\n
When New York\u2013based celebrity stylist Liza Lieberman booked an appointment with a high-end Upper East Side plastic surgeon, it wasn\u2019t about surgery. At 36, Lieberman knew a facelift was still far off, but she wanted to make sure the aesthetic choices she made now<\/em> wouldn\u2019t sabotage her options later. Five years earlier, Lieberman had under-eye filler injected that migrated and never fully dissolved. Based on her experience and what she had heard from others, she wanted guidance on what to do\u2014and, just as importantly, what to avoid\u2014should a facelift be part of her long-term plan.\n<\/p>\n According to Lieberman\u2019s series of Instagram Reels, the surgeon said that if filler migrates, it can be difficult to locate and fully dissolve before a facelift, and any remaining product could interfere with smooth, natural-looking results. He also cautioned that overfilling certain areas may stretch the skin. \u201cHe was not saying it\u2019s impossible to get a facelift if you do filler,\u201d Lieberman says. \u201cHe was saying it makes it harder on the doctor. You have to be very careful about who you choose for a facelift if you\u2019ve been doing filler for a long time.\u201d Ultimately, Lieberman decided (for now) to avoid filler entirely.\n<\/p>\n
As questions swirl online about whether filler, especially done in your 20s and 30s, can compromise a future facelift, people are understandably confused. Doctors, however, say the answer is more nuanced than social media suggests. \u201cThis question has become increasingly common over the past few years, largely driven by social media sound bites and oversimplified messaging,\u201d says board-certified plastic surgeon Lara Devgan, MD. \u201cPatients are hearing phrases like \u2018filler ruins your face\u2019 or \u2018filler makes surgery impossible,\u2019 which are not accurate in a blanket sense. What patients are responding to is not an invented fear, but a distorted version of a more nuanced surgical reality.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
While we didn\u2019t speak directly with the surgeon who advised Lieberman, all three doctors we interviewed agreed on one thing: Filler does not inherently compromise a facelift. Still, there\u2019s important information to understand before scheduling an appointment. Read on to understand how filler may impact a future facelift<\/strong>, from the most common concerns to tips on how to plan.\n<\/p>\n\n
Meet the Experts<\/p>\n
\n
\n- Lara Devgan, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City. She is the founder and CEO of Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty and an attending plastic surgeon at several local hospitals.<\/li>\n
- Doris Day,<\/u> MD, is a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist specializing in laser, cosmetic, surgical, and aesthetic dermatology at her practice<\/u>.<\/li>\n
- Michael Stein, MD, is a double-board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Why People Think Filler Can \u201cRuin\u201d a Facelift <\/span><\/h2>\n The fear that filler can ruin your chances of a facelift usually comes down to a few recurring concerns: migration, overfilling, and the type of filler used. \u201cPatients are usually worried that filler permanently stretches the skin, migrates everywhere, or somehow makes surgery unsafe or ineffective,\u201d Devgan says. \u201cThe valid part of this concern is that poorly placed filler, excessive volume, or filler used repetitively in the wrong planes can complicate surgical planning. The invalid part is the idea that filler automatically disqualifies someone from a facelift.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Just because it\u2019s more complex doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s impossible under the right doctor\u2019s knife, notes board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD. \u201cIf you\u2019re a plastic surgeon and you want to do facelifts, you want it to be as easy as possible,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s like if you want to make a wig, it\u2019s better to have virgin hair that\u2019s never been colored. But you can work with hair that\u2019s been colored; it\u2019s just a little different.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The Type of Filler to Get If You Plan On a Facelift <\/span><\/h2>\n Yes, the type of filler matters, too. There are two main categories: non-permanent hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers and long-lasting, non-dissolvable biostimulatory fillers. HA fillers break down over time and can be dissolved if needed. Biostimulatory fillers last much longer and can\u2019t be dissolved.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cCertain biostimulatory fillers function by creating scar tissue,\u201d explains double-board-certified plastic surgeon Michael Stein, MD. \u201cIt is possible that the repeated injections of these types of filler trigger fibrosis that makes dissection longer.\u201d In simple terms, some long-lasting fillers work by intentionally triggering the body to form scar-like tissue, which helps create volume. If those fillers are injected repeatedly, that buildup can make future surgery more complicated and time-consuming, as the surgeon has to carefully work through thicker, less flexible tissue.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
For that reason, all of the experts we spoke with agree on one point: If filler is part of your plan and a facelift may be in your future, hyaluronic acid fillers, used conservatively and strategically, are the safer bet.\n<\/p>\n
