New Research from Dr. Salsberg and Dr. Motakis: Facial Injectables Do Not Increase the Risk of Facelift Complications

Joint Research Paper by Dr. Jennifer Salsberg and Dr. Dimitrios Motakis.

A question we're asked often by patients considering a facelift is whether previous facial injectable treatments — hyaluronic acid, Sculptra, Radiesse — might affect their candidacy for surgery, or raise the risk of complications down the road. Until now, there hasn't been a clear evidence-based answer. Surgeons and dermatologists have held strong opinions in both directions, but the published data simply weren't there.

So we set out to answer it ourselves. Our new study, published in Dermatologic Surgery (the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery), is the first of its kind to address this question directly.

What we looked at

We reviewed every deep-plane facelift performed at AvenueMD over a 15-month period — 106 patients in total. (The deep-plane technique, which Dr. Motakis specialises in, lifts the deeper structural layer of the face rather than just the skin, and is the approach most commonly associated with natural-looking, long-lasting results.) 

For each patient, we recorded whether they had received prior injectable treatments (hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, or poly-L-lactic acid) and tracked surgical times and any complications for 6 to 12 months after surgery. 

What we found

Fifty-seven percent of our patients had received injectables before their facelift. Complication rates between the two groups — those with prior injectables and those without — were not statistically different. Surgical times were also comparable. All complications we observed were mild and resolved with standard care.

Why this matters for our patients

If you've had filler treatments over the years and are now considering a facelift, our research offers genuine reassurance. Your prior aesthetic journey does not need to limit your future surgical options. It's worth noting that these findings specifically apply to the deep-plane technique used at AvenueMD; further research is needed to understand whether the same holds true for other surgical approaches. But for our patients, the answer is clear.

It also reinforces what we believe at AvenueMD: that injectables and surgery aren't competing paths — they're complementary tools, used at different stages, by patients making informed choices over time.

The collaboration behind this paper reflects how we work day to day. Combining dermatology and plastic surgery under one roof means our patients benefit from coordinated and continuous care — and, increasingly, from research that draws on both specialties.

We'd encourage anyone considering a facelift to read the full paper. It's short, accessible, and openly published in one of the field's leading journals. If you’d like to talk to us in person, please book a consultation here.

Read the full study (PDF)

Salsberg J, Motakis D. Does Prior Treatment With Facial Injectables Increase the Risk of Rhytidectomy Complications? Dermatol Surg. 2025;00:1–3.