A facelift is often considered to be one of the most effective ways to take years off your appearance and make you look younger than you actually are. Facelift surgery, also known as a rhytidectomy, is designed to tackle signs of ageing affecting the face, including fine lines, wrinkles and deeper skin folds. Many patients who are interested in exploring the benefits of this surgery often ask us how long a facelift lasts.
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A facelift is an invasive surgical procedure that can involve a significant financial investment; therefore, prospective patients are understandably keen to learn how long facelift results last. Several types of facelift surgery are performed at Centre for Surgery in London. The mini facelift is one of our most popular facial rejuvenation procedures and is less invasive compared with a traditional facelift. If you find yourself asking, “How long does a mini facelift last?” we recommend contacting us to book a consultation with an expert facelift surgeon in London to learn about all the different options for tackling signs of an ageing face. You will then be equipped to move forward confidently with a mini facelift in London, knowing its risks and benefits in detail.
How long do the results of a facelift last?
The type of facelift performed will determine how long the results last, as each procedure involves differing levels of surgical invasiveness. A traditional full facelift most commonly involves incisions made in front of and behind the ear, and often extends into the hairline for correction of the middle and lower parts of the face. Neck lift surgery is usually carried out at the same time. Such an extensive procedure is routinely performed under a general anaesthetic.
Minimally invasive types of facelift surgery include the mini facelift and one stitch facelift. These procedures can be carried out under a general anaesthetic, but are most commonly performed under local anaesthetic with or without sedation. They are less invasive compared with a full facelift. The duration of the facelift results will be determined by the surgeon’s experience and skill, as well as the specific type of facelift performed. Achieving the best facelift results depends on selecting the most suitable facelift surgeon in London to perform your mini facelift procedure.
Several other factors may influence the duration of facelift results, and these are centred around lifestyle habits. People who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol may find the results of the facelift procedure do not last as long as they had hoped. Those who are overweight or obese may also find that the results of the facelift can be adversely affected. Many people ask us, “What is the best age to have a facelift?” and this will undoubtedly have an impact on how long a facelift lasts. Generally, people under the age of 60 with moderate signs of ageing may find the results of their facelift to last longer than those aged over 60.
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Are the results of my facelift permanent?
Our surgeons are commonly asked, “How long does a mini facelift last?” When people ask this question, they often wonder if the procedure will produce permanent results. The answer to this will vary depending on the patient’s age, the type of procedure undertaken, and lifestyle factors. The mini facelift is the most common type of facelift procedure conducted at Centre for Surgery. This is a surgical procedure; unlike a non-surgical facelift, the procedure cannot be reversed. The importance of patient selection cannot be emphasised enough, and this is why your facelift surgeon will assess you in detail to ensure you are in optimal physical and mental health before proceeding with a mini facelift. Although facelift surgery can be considered a permanent procedure, it does not halt the natural ageing process.
Most surgeons will agree that a mini facelift can produce results that can take between 5 and 10 years off your appearance. Of course, the ageing process will still occur, but it does not lead to adverse effects on your facelift results. In our experience, we have found that patients who undergo facelift surgery at the age of 65 often achieve a facial appearance that appears ten years younger. As the ageing process progresses, you should have the facial appearance of someone around the age of 65 when you reach 75. Of course, lifestyle factors play a key part in determining the extent of facial ageing. Those who smoke and drink heavily may find the results of facelift surgery to be much less than what they had expected.
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Will I need a further facelift procedure as I get older?
Many patients often ask our surgeons whether they will require additional surgery as they age, as the results of a facelift do not last forever. The duration of a facelift’s effectiveness depends on the type of procedure performed, your age, and your overall lifestyle. Our post-operative nurses will regularly assess you after your procedure to make sure you are healing and recovering well. Here at Centre for Surgery, we periodically assess our patients one week after the surgery to review their incision site and carry out dressing changes as required. You will be reviewed by your surgeon six weeks after your procedure to assess the results of your facelift. If you have any questions or concerns during your facelift recovery period, please don’t hesitate to contact our post-operative nursing team at any time.
A mini facelift is often combined with other procedures to enhance the overall facelift results. The determination of the appropriate treatments to be combined with a mini facelift will be made during your face-to-face consultation. Your surgeon will advise you on whether there are specific treatments that can be added to achieve enhanced results. Examples of procedures that are commonly combined with a mini facelift include:
The optimum combination of procedures will be determined by your expectations for the results you are looking to achieve. While a mini facelift can be performed on its own, our surgeons commonly combine the procedure with other facial treatments to minimise the need for further surgery later in life.
Can a facelift be performed more than once?
As the natural ageing process continues after having a facelift, many people often consider having a further facelift to maintain results for longer. It is essential to remember that any facelift will not halt the ageing process, although it is highly effective at reversing it, with results typically lasting 5 to 10 years. Facelift surgery can be performed more than once, with many well-known celebrities having 3 to 4 facelift procedures in their lifetime. It is essential to remember that a facelift is a surgical procedure that carries certain risks and potential complications. Each successive facelift procedure involves a slightly higher risk of complications due to the presence of scar tissue from a previous facelift procedure. Generally, an expert facelift surgeon will not recommend having a facelift more than three to four times. Certain lifestyle factors can influence how often a patient can undergo a facelift. Maintaining a good skincare routine and minimising exposure to the sun can help to reduce the likelihood of needing further facelift surgery later in life. Keeping well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water and wearing high-quality sunscreen will help maintain healthy and supple skin.
What is the ideal age for a facelift?
When considering how long a facelift lasts, most people naturally wonder at what age is best for a facelift. Given the cost of a facelift, prospective patients want to maximise the results achievable from a facelift to ensure the facelift results last for as long as possible. Several factors determine the best age for facelift surgery, and your surgeon can provide customised recommendations after clinically assessing you at your consultation. Having said that, excellent facelift results often require a certain amount of skin elasticity, and patients below 65 are more likely to have residual skin elasticity. Patients over the age of 70 may have sagging and loose skin, which can make them less ideal candidates for a facelift. Facelift surgery at Centre for Surgery is customised to the individual patient’s needs, ensuring that patients achieve the best possible results that can last for many years. For mini facelift surgery, our consultant plastic surgeons generally recommend that patients be aged between 40 and 50 years old. One stitch facelift surgery is better suited to those aged between 35 and 45.
Can men get a facelift?
It is crucial to be aware of the differences between the genders when it comes to facelift surgery. Males have different ageing characteristics compared to women. Women are often more keen on correcting wrinkles, lines, and folds compared to men, who are often more interested in restoring their jawline definition. Also, with men, improvement tends to focus more on the lower face than with women, who usually like to have the whole face addressed. A critical consideration is the placement of incisions and their concealment. Clearly, for women, this is a lot more straightforward with their longer hairstyles. For men, the surgeon will modify the facelift technique to place increased emphasis on preserving the male hairline, as this is prone to change over time in specific individuals.
Men also complain more often about changes in their neck, including increased looseness of the skin and accumulation of excess fat under the chin. Men with a more recessed jaw and chin are more predisposed to develop fat under the chin at a much earlier age. Centre for Surgery also performs submental liposuction and chin implant surgery to correct both issues and facelift surgery in a single procedure.
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