medical Aesthetics
Botulinum toxin, fillers, biostimulators, NCTF, microneedling, Morpheus8, Renuvion
At a Glance
All Twelve Options, Side by Side
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Each name links to its full page.
| Treatment | Type | Main purpose | Setting & anaesthesia | Recovery / downtime | Typical longevity | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facial Surgery | ||||||
| Deep Plane Facelift Structural rejuvenation | Surgical | Repositions deeper facial structures for jowls, deep folds and neck laxity | Surgical facility, general anaesthesia, 1 night stay | 3–4 weeks | 8–12 years | £££££ |
| Dermalift Minimally invasive lift | Surgical | Subtle lifting for early sagging, without a full facelift | Local anaesthesia only, no hospital stay | Minimal to none | 1–2 years | £££££ |
| Blepharoplasty Eyelid surgery | Surgical | Removes excess eyelid skin and puffiness; a rested, open look | Day procedure, local with sedation | 1–2 weeks | Long-lasting | £££££ |
| Rhinoplasty Nose reshaping | Surgical | Reshapes nasal proportion, profile and, where needed, breathing | Surgical facility, general anaesthesia, 1 night stay | ~2 weeks | Permanent | £££££ |
| Otoplasty Ear correction | Surgical | Repositions prominent ears, with no visible scarring | Local with sedation, no hospital stay | ~2 weeks | Permanent | £££££ |
| Medical Aesthetics | ||||||
| Botulinum Toxin Muscle relaxation | Non-surgical | Softens dynamic lines caused by repeated expression | Treatment room, no anaesthesia | None | 4–6 months | £££££ |
| Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Volume & contour | Non-surgical | Immediate volume restoration and contour definition | Treatment room, topical cream | Minimal | 6–12 months | £££££ |
| Biostimulators Collagen induction | Non-surgical | Rebuilds collagen for gradual firmness and skin quality | Treatment room, topical cream | Minimal | 1–2 years | £££££ |
| NCTF Skin Booster Revitalisation | Non-surgical | Deep hydration, luminosity and skin nutrition | Treatment room, no anaesthesia | None | Up to 2 years | £££££ |
| Microneedling Skin repair response | Non-surgical | Texture, acne scars, pores and early fine lines | Treatment room, topical cream | 2–3 days | Long-term with maintenance | £££££ |
| Morpheus8 RF microneedling | Non-surgical | Deeper tightening and remodelling for laxity and scars | Treatment room, topical or local | Minimal | ~1 year | £££££ |
| Renuvion Subdermal tightening | Non-surgical | Immediate subdermal tissue contraction for laxity | Surgical environment, local to general | 1–2 weeks | 5–8 years | £££££ |
Values are typical ranges drawn from our treatment pages. The £ scale is a relative indication of investment within our portfolio, not a price; exact values depend on your individual plan and are confirmed at consultation.
Longevity
How Long Results Typically Last
The trade-off in one picture: non-surgical treatments are lighter and repeatable; surgery asks more of you once, and lasts years or a lifetime.
When to Choose Which
Two Different Answers to Two Different Questions
An honest rule of thumb: medical aesthetics refines what is there; surgery changes what is there. The dividing line is the degree of structural change required.
The Concern Is Structural
- Jowls, deep folds or neck laxity are established; injectables would soften but not solve them
- Excess eyelid skin rests on the lashes or creates a permanently tired look
- The shape of the nose or position of the ears is the concern: no injectable changes cartilage or bone in a lasting way
- You have had repeated non-surgical treatments with diminishing returns
- You want one definitive intervention with results measured in years, and can plan for a recovery period
The Concern Is Early or Surface-Level
- Lines appear mainly with expression, or volume loss is subtle and localised
- Skin quality is the issue: texture, dullness, dehydration, pores, mild laxity
- You want improvement without anaesthesia, scars or time off work
- You prefer gradual, adjustable, lower-commitment results
- You are maintaining or refining a previous surgical result
Where to Start
Match Your Concern to the Right Conversation
Start from what bothers you, not from the treatment name. These pairings are the typical starting point; your consultation may lead elsewhere.
A Note on Combinations
The Best Results Often Use Both
Surgery and medical aesthetics are not rival philosophies; they are different instruments. A facelift repositions structure but does not change skin texture or expression lines. Botulinum toxin softens movement but cannot lift a jowl. In practice, many of our patients combine the two: surgery for the structural change, and non-surgical treatments to refine skin quality before surgery or to maintain the result for years afterwards.
There is also an honest hierarchy of intervention. Where changes are early, we will usually recommend starting non-surgically; results are good, commitment is low, and surgery remains available later. Where laxity or excess skin is established, we will say so plainly: continuing to add filler to a structural problem produces heaviness, not youth.
As a surgeon-led clinic we offer both paths, which means our advice is not shaped by what we are able to sell. The recommendation you receive is the one your anatomy supports.
Before You Decide
This Comparison Does Not Replace a Consultation
Everything on this page is a simplified summary. Your anatomy, skin quality, medical history, expectations and lifestyle all change which approach, or combination, is genuinely right for you, and whether any treatment is advisable at all.
At ASG, every plan starts with an individual clinical assessment by our plastic surgeons, in Lisbon, in Oxford, or by video call.