Published on February 21, 2018 by Hazen Plastic 
If you are making an investment in your appearance, you certainly want to enjoy the best results for as long as possible. And timing a procedure like facelift correctly can directly influence the quality of your results and how long they last.
Below, Dr. Jill Hazen, trusted facelift surgeon, shares some considerations for properly timing facelift surgery.
There’s No Perfect Age
There’s no perfect age for facelift surgery, because everyone responds to the aging process differently. Some start to see prominent signs of aging in their 40s, whereas others look youthful until their late 50s or early 60s. Lifestyle habits and genetics directly influence how a person ages; for example, some people inherit a parent’s jowls or prominent under-eye bags. Individuals who worshipped the sun in their youth or smoked for decades will notice a difference in the quality of their skin compared to individuals that didn’t.
As a result, age is not always the best barometer when determining whether facelift surgery is the right option. Put simply, what makes sense for one person may not be ideal for another.
Do You Have Signs of Facial Aging that Can Be Corrected with Facelift?
Something to think about when considering facelift is whether the signs of aging that bother you can be corrected non-surgically.
In the early stages of wrinkles and volume loss, injectables like Botox and dermal fillers usually provide suitable improvement. Patients can keep mild to moderate lines and wrinkles around the eyes at bay with regular Botox treatments, or plump up creases and add volume to the cheeks with dermal fillers. However, as these wrinkles, creases and folds become deeper and more prominent, and the face loses its youthful fullness, Botox and fillers no longer do the trick.
If you have deep wrinkles and creases that are too severe for Botox (e.g., deep nasolabial folds or deep marionette lines) or volume loss that can no longer be suitably corrected with dermal fillers, it might be time to pursue facelift surgery.
Has Your Face Started to Droop?
Something that facelift surgeons look at when deciding whether to recommend facelift is whether a patient’s face has succumbed to gravitational changes. With age, gravity pulls down on the muscles and skin of the face and neck and everything starts to sag. This leads to jowls, or excess skin that obscures the jawline, as well as neck muscle bands and extra neck fat. Facelift is the best way to reverse the effects of gravity, improve the appearance of jowls, define the jawline and smooth neck bands and bulges.
To discuss your own age-related concerns with Dr. Hazen and determine the right time for facelift, please call 609.921.7747 or email Hazen Plastic Surgery P.A. today.
