What is the optimal age for a facelift?

A lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to firm and rejuvenate a body area. It is performed by a qualified cosmetic surgeon and a medical team. The principle of a lift involves removing excess skin and, when necessary, fat that cause sagging. By tightening the skin and underlying muscles, this procedure yields a smoother appearance. In theory, a lift can be applied to most body regions. The steps are similar regardless of location: first the patient is anaesthetised under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the chosen method. Incisions are made to access internal tissues. Excess skin and fat are removed and may involve liposuction. The muscles are tightened, the skin repositioned, and the incisions closed with sutures. Finally, a dressing is applied over the scar to protect it during healing.

It is common to think that the facelift is a procedure reserved for older adults, because over time the skin loses elasticity and tissues tend to sag due to ageing. This surgical intervention achieves reliable results in older patients, which explains why many opt for it. However, age is only one of several factors to consider when determining whether someone is a suitable candidate for this operation.

Several other factors play a role: skin quality, family history, lifestyle habits such as smoking, sun exposure or insufficient hydration, as well as the patient’s expectations. For example, some individuals have a genetic predisposition to looser skin, which can begin to sag by the late thirties. Likewise, life events such as a rapid, significant weight loss or pregnancy can cause premature skin laxity. Thus, there is no ideal age for undergoing a facelift. It is the patient’s specific needs and visible skin changes that determine the suitability of the procedure. A 25-year-old who has experienced massive weight loss or a new mother seeking to retighten skin on their abdomen can consider a facelift, even if they do not match the age criteria associated with this procedure.

If we consider age alone, people between 40 and 60 years of age are often ideal patients.

Around this time signs of skin laxity become marked in the face and neck, making a facelift effective with visible results. Before age 50 skin laxity is often moderate. A facelift may be considered premature if less invasive techniques such as thread lifts, hyaluronic acid injections or ultrasound could suffice.

• LEWIS C.M. & al. Should face-lifts be performed before the age of 40? Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (1985).

• LAVIN T. J. & al. Nonsurgical Facial Rejuvenation Procedures in Patients Under 50 Prior to Undergoing Facelift: Habits, Costs, and Results. Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2015).

• SILINA E.V & al. Influence of pharmacological preconditioning on the results of lifting operations efficiency. Heliyon (2018).

• PASCALI M. & al. Facial Aging Surgery: Healing Time, Duration Over the Years, and the Right Time to Perform a Facelift. Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2021).