Am I a Good Candidate for Facial Services?

Physician-Reviewed Content

Medical reviewer: Dr. Brian S. Coan, MD, FACS, double board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Surgery) and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. This article is based on current peer-reviewed medical literature and guidance from professional organizations, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Aesthetic Society, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Last reviewed: October 2026 | Reading time: 9 minutes

Facial services, from non-surgical injectables to surgical procedures, are not a single solution but a spectrum of approaches designed to address a wide variety of concerns, including fine lines, volume loss, sagging skin, drooping eyelids, nasal proportion, and overall facial harmony. At CARE Plastic Surgery in Cary, NC, Dr. Brian S. Coan and our team help patients across the Triangle explore these options in a warm, personalized setting. Contact our team online to schedule your consultation.

Quick Answer

Most healthy adults with realistic goals are candidates for at least one type of facial treatment. Early signs of aging, such as fine lines and mild volume loss, often respond to Botox or dermal fillers with little downtime, while moderate to advanced sagging of the brow, eyelids, face, or neck usually requires surgery. The right option depends on your anatomy, health, goals, and how much recovery time you can plan for, which is why an in-person consultation is essential.

Evidence Snapshot: Facial Treatment Candidacy

• Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for temporary improvement of frown lines between the brows, forehead lines, crow’s feet, and platysma (neck) bands; other uses are off-label.
• The FDA regulates dermal fillers as medical devices, and each product is approved for specific areas, such as cheeks, lips, or folds around the mouth.
• The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) generally describes surgical candidates as healthy, non-smoking adults with realistic expectations.
• Non-surgical treatments can soften lines and restore volume, but they cannot remove significant excess skin or reposition deeper facial tissues the way surgery can.
• A 2026 meta-analysis of upper-face botulinum toxin injections supported its effectiveness for forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet.

Facial Services at a Glance

Treatment	Common Concerns Addressed	Typical Downtime at CARE
Botox	Frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet	Little to none; results last about 3 to 4 months
Juvéderm fillers	Volume loss in cheeks, lips, under-eyes, folds	Minimal; results last about 1 to 2 years depending on product
Eyelid surgery	Hooded lids, under-eye bags	About one week off work
Brow lift	Low brows, forehead creases	About one week off work
Facelift	Jowls, sagging lower face and neck	One to two weeks off work
Rhinoplasty	Nasal shape, breathing concerns	One to two weeks for work and light activity

Understanding What “Facial Services” Includes

Before evaluating whether you may be a good candidate for facial services, it helps to understand how broad the category is. At CARE Plastic Surgery, facial services span surgical and non-surgical options, each designed to address different concerns at different levels of intervention. You can explore the full list on our facial procedures page.

Non-Surgical Facial Treatments

Non-surgical options are often a natural starting point. Botox injections are FDA-approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows, forehead lines, and crow’s feet, as well as platysma bands of the neck. Dermal fillers, including products from the Juvéderm family, can restore volume to areas such as the cheeks, lips, under-eyes, chin, and nasolabial folds; each product is FDA-approved for specific uses, as the FDA explains in its dermal filler guidance. These treatments are well tolerated by most patients and involve minimal downtime. Our complete guide to injectables and fillers covers these options in more detail.

Surgical Facial Procedures

Surgical facial procedures address concerns that non-surgical treatments cannot fully resolve. Options at CARE Plastic Surgery include facelift surgery, neck lift, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), rhinoplasty, brow lift surgery, ear surgery (otoplasty), and facial fat grafting.

Am I a Good Candidate for Facial Services? Key Factors to Consider

Candidacy for facial services, whether surgical or non-surgical, depends on your physical health, personal goals, and the nature of your concerns. While every patient is unique, several factors are broadly associated with favorable candidacy.

General Health and Medical History

For surgical procedures, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes good candidates as healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing. Uncontrolled conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or bleeding disorders can increase surgical risk and may need to be managed first. Non-smokers, or those willing to stop well before and after surgery, are better candidates because nicotine impairs healing. For injectables, health requirements are generally less stringent, but certain conditions, such as active skin infection at the treatment site, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or some neuromuscular disorders in the case of Botox, may make treatment inappropriate. A thorough health history is always part of the evaluation at CARE Plastic Surgery.

