Timing is everything when it comes to cosmetic surgery, but really there is no perfect age for the facelift. The decision to have a facelift is an intensely personal one; everyone ages differently and feels differently about those age-related changes.
When is the best age for a facelift?
As a general rule of thumb, if you are in your 40s and considering facial rejuvenation surgery, then you may not want to leave it till later.
Skin elasticity is one of the key factors in facelift timing. You’ll have experienced a change in your skin elasticity, in the form of skin sagging, formation of jowls and deeper folds appearing on the face, and this will likely have prompted you to contemplate surgery, but it is important that you still have sufficient skin elasticity to produce a good result.
A facelift typically entails the lifting and repositioning of the deeper tissues of the face and you want your skin to remould to your new, more youthful facial contours. Women in their mid-40s to 50s will usually have good skin elasticity. Our facial plastic surgeons can still deliver excellent results for older patients but there may be some limitations to what can be achieved.
Another reason why you may want to undergo a facelift earlier rather than later is about perception. Patients choose Karidis Clinic and our plastic surgeons because of the naturally beautiful results they produce. As Mr Alex Karidis explains: “I absolutely abhor any possibility that a patient of mine could look stretched, pulled or distorted in any way. The aim of surgery is to make people look better, not different. I believe in classic, natural, soft beauty.” So, having a facelift performed at a younger age – maintained with non-surgical treatments or touch-ups as required – means you can avoid looking drastically different, just appearing more refreshed and revitalised.
What’s the best age for dermal fillers?
For younger patients with less skin sagging or advanced ageing concerns, dermal fillers can be an attractive option. Interestingly, a recent study has found that dermal fillers do more than just fill wrinkles and folds and can be an effective anti-ageing treatment for women in their 40s, 50s and beyond. Published in the February issue of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the study found that injectable facial fillers can also restore youthful expression and movement.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, used 3D digital stereophotogrammetry to study the pattern of facial expressiveness and the ‘strain reduction’ that occurs after a dermal filler treatment. They took precise measurements of facial stretch and compression in 30 women, aged between 41 and 65. These women were then treated with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers for moderate to severe nasolabial folds – the lines that run between the nose and the corners of the mouth – and the marionette lines, which extend from the mouth to chin. Six weeks later the scans were repeated.
The scans were then compared to a control group of younger, untreated women, and it was discovered that, after the dermal filler treatments, the older women showed a significant reduction in stretch and strain across the full range of our facial expressions.
“Facial expressions convey emotions as well as signal characteristics such as age and quality of life,” lead researcher Dr Percec comments. The results indicate that dermal filler treatments can really turn back the clock.
For more advice on whether you are an ideal candidate for dermal fillers or a facelift, call 020 7432 8727 to arrange a consultation with our consultant plastic surgeons Mr Alex Karidis or Mr Mark Ho-Asjoe. We currently offer a range of facelift procedures including SMAS facelifts, deep plane facelifts, mid-facelifts and facelifts for men.
