The 8-point facelift involves strategically placing dermal fillers in the lower half of the face to lift it.
However, that’s not all this procedure claims to do. Besides providing a facelift, it also promises to rejuvenate the skin and add volume. More commonly, the latter’s what dermal fillers are known for, since they “fill” an area.
But even more appealing is the fact that fillers can also lift the face. Because that wouldn’t require any invasive surgical removal of the skin or adjustment of the underlying structures.
In truth, though, an 8-point facelift might only provide a subtle and minimal lifting effect. So, it’s not exactly an alternative to a surgical facelift. In this guide, you’ll learn more about what an 8-point facelift can and cannot do for you.
What Is An 8-Point Facelift?
An 8-point facelift is marketed as a non-invasive facelift that involves injecting dermal fillers in the following 8 areas on each side of the face:
- Cheekbones (2 areas)
- Under the eyes (tear troughs)
- Hollow of the lower cheek
- Nasolabial fold (the line running from the bottom of the nose to the mouth corner)
- Jawline
- Jowls
- Marionette lines (from the corners of the mouth to the chin)
Keep in mind that these points on the face are not fixed. Some practitioners say that the actual site of injection varies depending on the patient’s anatomy and needs.
Does An 8-Point Facelift Actually Work?
An 8-point facelift is kind of a misnomer since it cannot and does not lift the face in the traditional sense. In fact, it might more or less be an illusion.
It’s important to remember that dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a gel-like substance. When injected into the skin, it temporarily plumps it up. This HA also attracts and binds to water molecules, which also hydrates the skin.
At most, it would fill up the skin, so you might think that it’s lifted since the skin has been newly stretched.
However, it’s not an actual lift that produced those results. What you’re seeing may just be the result of added volume to the lower half of your face.
And remember, dermal fillers don’t just restore volume to the face. By filling an area, they can also help smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.
The diminished appearance of some of those downward projected lines can further make it look like your face has been lifted.
Even so, injecting the filler at the right depth and in the right areas may provide a subtle lifting effect due to some underlying support. However, for that, you’d need to find an experienced practitioner.
How Is An 8-Point Facelift Done?
Your practitioner will begin by cleaning your skin. Following this, you might be given local anaesthesia or numbing cream so you don’t feel pain on getting injected.
Once it takes effect, the fillers will be injected into 8 specific points on each side of your face.
The entire treatment might take less than an hour since it’s non-invasive. There’s usually no downtime involved. But you may experience some swelling, redness, bruising, and tenderness for a few days.
How Long Does An 8-Point Facelift Last?
An 8-point facelift might last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. The results of dermal fillers are not permanent because they’re eventually absorbed by the body.
Some say that how quickly a filler dissolves can depend on the metabolism of the individual. However, the jury is still out on this one.
But different formulations of the filler can have an effect on how long your 8-point facelift lasts.
How Much Is An 8-Point Facelift?
The cost of an 8-point facelift can be anywhere from £500 to £1,200. Since the needs of different patients can vary, so can the price of the treatment.
Moreover, the experience of your practitioner and the location of their clinic can also impact the overall price.
However, you must bear in mind that an 8-point facelift will not give you permanent results. And in order to maintain the results, you’ll have to get the treatment again after a few months or a year or so.
8-Point Facelift vs Traditional Facelift: What’s The Difference?
The main difference between an 8-point facelift and a traditional facelift is the way these treatments work to achieve a lifting effect.
While an 8-point facelift just elevates the skin by adding volume to it, a surgical facelift does the actual lifting by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying muscles.
Therefore, the results of the two treatments are vastly different from each other. The following is a summary of how an 8-point facelift differs from a surgical facelift:
| 8-Point Facelift | Surgical Facelift | |
| Procedure | Injection of dermal fillers in 8 different areas on each side of the face (lower half) | Surgical remove excess skin and fat and tighten facial tissues to reposition the skin |
| Anaesthesia | Numbing cream or local | General or local (with sedation) |
| Candidates | Young patients (about in their 30s) who’re experiencing early signs of ageing | Older patients with loose, sagging skin (typically 50+) |
| Downtime | None | 2-4 weeks |
| Results | Immediate and temporary (6 months to 2 years) | Permanent (changes are immediately visible, but swelling can take months to go away) |
| Side Effects | Redness, bruising, swelling, and tenderness | Stiffness, bruising, swelling, and scarring |
| Cost | £500-£1,200 | UK – £5,000-£10,000Turkey – £2,000 |
Conclusion
While an 8-point facelift is touted as a “facelift,” keep in mind that it’s not actually one. In fact, it might only create the illusion of a lift. That’s because dermal fillers are used to plump up an area and not reposition it.
However, depending on your needs, you might be able to benefit from it. But to achieve your desired effect, it’s important that you find an experienced and licensed practitioner.
And make sure to consult them about your needs and goals. They’ll prepare a treatment plan for you based on that.
Reviewed and approved by Prof Dr Fuat Yuksel
