Facial rejuvenation is a personalised, combined approach to refreshing the whole face, addressing the three things that change as we age: the position of the soft tissues, the volume beneath them and the quality of the skin itself. At her Harley Street practice in London, female plastic surgeon Ms Anna De Leo designs facial rejuvenation plans that may bring together fat grafting, fillers, targeted lifting procedures and skin treatments, supported by the ADLSynergy focus on recovery, nutrition and longevity.
Ageing is not a single process, and no single treatment can address all of it. A lift without volume can look tight; volume without support can look heavy; and neither will look fresh if the skin is dull and tired. A facial rejuvenation plan looks at the face as a whole and over time, choosing the fewest, most effective interventions for you, then supporting the biology of healthy skin and tissue so that results last and you continue to age well.
01What Is Facial Rejuvenation?
Facial ageing happens in layers. Bone gradually remodels, so the eye sockets widen and the jaw loses some of its projection. The fat pads of the face shrink and slide downwards, hollowing the temples and under-eye area and flattening the cheeks. Ligaments that support the soft tissues loosen, producing jowls and heavier folds. And the skin thins, loses collagen and elasticity, and accumulates sun damage.
Facial rejuvenation addresses each layer as needed, rather than relying on a single procedure:
- Structure and position: surgical lifting of the face, neck or eyelids where tissues have descended
- Volume: fat grafting or hyaluronic acid fillers to restore lost fullness and contour
- Skin quality: peels, exfoliation, skin boosters and medical skincare
- Biology and lifestyle: nutrition, sleep, sun protection and regenerative therapies that support healthy tissue
This differs from skin rejuvenation, which concentrates on the surface of the skin alone. Facial rejuvenation is the broader strategy, of which skin treatment is one important part.
02Who Is a Facial Rejuvenation Plan For?
A facial rejuvenation plan suits people who feel their face no longer reflects how they feel inside, and who want a natural, coordinated improvement rather than a single dramatic change. It is particularly helpful if:
- You notice several changes at once, such as hollowing, some jowling and dull skin
- You would like to delay or avoid surgery for as long as is sensible
- You have had treatments elsewhere that feel piecemeal or unbalanced
- You are recovering your sense of self after illness, weight loss or a demanding period of life
- You value long-term skin and tissue health as much as the immediate result
Plans range from entirely non-surgical to surgical, depending on what you need and want. Good general health matters, and if you smoke, stopping is one of the most effective things you can do for your face. Ms Anna De Leo will be honest if a single treatment, such as a facelift, is likely to serve you better than a combination.
03Your Facial Rejuvenation Consultation on Harley Street
Your consultation takes place at 64 Harley Street, Marylebone, London, and is deliberately unhurried. Ms De Leo will discuss what you see and feel, your medical history, lifestyle, sleep, nutrition and skincare, and any previous treatments. She will then assess your face layer by layer, considering bone support, fat compartments, ligament laxity, muscle activity and skin quality, often using photographs and reference images from earlier in your life.
From this, she will propose a prioritised plan explaining what to address first, which treatments are optional and how they might be staged over months to allow natural, gradual change. Expectations are discussed honestly, including what each step can and cannot do.
The cost of a facial rejuvenation plan depends on the number and type of treatments, whether surgery is involved, the anaesthetic and the supportive therapies included; all of this is set out clearly in writing. Where the plan includes cosmetic surgery, a cooling-off period of at least two weeks applies, in line with GMC guidance.
04Treatments Within a Facial Rejuvenation Plan
Facial fat grafting
Fat is gently harvested by fine liposuction, usually from the abdomen or thighs, purified and re-injected in tiny amounts to restore volume to the temples, cheeks, under-eye hollows, jawline or lips. Fat feels natural, integrates with your tissues and the portion that survives is long-lasting. It is often performed under local anaesthetic with sedation, or alongside surgery.
Fillers
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers offer a precise, reversible way to restore contour and support with minimal downtime.
