There was a time when people never fessed up to having a facelift, even if it was glaringly obvious. But that era is over and everyone is talking about their work—and as more people share, the surgery numbers rise.

According to the latest figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), face and neck lift procedures performed in the UK have risen by eight per cent while among men, numbers surged by a whopping 26 per cent.

The facelift has gone mainstream

Several factors have driven this rise. Social media has normalised cosmetic procedures, and the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic has also played a role too, as rapid weight loss can leave the face deflated in ways that non-surgical treatments can’t fully address. Not only that, advances in techniques mean modern facelifts look nothing like the over pulled results of old.

Modern facelifts work by repositioning the deeper layers of the face before re-draping the skin over a restored foundation. For that to go well, your surgeon needs to assess your anatomy accurately—where volume really sits, how tissue moves, what skin quality is actually like.

But if you’re considering one, there’s something important that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: what you do, or don’t do in the years, months and days before surgery matters. Certain aesthetic treatments can complicate the procedure itself, skew what your surgeon sees during consultations or compromise healing. Here’s what you need to know before you book that consultation.

Treatments to approach with caution 

Dermal fillers 

Years of facial filler use can lead to migration and layering, making it hard for a surgeon to assess your natural anatomy. Excessive filler can also affect the tissue planes surgeons need to work between during a facelift procedure. Therefore, it’s best to get all your hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers dissolved, and allow at least six weeks between dissolving your filler and going under the knife.
 

Thread lifts

Thread lifts involve inserting dissolvable sutures under the skin to create a temporary mechanical lift. They’re popular as a non-surgical alternative to a facelift, but the problem is that the threads can cause a build-up of internal scar tissue in the exact same tissue planes a facelift surgeon needs to navigate. This makes the dissection more difficult and increases the risk of complications. Wait at least 12 months post threads before even considering booking in for a facelift, and always tell your surgeon if you’ve had them.

Radio frequency skin tightening 

Radio frequency (RF) treatments use heat energy delivered into the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production and achieve a tightening effect. Used well in advance of surgery, they’re not necessarily a problem, but used too close to your surgery date, and this thermal treatment can alter tissue quality and create unpredictable healing. You need to be at least three months clear of an RF session before having surgery.

Radio frequency microneedling 

RF microneedling combines tiny needles with radio frequency energy to remodel collagen, making it one of the more powerful non-surgical skin treatments available. But that power comes with a significant inflammatory response in the tissue, and the inflammation takes time to fully settle. Having it done close to surgery can compromise how the tissue heals and behaves post-operatively, so wait a minimum of three months before going under the knife.  

Ultrasound skin tightening 

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) works by targeting focused energy at the SMAS layer, which is the same layer of muscle and connective tissue that a facelift surgeon operates on. As a standalone treatment HIFU can work wonders, but before surgery, it’s a problem. Thermal damage to the SMAS can complicate the procedure significantly, so you should allow at least six months before having your facelift.

Fat-dissolving injections 

Deoxycholic acid is an injectable treatment that permanently destroys localised fat cells—it’s commonly used under the chin to reduce a double chin. The destruction of fat tissue triggers an inflammatory response that causes significant internal scarring. This scarring can make surgery considerably harder to perform, and because it can be permanent, you should wait at least a year before getting a facelift, unless your surgeon advises otherwise.

Biostimulatory fillers 

Unlike standard hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, biostimulatory fillers like Sculptra and Radiesse don’t add volume directly, they work by triggering your body to produce its own collagen. That sounds straightforward, but crucially, they can’t be dissolved. Over time they can create uneven tissue density that makes it genuinely difficult for a surgeon to assess your underlying facial anatomy. Pause use at least 12 months before surgery and bring it up early during your consultation.

Ablative lasers 

Ablative lasers like CO₂ work by removing the outer layers of skin to trigger a wound-healing response that resurfaces texture and tone. Done too close to a facelift, they can compromise the skin’s blood supply during recovery which is a serious concern, since surgery already disrupts blood flow to the skin. Some surgeons do perform ablative resurfacing at the same time as a facelift, as part of a planned combination approach. That’s a very different scenario to having it done independently beforehand. Either way, avoid any deep laser treatments for at least six months before surgery, unless it’s part of a plan agreed with your surgeon.

Microneedling

Standard microneedling uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen without heat. It’s far less aggressive than RF microneedling, but it still creates micro-trauma and a low-level inflammatory response. Pause at least four weeks before surgery.

Neuromodulators 

Botulinum toxin and other neuromodulators relax the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, and although they don’t affect your skin and won’t directly complicate surgery, they can put a spanner in the works. Having muscle relaxing injections immediately before a facelift consultation is a no-no, because it masks muscle movement, and where your real lines and laxity sit. All of that informs surgical planning, so go to your consultation with your face in its natural state.
 

Planning ahead

There’s no need to panic if you’ve had these treatments in the past. A good surgeon will ask you for an extensive history of what aesthetic treatments you’ve had, and they will consider that when planning and scheduling your facelift. If you’re thinking of having one in the future, then you’re one step ahead and can factor in how your current aesthetic treatment plan could impact a future facelift—tweak where necessary so you get the best surgical results.