n today’s world of aesthetic medicine, the question isn’t always “fillers or facelift?” — it’s how the two can work together for the most natural, lasting results.
In this episode of The Plastic Surgery Revolution, Dr. Steven Davis explains how injectable fillers and facelift surgery address different layers of the face — and why understanding those layers is essential for safe, effective rejuvenation.
Dr. Davis often hears patients express concern that fillers or nonsurgical skin-tightening treatments might make future facelift surgery more difficult. While certain procedures that use energy or create deep collagen stimulation can change tissue texture, intradermal hyaluronic acid fillers — the most commonly used type — do not interfere with facelift procedures.
That’s because these fillers target the dermis, the layer responsible for collagen and elasticity. Injected with precision, they smooth fine lines and subtly lift the skin without affecting deeper structures. As Dr. Davis describes it, “Think of intradermal filler injections as painting within the skin — polishing and plumping it — without ever interfering with what we do in a facelift.”
A facelift, on the other hand, works below the dermis to reposition and tighten underlying tissues, creating a refreshed foundation. Together, the two treatments form a powerful combination: fillers to restore the skin’s texture and volume, and a facelift to refine structure and contour.
Dr. Davis encourages patients to think of modern facial rejuvenation as a continuum — one that evolves with their needs over time. Whether through subtle injectable touch-ups or surgical artistry, the goal remains the same: to help you look as vibrant as you feel.
Listen to the full episode of The Plastic Surgery Revolution below for Dr. Davis’s full explanation of how fillers and facelifts complement one another.
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