Many women decide to reshape their facial appearance to reduce the signs of aging. Some people use skin care products, while others prefer long-term procedures like face lifts. In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to know about facelifts and find out the best age to get a facelift.
What is a facelift?
Facelift procedures(or Rhytidectomy) include removing excess skin, smoothing folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissue.
Facelifts focus only on the bottom two-thirds of the face, usually the neck. People undergo plastic surgery for many different reasons.
A common reason for facelifts is to help mask the signs of skin aging.
During a facelift, your surgeon will remove or reposition fat and tissue under the skin to help smooth wrinkles, remove excess skin that causes sagging or lift and tighten facial skin.
Types of facelifts
Traditional facelift
A traditional facelift is an appropriate procedure for patients seeking optimal correction of moderate to significant facial aging.
The incisions are made around the ears and into the hairline as well as a small incision under the chin.
Then tighten the muscles of the face and neck by separating the skin from the muscles below.
The muscular bands at the front of the neck are sewn together and separated to help provide a fluid silhouette and defined neckline.
This provides the surgeon with the best exposure and, in most cases, the most dramatic and durable results for the patient.
The sutures are removed within 6-7 days, and the patient usually returns to work within 10 days.
Patients can resume mild exercise 2 weeks after surgery.
Mini-facelift
This cosmetic surgery technique uses smaller incisions than traditional cosmetic techniques and is therefore less invasive.
During the procedure, small incisions are made under the coverage of the hairline.
Mini facelifts are less dramatic than traditional facelifts and are ideal for those with early signs of aging who may not be ready for a full facelift.
Mid-facelift
A mid-face lift is very effective for treating the mid-face area(cheek).
During this procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions at the hairline above the ear and inside the mouth.
These incisions allow the surgeon to reposition the fat pad under examination above the cheekbones while tightening the skin in that area.
S-lift
Like the Mini Lift, the S-Lift is less invasive and has a shorter recovery time than traditional techniques.
S-Lift surgery is sometimes used to treat the lower third of the face which is the chin and neck area.
SMAS facelift
SMAS(Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelift falls between the S-lift and traditional facelift.
This procedure requires a little more recovery time than S-Lift, but it does provide more evident results, making them ideal for clients with mild to moderate facial aging.
Jawline rejuvenation
This is best for people with the least sagging skin, as the process doesn’t remove the skin.
This procedure is especially useful for restoring the area between the chin and upper neck.
Remove excess fat from the neck and contour the chin with liposuction.
Temporal facelift
Temporal facelifts focus on improving the brow area.
This type of lift is a great option for people with slightly saggy or sagging brows to give the brow area a slight lift without the need for a more invasive full brow lift that requires a longer recovery program.
Liquid facelift
Some injectable dermal fillers are used non-surgically to smooth creases and folds, plump lips, and fill sunken areas.
Treatment with dermal fillers is a great way to prevent or delay cosmetic surgery.
Advantages and disadvantages of facelifts
Advantages
- This is an easy solution that will help boost their confidence.
- The effects of this procedure can last up to ten years, depending on the type of facelift.
- Facelifts can reverse the effects of aging that can cause facial tissue to weaken and loosen, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
- This procedure makes the face look younger, tightens sagging skin, and improves the natural contours of the face.
- This is an affordable procedure with minimal pain and discomfort.
- Facelift procedures shape and define facial features such as the chin and neck.
- An important benefit is that it requires little recovery time, depending on what kind of procedure.
Disadvantages
- Facelifts can lead to bleeding, infection, and skin necrosis. However, these side effects are temporary.
- The most common complication in patients after surgery is a hematoma. A hematoma is a condition in which blood collects outside a blood vessel. This will be resolved in a few days.
- Nerve damage can also occur during surgery. It can also lead to neurological dysfunction (in the form of sensory loss), which is temporary.
- In rare cases, hair loss may occur in incisions and bald areas after surgery.
What age is best to get a facelift for women?
For women interested in the dramatic cosmetic results of facelift surgery, getting a facelift in your 40s will have more subtle results, as the signs of aging may not be as noticeable as in your 60s.
During your 40s, your body can recover faster, which means lesser recovery time.
Some women who have plastic surgery in their 40s or 50s experience longer-lasting results and don’t need much follow-up later.
A full facelift can last for as long as 10 or 20 years.
There are major benefits of opting for non-invasive surgery over invasive surgery.
Non-surgical procedures tend to have a lower cost per treatment and shorter recovery time.
Because of this, they are often chosen by women in their thirties and forties.
However, no matter your age, there are reasons to opt for a more dramatic procedure.
A huge benefit of cosmetic surgery is that there is no maximum age limit.
Cosmetic surgery may be a good fit for you as long as you are healthy and have realistic goals for a facelift procedure.
While signs of aging may begin to appear in their 30s, cosmetic surgery is not recommended for women at this age.
