People in their 40s, 50s, and 60s usually notice signs of facial aging as the skin gets looser and lines and wrinkles form. A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, can improve the symptoms of facial aging by removing skin and fat and pulling the remaining tissue tighter.

Some signs that you might be ready for a facelift are:

• Sagging, loose skin in the face and neck
• Crease lines and folds between the nose and mouth corners
• Facial fat that is lacking or has fallen
• Drooping skin on the cheeks and jaw
• Extra fat and skin in the neck

A facelift can make you look up to 10 years younger if done well, but it won’t change your appearance or slow the aging process. This procedure also won’t address sun damage or fine wrinkles, but non-surgical treatments can fix those.

Types Of Facelifts

There are many kinds of facelifts, and one may be a better fit for your aesthetic goals than others.

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift may be ideal for those who need minor improvement in the lower face. In addition, it could be perfect if you have limited signs of facial aging, such as in your late 30s and early 40s.

A mini facelift uses fewer incisions than a traditional facelift and has less downtime.

Traditional Facelift

A traditional facelift is also called a full facelift. This is what most of us think of when we hear the word. A traditional facelift is ideal for moderate or severe aging signs in the midface and neck.

This procedure works by taking out extra skin and fat from the face. After the excess tissue is removed, the remaining skin is pulled up to make you look younger and ‘tighter’ in the face.

When performed by a skilled surgeon, it can easily make you look 10 years younger.

Deep Plane Facelift

This procedure lifts the muscular layer of the face (SMAS), skin, and fat as one piece. This is considered more advanced than a full facelift and may address several face issues at one time.

SMAS Facelift

This facelift focuses on the lower face and tightens the muscle layer while also fixing loose skin. This is a variation of the full facelift.

Mid-Facelift

This option is focused on the cheeks, repositioning the fat, and tightening the skin in that area. Some people lose volume in the cheeks in particular, which addresses that issue.

Neck Lift

If you have a lot of loose skin and wrinkles in the neck, think about a neck lift as well as a facelift.

A neck lift removes extra skin and fat from the neck. You will look younger from the neck up when done with a facelift, so it’s popular to do them together.

Other popular options with a facelift and neck lift are eyelid and brow lifts.

Average Age For A Facelift

Most people who have facelifts are in their 40s, 50s, and 60, which is when facial aging becomes more apparent. Deep wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin happen with aging as the skin’s collagen production drops.

Non-surgical methods, such as Botox and dermal fillers, can temporarily improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. But only a facelift offers a permanent, significant reduction in facial lines and wrinkles.

More patients usually have a facelift in their 50s and any other decade, but remember that everyone ages at different rates. So instead of thinking of a specific number, you should consider a facelift when facial aging signs begin to bother you.

Also, think about surgery when non-surgical methods don’t provide the results you want.

Ideal Candidates For Facelift

The best candidates for a facelift are in their 40s to 60s and have significant visible signs of facial aging, including loose skin and deep lines and wrinkles.

You should be physically healthy and don’t have medical conditions that affect your healing ability. Also, you cannot smoke for at least a month before and after the procedure and should have realistic expectations.

Facelift Recovery

After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room as you wake up from anesthesia. Once the medical team gives the okay, a friend or relative can take you home. It’s recommended to have someone stay with you for the first night.

You will have significant bruising and swelling for two or three weeks. This is normal, so it’s important to be patient. Some patients heal faster than others, and you may need to wait to go out in public until most of the early swelling and bruising is gone.

The surgeon will probably take off the bandages after four or five days. They will want to see you at least a few times in the first six weeks to check the swelling and bruising.

Most of the swelling and bruising will be gone after a month, but there could still be some after two or three months.

Most patients go back to work after two or three weeks. But if you have a mini facelift, you may only need a week off. You shouldn’t do any strenuous exercise for at least two or three weeks.

A facelift can make a huge difference in your facial appearance. If you are concerned with loose skin, deep lines, and wrinkles in the face, a facelift could make a big difference.

Request A Facelift Consultation

Thinking about a facelift in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if you are a good candidate for a facelift.

References

Facelift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11023-facelift

Facelift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/facelift

About Facelifts. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.webmd.com/beauty/webmd-medical-reference-collaboration-cleveland-clinic-cosmetic-procedures-facelifts