A good facelift can make you look like yourself, just younger and more revitalized. But when is the best time to undergo this procedure? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer, as it comes down to the individual needs and goals of the patient. This blog discusses the possibilities and limitations of facelifts, covers Dr. Flint’s philosophy on combining procedures and treatments, and offers recommendations for preventive and minimally invasive treatments to pair with surgery.
When Should I Get a Facelift?
This is a common question that plastic surgeons get asked. Like most things in this industry, it depends. Cosmetic surgery is never one-size-fits-all, especially when seeking natural-looking results. Dr. Patti Flint is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation that looks natural and reflects the patient’s individual features. Her approach responds to the patient’s needs and the way their facial anatomy is aging, rather than focusing solely on their age.
Today, with more patients seeking facial rejuvenation at younger ages than ever before, it can be hard to know which procedure to choose and when.
What Can a Facelift Achieve?
Facelifts are the gold standard for facial rejuvenation, as they address the most common and obvious facial aging concerns, such as:
- Sagging skin around the jawline and chin (jowls)
- Facial creases around the mouth and nose (nasolabial folds)
- Undefined, sagging cheeks
- Facial wrinkles and creases
There are some primary causes of facial aging: slowed collagen production, volume loss, and skin laxity. These issues compound one another: volume loss allows the skin to sag, while collagen loss increases wrinkling and dryness, which in turn contribute to creases, and so on.
A key factor, however, is that although collagen production slows in our 20s, everyone ages at different rates and in different ways. Lifestyle factors also play a major role in facial aging, such as sun exposure and smoking.
When considering a facelift, it’s best to start with your facial aging concerns. How severe is your facial sagging? How deep are your facial creases? Can your concerns be improved with minimally invasive treatments first?
Let’s delve into some other options below.
Dr. Flint’s Three-Pronged Approach to Facial Aging
An important part of achieving natural-looking facial rejuvenation is combining procedures and treatments to create facial balance and to utilize the strengths of each. There’s no quick fix or universal cosmetic procedure that will fix every concern—there are layers to it.
For example, a facelift is ideal for loose skin, deep creases, and a loss of structure. Dr. Flint uses an extended SMAS facelift technique to lift and adjust the deeper facial tissues, supporting a more youthful foundation. To allow for greater customization and excellent results, Dr. Flint uses multiple approaches to best address each concern.
A facelift does not restore volume, which is a key factor in facial aging. This can be addressed with fillers, in tandem with skin elevation and repositioning during a facelift. Additionally, a strong facial contour can only get you so far, so Dr. Flint always incorporates professional skin care regimens that she personally creates to help patients learn how to care for their skin and better maintain their surgical results. Healthy, supple skin helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and professional-grade skin care is a key maintenance and preventative treatment.
How Long Does a Facelift Last?
Another factor to consider is that facelifts don’t last a lifetime. Like all cosmetic procedures, facelifts do not stop time; your face will continue to age naturally. So, it’s also about timing. When you look in the mirror and see laxity in your jawline and neck, it’s time, regardless of your chronological age. Facelift results generally last 7–10 years, but when laxity recurs, a secondary procedure is generally beneficial. It’s analogous to diet and exercise. No one would adopt a diet and exercise regimen for a year and expect the results to last a lifetime; maintenance is important.
It’s about striking a balance between getting your facelift when it will last the longest and not rushing before you need it. Many patients in their 30s and early 40s who are starting to notice minor facial aging can benefit from less invasive procedures as preventative measures, like:
- BOTOX® Cosmetic can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the forehead, eyes, lips. and neck, and may even prevent new ones from forming.
- Filler injections can reduce the appearance of deep furrows, such as nasolabial folds, thereby pushing off the need for surgery.
- Skin care & SPF are key for keeping skin healthy and protecting against collagen loss.
- Skin resurfacing, such as laser and other light-based therapies, can renew the top layer of skin, improving skin texture, promoting collagen production, removing pigment, and smoothing fine lines.
Many of these treatments can be combined with a facelift if facial aging is advanced enough to warrant it.
How to Decide on Your Facelift
We’ve given you lots of options, but it really comes down to scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Flint is known for promoting patient education, as informed patients make the best decisions for themselves and are happier with the results. She will examine your face, listen to your concerns and goals, and provide information about the facelift procedure and what you can reasonably expect from the results.
She may suggest a combination of procedures and treatments, or that you wait before undergoing surgery. In the end, she will provide her professional opinion, but the choice is yours. Remember, plastic surgery is about making yourself feel more confident in your own skin, not fitting someone else’s standards. Choose the option that works best for you!
Learn More About Facelifts in Scottsdale, AZ
Discover a facial rejuvenation plan that works for you and promotes your natural beauty. Call Dr. Flint today at (480) 945-3300 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation and create your custom facelift plan.