It has been reported in the USA that the numbers of surgical facelift requests are snowballing, with women turning their backs on non-surgical injectable anti-ageing treatments. This actually doesn’t surprise me as I’ve been experiencing a similar movement in my own practice. The reasons for this shift are many and complex, but I would say that constantly refining surgical techniques, shorter recovery times and predictable results all play their part.

Consumer expectations are high and after a while facial fillers don’t give the sought result. I am actually a proponent of hyaluronic acid fillers and tissue boosting Sculptra, but sadly for some time now in the UK, facial fillers have had some really bad press. It seems daily we are bombarded with images of the latest ‘celebrity’s’ ‘over filled’ face, who has become unrecognisable, often at the hands of overzealous practitioners. These images have definitely helped to fuel a filler-backlash.

My patients tend to be time-challenged and don’t want to be making office visits every few months or so for treatments – they’d rather achieve a predictable results in one go! The importance of initial consultation is paramount, as this is where expectations are clarified and treatment planned. Fillers, peels, laser skin rejuvenation and wrinkle relaxation therapy may still be required to achieve that final result. This is why I devised the concept of the Career Facelift®, to help me and my patients identify the most suitable path to best meet their expectations.

Shorter anaesthetic times, subtly hidden scars behind the ear and reduced recovery times have made facelift surgery an attractive option – but patients should be fit and healthy (and NON- SMOKERS!).

Fillers are definitely here to stay but moving forward, perhaps they will be used more cautiously. One can only hope! In my opinion surgical facelifts are not something used in isolation, but rather one part (albeit a major one!) of the anti-ageing jigsaw.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/womens-style/beauty-junkies-kicking-botox-fillers-favour-radical-new-anti/