Is there an ideal age for a facelift?
Over recent years there has been an uptick in the number of younger patients seeking preventative ageing treatments like dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, and now facelift requests are also on the rise among the under-50s.
According to the latest cosmetic surgery statistics from the US, over 14,000 facelifts were performed on patients under the age of 54. This accounted for 18% of all facelifts performed last year and a 3% rise on the previous year. As younger people continue to gravitate towards facelifts, it’s important to understand why.
As a plastic surgeon specialising in facial reconstruction and rejuvenation surgery, Mr Juling Ong explains why younger people are gravitating towards facial rejuvenation surgery and what he considers the ideal age for a facelift.
Everyone ages differently
When it comes to facelift surgery, there really is no perfect age. While some people’s faces remain firm and wrinkle free well into their 60s, others begin to see those tell-tale signs of ageing in their 30s, such as loss of volume in the cheeks, descent or sagging of the facial tissues and the development of wrinkles.
While in some cases this is just a simple case of genetics, there are some factors that make premature ageing more likely:
- Sun damage – if you’re a sun worshipper, or partial to the odd sun bed to top up your tan, the chances are you will notice the signs of ageing earlier than your more ‘pale and interesting’ peers. This is because the UV rays change your skin’s DNA, resulting in broken veins, pigmentation problems, skin thinning, fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, UV radiation accounts for about 80% of facial ageing
- Smoking – the chemicals in tobacco smoke are highly damaging to the skin, causing fine lines, wrinkles and a dull, greyish appearance
Although its unusual for patients under the age of 40 to present with the signs of facial ageing, Mr Juling Ong would still welcome patients for consultation to discuss their concerns. There are some conditions that may present with premature facial ageing in younger people, such as massive weight loss after weight loss medication or bariatric surgery, as well as some skin conditions or previous facial surgery.
For these patients, minimally invasive rejuvenating treatments like dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, skin boosters or laser skin resurfacing treatments, should constitute pre-surgical management of the ageing face.
Why wait for facelift surgery?
As discussed above, the right age to have a facelift is a very personal decision that will differ from person to person. Mr Juling Ong always holds a full and thorough consultation with every patient before agreeing on a treatment plan.
There are some advantages to having facelift surgery in your 40s, rather than waiting until your 50s or 60s: because your skin has more elasticity, the results are likely to last longer.
Generally, the benefits of a facelift are expected to last for five to six years, before further surgery might be required to maintain the results. Some patients who have the surgery in their 40s can expect to wait for up to ten years before considering further procedures.
However, one disadvantage of having facelift surgery in your 40s is that the procedure can be more challenging. Precisely because of that firmer, more youthful skin, a more subtle enhancement is required with very little margin for error, meaning it is more important than ever to choose a surgeon who is skilled and experienced in performing a natural facial rejuvenation.
For more advice whether you’re the ideal age for a facelift, please call us on 020 7927 6528 to book an appointment with Mr Ong.
