Following is Part II of a series regarding Facelift Misconceptions and Facts.
Misconception: I do not want to undergo a facelift earlier in life because I assume I will need to have another procedure some time in my sixties.
Fact: There is no “magic time” for a face lift – and no specific age. It depends upon the signs of aging that are apparent on each individual. Some of these are hereditary, while others are related to the environment – i.e., sun damage or facial wrinkles due to smoking.
The time to undergo a facelift is when gravity and loss of elasticity along with some collection of fatty tissues under the chin sags and becomes visible. It’s also appropriate when the cheeks relax and the jawline is no longer smooth.
In the average patient, these occur between the mid-forties and mid-fifties, but in some patients they show up in the later thirties and early forties. Some things can be done to “slow” this process , but ultimately, if it is bothersome, the face needs to be tightened surgically.
After a facelift the aging process will continue to proceed as normal, and further relaxation will occur over years. A facelift just sets the time clock back 8-12 years. You will always look better for the rest of your life than you would have had you not done the facelift. One never really “needs” to do a second facelift. However, when those signs show up again, a “re-tightening” may be indicated, and the degree varies from patient to patient.
It actually is beneficial to have your first proper facelift earlier rather than later, as the results will last longer and limit the extent of further surgeries required in the future. It’s different for each person. Why not enjoy the refreshed benefits earlier? Why wait and look older than you feel?