Can Filler Compromise a Future Facelift? <\/span><\/h2>\nThe idea that filler will ruin your chances of getting a facelift is a myth<\/strong>. In most cases, it\u2019s totally fine.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cFiller does not inherently make a facelift more dangerous or less effective, but it can add complexity,\u201d Devgan explains. \u201cSurgeons may need to account for altered tissue planes, residual volume, or prior expansion of soft tissue. These factors do not preclude surgery, but they do require thoughtful planning and experience. For a seasoned surgeon, these are variables, not obstacles.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve had filler injected, it may require more careful evaluation, and the procedure itself may take longer. When the filler is not dissolved or removed during surgery (Day says it can be taken out while you\u2019re under the knife), it may add extra swelling.\n<\/p>\n
As with most things in aesthetics, there are exceptions. \u201cThere are rare situations in which extensive, poorly placed filler may limit how much improvement can be achieved without additional steps, such as dissolving filler first,\u201d Devgan says. \u201cBut those cases are exceptions, not the rule. With appropriate planning, filler and surgery can coexist thoughtfully within a long-term facial strategy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Can You Get Filler Instead of a Facelift? <\/span><\/h2>\n There is also a myth that filler can work in lieu of a facelift to create a more lifted look. According to Day, patients come in saying things like, \u201cPut the filler back here, and I\u2019ll get a lift.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t work that way,\u201d Day explains. \u201cFiller can make your face wider and create projection, which can look<\/em> lifted. But that\u2019s different than a facelift, which is actually creating an upward lift.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Each has its role, she goes on to express. \u201cFillers can accomplish things that facelifts cannot, and facelifts can accomplish things that fillers cannot,\u201d she shares. \u201cThey can coexist beautifully together.\u201d If you want to use both, the key is finding an injector who understands filler\u2019s limitations and a surgeon who is comfortable working with or around filler.\n<\/p>\n
When to Use Filler After a Facelift <\/span><\/h2>\n Even patients who\u2019ve never had filler may choose it after a facelift. According to Day, some people experience fat loss near the ears after surgery. \u201cWhen they have a facelift, there\u2019s tension in that area,\u201d she explains. \u201cThat tension limits the blood supply, and over time, they end up with atrophy of the fat over there.\u201d In those cases, filler can help restore balance.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen done well, filler is an essential part of facial optimization,\u201d Devgan says. \u201cIt allows for thoughtful structural support and balance in the face, complementing surgical outcomes rather than undermining them. The issue is not filler: It is how, where, and by whom it is used.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
How to Plan for a Facelift After Filler <\/span><\/h2>\n If a facelift is part of your long-term plan, experts recommend thinking ahead before getting filler and choosing your injector carefully. Below are a few questions Devgan suggests asking:\n<\/p>\n
\n- Is the filler dissolvable?<\/li>\n
- Does the provider have true expertise in facial anatomy?<\/li>\n
- What is the goal of the treatment: structural support or superficial volume?<\/li>\n
- How does the treatment fit into a long-term plan?<\/li>\n
- How could it dovetail with future procedures?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cWhen I treat a patient with filler, I am always thinking about how that decision will affect future surgery,\u201d she adds. \u201cMy goal is to keep all options open. Patients deserve a provider who is thinking several steps ahead, not just about the immediate result.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
If a facelift is planned, dissolving hyaluronic acid filler beforehand is often recommended, Stein notes. \u201cThis may take multiple sessions and can delay surgery,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt allows me to see a facial anatomy that is more in keeping with the patient\u2019s baseline. It ultimately improves surgical planning and outcomes.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Still, there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all rule. \u201cEach face, and each history of filler use, requires individualized planning,\u201d Devgan says. \u201cThe goal is always to optimize surgical conditions while preserving healthy tissue.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line <\/span><\/h2>\n Filler doesn\u2019t automatically ruin your chances of a facelift, but careless application can make things harder than they need to be. The key is choosing the right product, a skilled injector, and a provider who\u2019s thinking beyond the immediate result. When used thoughtfully, filler and surgery can play well together. \u201cI see patients whom I\u2019ve been injecting filler for decades, and they look amazing,\u201d Day says. \u201cTheir skin isn\u2019t aging faster or having inflammation. It\u2019s the rare patient who has any issues.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
The takeaway: You don\u2019t need to write off filler if you want a facelift one day, but it can be smart to be like Lieberman and ask a skilled provider all your most pressing questions.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Read more:<\/div>\n
\n- Skin<\/span><\/li>\n
- Skin Concerns<\/span><\/li>\n
- Anti-Aging<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
\n
Related Stories<\/h2>\n
![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/thmb\/nh6qQhk2qXC4vrH2HaOpWUnsX-U=\/200x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/Lauren-Levinson-5512a1cf91a647048f36c5036f94e57f.jpg\")