Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) member, Dr Jack Zoumaras, from Artiste Plastic Surgery, addresses the question of what age is best to get a facelift.
Wrinkles, crow’s feet and sagging skin are red flags that the years are starting to tick by. While some people notice these signs in their early 20s, knowing the right age for a facelift can significantly improve its results.
While there is no right age, having a facelift too early can be useless as the effects of ageing accelerate as you get older. Meaning you could require repeat surgeries. That said, doing so too late is also not ideal. This is because a facelift aims to preserve and maintain your face, so undergoing one in your 60s might mean the results are extremely noticeable.
So, when is the best time for a facelift?
- Age 40+ Patients that undergo a facelift in their early-to-mid forties get better, longer-lasting results than those who do so when they are much older. I would recommend a patient also has skin rejuvenation treatments along with a facelift to further improve their results.
- Age 50+ For patients in this age range, I recommend a different set of surgeries and facelift to restore a youthful appearance. For instance, along with a facelift, I recommend patients undergo neck lift surgery to produce a more overall aesthetically pleasing result.
Common reasons for having a facelift
Loose or Sagging Skin
One of the most noticeable differences in a patient’s facelift surgery before and after results is the improve tightness of the skin. As your skin loses elasticity, it results in wrinkles and sagging skin along your face and neck. A successful surgery, along with a neck lift, can improve the appearance of loose skin, creating a more youthful face.
Loss of Facial Volume
Another effect of ageing is the loss of fat from your face. This results in a hollowed and exhausted looking appearance. Undergoing a facelift will not only tighten your skin but with proper fat grafting, it can restore your face’s volume, resulting in a more refreshed appearance.
Sagging Jowls
Jowls are formed as a result of the loss of volume on your face and the sagging skin. A facelift can remove the appearance of jowls as it can tighten, tone and sculpt sagging skin, giving you a more defined face.
Facial Shape Changes
All the signs of ageing mentioned above can cause the face to lose its youthful shape. Female patients with a heart-shaped face notice that their face shape becomes less elegant and boxier as their skin sags.
How do you ensure a successful facelift surgery?
Considering the cost of a facelift and the recovery time, safeguard yourself by having yours performed at the optimal time, and by someone who can achieve your desired results.
You can do this by choosing a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). That is someone who is an accredited surgeon. Specifically, you want to select a Specialist Plastic Surgeon and someone who regularly performs facelifts.
