Article At A Glance
- Facelift surgery is applicable when your face has visible signs of aging, such as sagging skin-deep creases.
- Being in good overall physical health is essential for undergoing the procedure.
- Make sure you’re emotionally prepared for the potential challenge.
With age comes wisdom but also wrinkles and sagging skin. If you look in the mirror and aren’t happy with parts of your face looking hollow or your skin not being as taut as you’d like, consider getting a facelift.
A facelift (or rhytidectomy) is a general term that refers to any procedure that improves signs of aging in the face or neck. Surgeons can remove or reposition skin, fat, and/or muscle to address the issue.
Facelifts can improve the look of:
- Sagging or relaxed skin
- Fallen or lacking facial fat
- Drooping skin on the cheeks and/or jaw (the jowls)
- Deep folds or crease lines appear between the corners of the mouth and the nose
- Loose skin and fat below your chin that looks like a “double chin.”
It’s an exciting thought to get rid of these, isn’t it? But you might be intimidated by the prospect and hesitate because you need to know if you can commit to the procedure.
Read on to find out how to know when you’re ready for facelift surgery.
Transform Your Aging Skin with Facelift Surgery
Deciding to proceed with Facial Rejuvenation Surgery, such as facelifts, can be daunting. It’s a big decision, and it’s essential to consider whether this surgical procedure is the right course for you. Facelift surgery may be a suitable option if you are experiencing facial wrinkles, sagging skin in the face or neck, sun damage, age spots, or other signs of aging that have diminished your youthful appearance and your current skincare routine isn’t giving you the desired results.
You’re in Good Overall Physical and Mental Health
Plastic surgery shouldn’t be considered a “fix-all” solution to physical problems. Prospective patients should make healthy lifestyle changes before considering surgery.
Many “problems” can be fixed by making lifestyle changes and don’t require surgery. For example, if you think your skin looks a lot older than you are, perhaps you could change your (or, in some cases, start using) skincare routine. You could stay out of the sun more or wear sunscreen more often.
This also extends to your mental health. If you’re always looking in the mirror and feeling worthless or ugly, ask yourself: Is this really because of my physical appearance? Or is this a deeper issue?
Undergoing cosmetic surgery may not always lead to an individual feeling more beautiful, as their lack of confidence and self-worth issues can persist regardless of any physical enhancements.
Being in good physical and mental health can increase your chances of successful surgery. When you’re in good health, your body can power through the recovery phase of your procedure, and the results will be far more impactful.
- You might need less work done. Dropping a few extra pounds, working on your mental health, and/or changing your skincare routine all mean you will need less work to be satisfied with the results.
- Smokers can’t undergo surgery. This is because nicotine interferes with the blood supply.
You’re Emotionally Prepared to Change Your Facial Appearance
You might know the financial and physical implications of getting a facelift surgery, but you must make plenty of emotional preparations.
Undergoing a facelift will result in a permanent change to your face. Although this may seem obvious, patients need to prepare themselves for this, as the implications can vary from person to person.
Facial appearances can be tied to identity, heritage, and even culture. For some, when they look in the mirror after their surgery, they no longer feel connected to their idea of themselves. Additionally, because getting a facelift takes years off your face, you might think your face differs from your age.
Consider how your facial appearance might affect you and prepare yourself for it. This way, you can be sure that when you’re ready for these emotional effects, you’re one step closer to being prepared for your facelift.
At What Age Do Women Typically Consider Getting a Facelift?
Many people wonder when the best age to get a facelift is. While there is no hard and fast answer, the average age for women is the mid-40s to early-50s. You must be aware, though, that the decision to have a facelift is very personal, not only because you must be ready to have the procedure in your own time but also because the “right time” is different for everyone.
It’s best to act quickly if you’re over 40 and considering getting a facelift. This is because your skin will still have sufficient elasticity to get optimum results from the procedure until you’re in your early 50s.
Women in their 60s, 70s, and even older can still attain excellent outcomes, provided they are generally fit and healthy.
The typical facelift lasts around 7-10 years, so the ideal plan is to get a facelift in your mid-40s to early-50s, then have a sort of ‘refresher’ secondary facelift when you’re in your 60s.
Discover How a Facelift Can Restore Your Youthful Appearance
One of the main goals of facelift surgery is to restore facial volume to parts of your face that seem sunken or hollow. Fat levels in the body drop as you age, and it can often be most apparent in the front.
While some people like the look as it flatters their cheekbones or jawline, you might feel like it makes you look gaunt or older than you’d like.
It can also make you look permanently sad. Since the upper part of the face (the eyes and forehead) are such huge impactors on expressing ourselves, drooping brows and frown lines can always make you look sad. A facelift can help your face to again be able to relay how you feel.
Facelifts can transfer small amounts of fat from one part of your face to another via liposuction techniques, for example, taking some fat from one area and placing it to the cheeks, mid-face, or just beneath the eyes.
You Have Drooping Skin Along Your Jaw and Neckline
Also, with age usually comes drooping skin along the jaw and neckline. This can add years to your face and make you look a lot older than you are.
Neck lifts are usually done alongside or within facelift surgeries and are ideal for you if you’d like a more defined jawline. Sometimes, even without making any other changes to the face, a neck lift can dramatically improve the appearance and help patients look many years younger and/or much slimmer.
Neck lifts can also help restore balance to your facial features because, like eyebrows, your jaw frames your face.
The surgery usually involves tightening underlying muscles, removing excess skin, and removing fat. In cases where liposuction is concerned, it’s usually best that the patient is younger, anywhere from their 20s to early 50s, as there needs to be good skin elasticity to contract evenly and smoothly after the liposuction.
Prioritize Your Self-Care: Make Time for Healing and Recovery
Knowing when you are ready for a facelift surgery requires more thought than deciding the right timing. Assessing if you have the period to adequately devote to the careful recovery process, considering your lifestyle and day-to-day obligations, is imperative. It’s advisable to allow plenty of time for healing, both physically and mentally. The period between the decision being made and undergoing the procedure is ideal for preparing for your transformation and familiarizing yourself with post-operative guidelines. Once the surgery is complete, you can instantly enter into a recovery period.
Knowing Your Skin Type Is Key to a Successful Facelift
A facelift may be a good option if you want an improved facial appearance that offers natural-looking results. Before this cosmetic procedure, you should evaluate the signs of aging in your facial skin type and structure. Your cosmetic surgeon will help prepare you throughout this process and advise on what’s best for your unique situation. However, understanding the basics beforehand can help ease any anxiety about the procedure and provide desired results.
Additional Read: The Realities of Recovering from a Mini Facelift
Contact an Expert for a Consultation
Your confidence is paramount to us. We want you to feel and be the best you can be, and if your face is holding you back from being that, then it might be time to do something.
It can be daunting to prepare for a facelift and feel like you have the information you need to make this very personal and profound decision.
With Dr. Sidle, you’ll receive a facelift consultation that’s incredibly thorough in asking any questions, whether big or small. You can obtain all the information you’d like and decide on the best path.
During your consultation, Dr. Sidle will meet with you to discuss your needs and goals. The entire process will be tailored and customized to you.
He will listen to your desires and concerns, expectations, and recovery period limitations, then perform a detailed examination and discuss your treatment options.
Dr. Sidle is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon that practices at Northwestern and has special expertise in facial plastic surgery. His experience and compassion have made him one of Chicago’s leading reconstructive surgeons, while his excellent results and impeccable care have made his reputation precede him.
Contact us or call our office at (312) 695-8182 for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Sidle.
