Am I Too Young for a Facelift?
The facelift procedure is as also known as rhytidectomy. It is a procedure that is designed to make the face appear to be younger and smoother by redraping the skin on the face and removing excess skin. Often times, the sub-muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), which is a layer of underlying tissue, is elevated as well. The facelift is typically a procedure that people consider as they enter their late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s to alleviate the effects of aging and to reduce sagging skin or wrinkles on the face. Still, there is no definite age that allows you to get a facelift. Most non-smokers in good health are able to undergo the procedure at almost any age.
Most candidates for the facelift procedure are in the age range of 40-60 years old or older. Candidates in their 40’s are considered to be among the youngest candidates for the procedure. Your chronological age is not necessarily the determining factor for your candidacy for the facelift. It really depends on how you are aging overall in terms of loose or sagging skin, wrinkles, lines, and fat deposits. The physician will actually be more concerned about the physiology of your face in terms of what your skin and face look like and your overall health rather than how old you really are. People age differently due to a number of factors including genetics and lifestyle choices, so your appearance may not equate to your actual chronological age.
While people in their 40’s are eligible for the procedure, the physician will still need to provide a thorough assessment of their current state and discuss all of the possible options. The physician may agree with the patient and recommend a facelift, but they could also recommend less invasive alternatives if facial aging is less severe, such as facial fillers, fat grafting, laser treatments, a chemical peel, or a mini-facelift. These are all alternatives that may be better suited to target certain types of problems or particular parts of the face. For example, you could be a good candidate for a neck lift or cheek lift instead of a traditional facelift if those are target areas on your face. All of this really depends on the individual and the type of results that they would like achieve.
In order to know whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure, you will need to visit a qualified plastic surgeon. The surgeon will perform an assessment and make some recommendations as to which procedure will provide you with the best possible results.
Dr. Ronald Lohner is a board certified plastic surgeon based in Philadelphia. He completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and medical school at UMDNJ-Rutgers. He is chief of Plastic Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital and holds a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His peers have voted him one of Philadelphia Top Docs for the last 8 years. His office is located in [primary_city], [primary_state], on the Main Line. Please call his office at [primary_phone] to schedule a consultation.