Beauty is timeless! The best age for a facelift is when you make the fully informed decision to take medical-based steps to enhance your beauty. While there is no one age that works best for this cosmetic procedure, the benefits of a facelift may more accurately apply to certain age groups over others.
In this article, we’ll help you decide if you’re at a good age to get a facelift so you can have confidence in your choice to enhance your appearance.
Who is a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
The BEST candidate for a facelift surgery is someone who is physically healthy, emotionally mature, and desires to take medically-based steps to enhance natural beauty. When it comes to getting a facelift, age isn’t the biggest factor to consider. A good candidate for this cosmetic procedure is someone who has the signs of aging that facelift treats.
These include wrinkles, fine lines, dropped cheeks, jowling, excess fat, sagging skin, and more.
Am I Too Young for a Facelift?
While there is no minimum age required to get a facelift, the aesthetic goal of this cosmetic procedure is to treat facial aging. Wrinkles, saggy skin on the face and neck, folds of skin on the cheeks, folds on the jawline, or other signs of aging generally begin to appear after the age of 40 but can occur sooner. This means that whenever you start developing signs of aging, a facelift can help enhance your appearance.
No standard sets 40, 50, or 60 as the best ages to get a facelift. It’s all based on your unique face and skin.
A special note for teens interested in a facelift, please remember that your face and muscles are not finished growing, and your beauty is a lifelong journey, not a single stop destination. If you get plastic surgery before your face is done growing, there’s a chance you may develop face abnormalities. When it comes to a facelift, it best treats signs of aging, which are rare in teens.
Am I Too Old for a Facelift?
On the other side of the spectrum, you may be wondering if you’re too old for a facelift. The answer is the same as above. There is no point at which you reach an age beyond the years acceptable for a facelift procedure.
As long as you’re physically healthy and mentally prepared for the cosmetic procedure, you can get a facelift no matter how old you’ve become.
While there’s a point at which you may be too young for a facelift (teenager), there isn’t the same standard for aging. If you have wrinkles, fine lines, and folds of skin that make you look advanced in years, a facelift is a good cosmetic treatment.
Common Reasons for a Facelift
Facelifts are meant to improve the common signs of aging and help restore the confidence that many have with a more youthful appearance. A facelift can resolve many of the most common complaints by removing excess facial skin and tightening facial tissues.
Below are some of the most common signs of aging that a facelift can improve.
Sagging Skin
This occurs when your skin loses elasticity and ceases to be tight against your muscles. For many people, this produces a high level of annoyance and challenge to their aesthetic. For others, this can lead to irritation of the area and even increased risk of injury to the skin.
A common example of sagging skin is a “turkey neck.”
Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Wrinkles and fine lines are commonly found around the eyes, brows, and corners of your mouth, such as marionette lines. While several treatments and non-surgical avenues exist, the most effective plastic surgery for wrinkles is a facelift.
Sagging Cheeks
As we age, the loss of volume and decreasing collagen under the skin gives the impression of “dropped cheeks.” This condition is when the cheeks lose their firmness and begin to sag and take on a hollow appearance. There are multiple treatments, including fat transfer, to restore a more youthful appearance.
Folds of Skin
Folds of skin refer to severe wrinkles and lines that create a deep folding appearance. These form especially along the jawline and cheeks and worsen as we age. Facelifts are extremely effective with this common complaint.
Types of Facelifts
Depending on your cosmetic preferences and severity of skin conditions, you can choose between several different types of facelifts. Each of these facelifts focuses on specific locations and targets specific signs of aging. Below are three of the most common types of facelifts.
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift, also known as a full facelift treats the entire face. Instead of treating specific types of aging in specific locations, this cosmetic procedure provides a uniform lifting appearance across the face. During a traditional facelift, incisions are made in the hairline and under the chin. The procedure involves repositioning and tightening the skin and muscles for a more permanent sculpted appearance.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift focuses on the bottom third of your face, including the chin, jawline, and neck. In a mini facelift, there are generally fewer and less invasive incisions. During the cosmetic procedure, your plastic surgeon removes excess fat, tightens muscles, and lifts the skin for a more youthful appearance. Mini facelifts have increased in popularity because of their quick recovery time, low costs, and a high degree of fulfilling cosmetic desires.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is a unique type of facelift that focuses on the neck. In a neck lift procedure, your plastic surgeon makes incisions behind each ear and underneath the chin. These incisions allow your plastic surgeon access to tighten the muscles and remove excess fat.
Overall, the procedure takes around two or three hours, depending on the complexity of your cosmetic needs.
Facelift Before and Afters
Should I Get a Facelift?
This is a highly personal decision that only YOU can make. There is no specific age that is right for a facelift. You can get a facelift at 70, 30, or 45. If you have signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, or fine lines, a facelift can help you improve your appearance for a more youthful glow.
At Elite Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Dominic Castellano has years of experience and expertise performing facelifts. During a free consultation, he’ll help you decide if your signs of aging can benefit from a facelift. To talk to Dr. Dominic about your facelift questions and procedure, contact us today at 813-576-2259.