Surgical lifting
Where tissues have descended, a facelift, neck lift or eyelid surgery repositions them, often combined with fat grafting for a softer, more youthful result.
Skin quality
Peels, dermabrasion and skin boosters refine texture and tone, while minor dermatological surgery can remove unwanted lesions such as xanthelasma or benign skin growths, with incisions placed along natural skin tension lines.
Regenerative and longevity support
Our programme can include red light therapy, oxygen therapy, lymphatic drainage and personalised nutrition and health optimisation through our longevity service, all designed to support tissue repair, circulation and skin vitality.
True facial rejuvenation restores structure, volume and skin health together, then nurtures the biology that keeps you looking well.
ADLSynergy · Harley Street
05Recovery and Long-Term Care
Recovery depends entirely on the treatments in your plan. Non-surgical steps such as fillers, skin boosters and light peels typically involve little downtime. Fat grafting causes swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, with the final result at around three months. Surgical lifts usually need two to three weeks before returning to desk work, with results maturing over six to twelve months.
Where possible, plans are staged so that recovery fits around your life. At ADLSynergy, recovery is treated as an active process: our team in London includes Tika, a theatre practitioner with more than thirty years of experience in plastic surgery, scar management and lymphatic care, and Estrela, a registered functional nurse and breathwork instructor, who help you heal well and feel supported.
Long-term, maintenance might involve periodic skin treatments, occasional filler top-ups and, above all, daily sun protection, good nutrition, restorative sleep and not smoking. This is where facial rejuvenation becomes a partnership for healthy ageing rather than a one-off procedure.
06Risks and Realistic Results
Each element of a facial rejuvenation plan carries its own risks, and these are explained fully for every treatment you consider:
- Fat grafting: swelling, bruising, variable fat survival, lumps or irregularities, and occasional need for a further session
- Fillers: bruising, swelling, asymmetry and, rarely, blockage of a blood vessel requiring urgent treatment
- Surgical lifts: haematoma, scarring, nerve injury, wound-healing problems and the risks of anaesthesia
- Skin treatments: redness, peeling, pigment changes and, rarely, infection or scarring
Facial rejuvenation before and after results can be lovely, but they vary between individuals and depend on anatomy, skin quality, healing and lifestyle. The aim is not to stop ageing but to look refreshed, healthy and recognisably yourself, and to keep looking that way for longer.
07What a Facial Rejuvenation Plan Can Look Like
Because every plan is personal, it helps to see how the elements can fit together. These are illustrative examples, not prescriptions:
- Early changes, late thirties to forties: a course of skin boosters and superficial peels to restore glow, a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler to support the cheeks, and a skincare, sun protection and nutrition routine.
- Volume loss with good skin support: facial fat grafting to the temples, cheeks and under-eye hollows, followed by skin treatments once swelling has settled.
- Descent and laxity, fifties onwards: a facelift or neck lift combined with fat grafting in the same operation, with skin resurfacing and lymphatic and red light therapy during recovery.
Patients often come to Harley Street expecting to be offered the biggest possible intervention. In reality, Ms Anna De Leo frequently recommends less, not more, and takes a staged approach so that changes are gradual and friends and colleagues simply notice that you look well. For many people in London leading busy lives, this measured, longevity-minded approach is exactly what makes facial rejuvenation sustainable.
08Why Choose Ms Anna De Leo on Harley Street
Ms Anna De Leo is a GMC-registered Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Consultant and Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, with more than twenty years of experience across facial surgery, skin surgery and reconstruction. Because she performs surgery, fat grafting and non-surgical treatments, she can recommend whichever combination will genuinely serve you best.
As a female plastic surgeon, she brings a refined, natural aesthetic and a belief that beauty and health are closely linked. The ADLSynergy philosophy connects surgery with recovery science, nutrition, breathwork and longevity, supported by our multidisciplinary team.
To begin your personalised facial rejuvenation plan on Harley Street in London, please book a consultation.
