subject: Face Lift: What Should Be The Ideal Age For The Procedure? [print this page] How do you know if you are ready for a facelift? How old do you have to be? What makes some a good candidate for the surgery? These are questions that many people ask when considering a rhytidectomy, otherwise known as a face lift. Unfortunately, the answers are unclear. Each case is unique and the individual must be physically ready for the procedure as well as mentally prepared.
In a nut shell, it is a procedure in which the face is rejuvenated through tightening and firming up the skin on the lower two-thirds of the face. A plastic surgeon is able to do this by making an incision that starts in the hairline near the temple and continues in front of the ear and then loops around the back of the ear and meets back up to the hair line.
This incision allows the surgeon to pull the skin tight on the face, remove any excess, and suture it in place. This method is often combined with the use of face fillers or fat transfer to recreate the youthful fullness in the cheeks. A facelift or necklift can also be combined with liposuction to remove fat deposits that give so many people the "turkey neck" look.
A patient is aesthetically ready for a procedure when their skin has begun to sag and jowls begin to form along the jaw. A facelift will also correct drooped chin creating a turkey neck or deep folds extending from your nostrils to your mouth. A patient must be psychologically ready for the method as well and have realistic expectations of the outcome.
What is the ideal age for a facelift?
That is a personal decision but usually the younger patients are around 40 and the oldest patients between 70 and 80. Younger patients may only need a mini-facelift, which means smaller incisions and quicker recovery time.
The results of this will usually last longer on a younger patient because of the greater elasticity in their skin. The procedure can be performed on much older patients as well, however as the skin loses elasticity and folds deepen, it is difficult to achieve pleasing results.
To be a good candidate and achieve natural results patients must be in good health, have enough elasticity in their skin, be mentally stable and prepared for the change in their appearance and life, and have realistic expectations. If you are considering the procedure, you must consult with your plastic surgeon to determine if you and your face are ready for it.
