As skin loses its elasticity, a facelift can be the perfect solution for restoring a youthful appearance. As helpful as it may be, it’s still a surgical procedure, so it’s important to make sure it’s the right thing for you.
What is a Facelift?
Before determining if you’re at the right age for a facelift, it’s important to make sure you understand the procedure.
A facelift is a surgical procedure so you will be sedated with anesthesia in a surgical center. Then, incisions are made around your face, typically along your hairline at your temples, around your ears, and back down towards your lower scalp.
Once the incision is made, the skin is then redraped to appear tighter and the excess skin is trimmed away. The incisions are then sealed with dissolvable sutures. Once healed, the incisions won’t be easily seen because they’re well hidden along the hairline.
There will be some bruising and swelling initially, but once you heal, you will see you have a refreshed and youthful appearance.
What is the Right Age for a Facelift?
Short answer: in your 40s. But if you’re still in your 30s or already in your 50s, there are still better options for you.
If you’re considering a facelift, here are some recommendations for the best age to get it done.
30s
It’s very rare for people in their 30s to need a facelift. At this age, your skin still has a lot of elasticity, and a facelift won’t have the effect you’re looking for. Instead, your cosmetic surgeon may recommend a variety of other procedures that can help refresh your look.
For example, dermal fillers are great for filling in fine lines and areas that are starting to wrinkle. Microneedling is effective for evening skin tone and shrinking pore size.
You can also regularly have facial treatments done. Treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels might be better options for taking care of your skin.
40s
The most ideal age is somewhere in your 40s. It has become a general understanding that those who get a facelift done in their early to mid-40s will see longer-lasting results and an overall more successful facelift.
The SMAS or Deep Plane facelift is very beneficial at this age, and you could see yourself showing the results for upwards of 10 to 15 years. There is also fat transfer facelift which uses your body’s own fat to plump up the skin on your face and neck. Both of these procedures are ideal to have in your 40s.
50s
If you’re in the 50+-age range, there are still some wonderful facelift options for you. For those who have never had a facelift before, pan facial rejuvenation is the perfect option. With this procedure, the entire face and neck area is rejuvenated for a more aesthetically pleasing result.
If you have had a facelift before and are seeing the effects wear off, then a secondary or “refresh” facelift could be what you need. It will essentially be the same procedure you have before and will extend the lifetime of the results.
Planning Your Facelift
A consultation is the best place to start if you’re considering having a facelift. Fortunately, most consultations are free! Your cosmetic surgeon can tell you what procedure is going to be the most effective considering your age and what your skin already looks like. They can also go over the risks involved and the recovery time so you can plan out every element of the procedure.
When looking for the right surgeon for yourself, make sure they’re board-certified and have the proper licenses. Also, make sure you feel comfortable with them and you feel confident in their abilities. This person is going to be altering the appearance of your face so you must trust them. Different doctors have different aesthetics so take a look at some of their before and after work to determine if they’re the right fit for you.
A facelift is guaranteed to boost your self-esteem and overall perception of yourself. It gives you a refreshed, natural look that couldn’t be achieved with any other procedure.
If you’d like to chat with a specialist about getting a facelift, call +(44) 0121 288 4552.
