What Is the Best Age for a Facelift?
Posted April 05, 2021 in Facelift, Facial Rejuvenation
5 Minute Read:
When thinking about undergoing a facelift, you want to make sure that it is the right time for you.
If a patient knows that they will have a facelift at some point in their lives, then my advice is, “The younger, the better.” This advice has held up in over 25 years of my practice specializing in facelifts. When expertly performed, using the best techniques, the patients look quite young and very natural.
Typically, most patients would benefit from a facelift around 50 years of age. Of course, no two patients age at the same rate; some patients develop some significant signs of aging in their 40’s, and that person would also be a good candidate for a facelift. There are a few causes for somewhat premature aging — significant weight loss is one, environmental factors another, and genetics factors also can play a role.
On the other hand, many patients choose to undergo a facelift in their 60’s or 70’s. With the modern techniques and proper preparation of the patient, this can be done quite safely. The recovery process does not vary significantly between different age groups.
Table of Contents:
What Contributes to Facial Aging?
How Can I Prevent Early Aging Signs?
Can Someone Be Too Young to Undergo a Facelift?
What Contributes to Facial Aging?
Genetics
Your genetics play a huge role in facial aging. Some people, through no fault of their own, visibly age faster than others. Even if you take good care of your skin, you may still be unhappy with how fast you are aging.
It is said that people age at a similar rate as their mothers.
Lifestyle
Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as drinking and smoking, can contribute to facial aging. Alcohol, in particular, leads to wrinkles and broken blood vessels. It also dehydrates your body and skin, potentially adding years to your appearance.
Additionally, the nicotine and other chemicals found in cigarettes and vapes cause damage to your blood vessels, restricting oxygen to the skin cells.
Career
Believe it or not, your job may be contributing to your facial aging. People with stressful jobs or jobs that require a lot of time in the sun may be at risk for premature facial aging.
Stress not only takes a toll on your mental health but physical health as well. Cortisol, the stress hormone, often causes wrinkles because it breaks down the skin’s collagen. Therefore, the stress you feel from your job may be to blame for your wrinkles and fine lines.
The sun is highly damaging to your skin, and people whose jobs require them to spend significant time in the sun are at a greater risk for skin cancer and premature aging.
Diet
We all know how a balanced diet is beneficial to our physical and emotional health. Foods that are higher in fat cause skin inflammation, inevitably leading to premature aging.
Additionally, similar to nicotine, eating high-sodium foods causes dehydration of the body and skin.
How Can I Prevent Early Aging Signs?
After reading the previous section, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of normal daily things contributing to facial aging.
Although you cannot change your genetics, there are many ways to prevent early aging signs. It may just take a few lifestyle changes.
Avoid Excessive Drinking
Many of us enjoy the occasional drink now and again. We have even learned that, in moderation, red wine can be beneficial to your overall health.
Just because alcohol can contribute to early aging signs does not mean you have to cut it out completely. You can still enjoy the occasional drink, but keep in mind that excessive drinking often leads to wrinkles and dried-out skin.
Quit Smoking
Smoking does nothing but harm your body. To avoid premature facial aging due to smoking, it is recommended that you quit or significantly limit how much you smoke.
Not only will you feel better, but you will be taking the necessary steps to slow down your aging process.
Wear Sunscreen
Many people only remember to wear sunscreen when they are at the pool or beach. However, sunscreen should be used daily, regardless of how sunny it is outside.
The sun not only causes visible damage to your skin, but it can also cause skin cancer. Putting sunscreen with a high SPF on at the beginning of every day helps reduce your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
If you work outside or know that you will be in the sun, you should bring the sunscreen with you to reapply as needed.
Reduce Stress
It may seem impossible, but we would all like to be less stressed. If you find yourself more stressed than usual, take a break to participate in some stress-reducing activities, such as going outside for a walk or meditating.
Consistently working to reduce your overall stress can be beneficial in slowing down the aging process.
Can Someone Be Too Young to Undergo a Facelift?
Yes, someone can be too young for a facelift. If the patient does not have severe enough facial wrinkles and sagging, a facelift will not be beneficial.
Patients should have moderate to severe facial aging before undergoing a facelift for the procedure to be worth their while. However, age does not necessarily determine facelift candidacy. A 35-year-old can have more facial aging signs than someone who is 50. In that case, the 35-year-old may be a perfect candidate for a facelift.
If you are looking into facelift surgery, your age doesn’t matter. However, if you are experiencing mild facial aging, you may benefit from a non-surgical treatment first. We offer various non-surgical facial treatments to benefit patients not yet ready for a facelift. These treatments include:
Am I Too Old for a Facelift?
Some people wish to eliminate facial aging with a facelift but believe they are too old. There is no specific age that is “too old” for a facelift.
If you are healthy enough to undergo surgery with anesthesia, facelift surgery may be right for you. A facelift is estimated to help patients look around ten years younger, which will happen no matter how old you are.
Interested in Learning More?
If you are interested in learning more about how you can benefit from a facelift, please contact Dr. Ackerman at his Newport Beach office by calling (949) 536-9047 or filling out our online contact form.