Realistic Goals and Emotional Readiness

Patients who seek facial treatments to feel more like themselves, rather than to match a celebrity’s features or to please someone else, tend to report the most positive experiences. Dr. Brian S. Coan takes time to understand each patient’s motivations and to ensure that proposed treatments align with achievable outcomes. Individual results vary based on anatomy, health history, and the specific procedure chosen.

The Nature of Your Facial Concern

The type and extent of your concern shapes candidacy. Mild volume loss or early fine lines may respond well to injectables or skin resurfacing. A descended brow may be addressed with a brow lift, while hooded upper lids or under-eye bags point toward eyelid surgery. More advanced aging, particularly sagging of the lower face, jawline, and neck, may require a facelift to achieve meaningful improvement. Many patients benefit from a layered approach, combining surgical and non-surgical treatments over time. Our article on the three types of facial aging explains how these changes differ.

Candidacy Guides for Specific Procedures

For a closer look at individual procedures, read our guides: Am I a Good Facelift Candidate? and Am I a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Why Choose CARE Plastic Surgery in Cary, NC?

For patients in Cary, Raleigh, and the broader Triangle, CARE Plastic Surgery offers a comprehensive environment for exploring facial services. Dr. Brian S. Coan is double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Patients can verify a surgeon’s certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has been recognized by Cary Magazine as Best Plastic Surgeon in Cary, NC for eight consecutive years, by readers of Durham Magazine as Best Plastic Surgeon in Durham every year since 2010, and received Gold for Best Plastic Surgeon in the 2026 5-West Diamond Awards.

Our integrated practice model, which includes the full-service skinCARE Medspa alongside a QUAD A-accredited on-site surgical facility, lets patients access the full spectrum of facial services under one roof, with continuity of care from the first consultation through every stage of their journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Treatment Candidacy

Should I start with Botox and fillers or go straight to surgery?

It depends on your concerns. Fine lines and mild volume loss often respond well to injectables. If you have significant loose skin, jowls, heavy eyelids, or a low brow, injectables may provide limited improvement, and surgery may be the more effective and economical long-term choice.

How long do Botox and fillers last?

Botox results typically last about three to four months. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvéderm generally last about one to two years, depending on the product and the area treated.

What is the best age to start facial treatments?

There is no single best age. Some patients begin injectables in their late 20s or 30s, while surgical procedures such as facelifts are more common later in life. Your anatomy and goals matter more than age alone.

Can I combine several facial procedures at once?

Yes. Procedures such as a facelift, brow lift, and eyelid surgery are often performed together for a balanced result with one recovery period. Combining procedures can lengthen surgery time, so Dr. Coan will evaluate whether a combined plan is safe for you.

Are there risks with non-surgical facial treatments?

Yes, although they are generally low. Botox can cause bruising, headache, or temporary eyelid or brow drooping. Fillers can cause swelling, bruising, lumps, and, rarely, serious complications if filler blocks a blood vessel. Choosing an experienced, medically supervised injector reduces these risks.

Am I a candidate if I smoke?

Smoking increases the risk of healing complications after facial surgery. Dr. Coan will typically ask surgical patients to stop nicotine use for several weeks before and after surgery. Injectables carry fewer restrictions, but smoking still accelerates skin aging.

Is ear surgery only for children?

No. Otoplasty is often performed once the ears have reached near-adult size, generally around age five or older, but adults can also be good candidates for ear reshaping.

How do I know if my surgeon is qualified?

Look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which you can verify online, along with experience specific to the procedure you are considering and an accredited surgical facility. The Aesthetic Society offers helpful questions to ask when selecting a surgeon.

References and Supporting Evidence

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Botulinum Toxin.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dermal Fillers.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Facelift Candidates.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Ear Surgery.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers).
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Neuromodulators.
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Soft Tissue Fillers.
• The Aesthetic Society. Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy).
• American Board of Plastic Surgery. Is Your Surgeon Certified?
• Safia A, et al. Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A Injections to the Upper Face: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026.

Contact Us

If you have been asking yourself whether you are a good candidate for facial services in Cary, NC, the most important next step is a conversation with a qualified expert. Dr. Brian S. Coan and the team at CARE Plastic Surgery are here to help you explore your options with honesty and care. Contact us online or call 919-372-3125 to schedule your consultation.

Medical Review

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Brian S. Coan, MD, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. It is intended to educate prospective patients and should not replace an in-person consultation or individualized medical advice.

Patient Education Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, establish a physician-patient relationship, or replace an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Candidacy, risks, recovery, and results vary by patient and should be discussed with a qualified medical professional.

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