There is simply no substitute for a facelift. There is no other procedure which can effectively and consistently tighten the loose skin of the neck, eliminate jowls and elevate the cheeks. Such minimally invasive procedures as string lifts, thread lifts or feather lifts turned out to have negligible benefits and high complication rates. They came on to the scene with much fanfare and then quietly disappeared.
Patients need to be reassured that they will not look different, drawn tight or artificial after a facelift. They won't look like they stepped out of a wind tunnel. If these apprehensions can be relieved, they may very well decide to go ahead with a facelift. In my experience, the only way to alleviate these concerns is by showing results, before and after photographs of other patients. Not just one or two, but hundreds.