The facelift procedure depends on the condition of the facial skin rather than the age. Aging is a process that differs from one individual to another. The type of procedure is tailored to the patient’s unique set of facial features and skin type.

Older people (regardless of age) with good health can get to enjoy facial rejuvenation benefits via a facelift procedure. In the majority of the cases, no patients are rejected for treatment on the basis of old age.

The proper age for when a person should undergo a facelift varies from person to person. As the aging experiences of each person are different, a facelift procedure is customized to a patient’s unique facial characteristics. It ensures that a person can benefit from a facelift to achieve a balanced, natural-looking facial appearance.

The ideal candidate must:

• have good general health
• have excessive skin on the face and neck

A facelift procedure can “set the clocks back” for you. The aging signs (sagging, loose skin, weakened muscles, and diminished bone density) can subside to some extent but the procedure cannot stop the aging process. You can achieve a younger, fresher look but the change relies on the extent of skin damage that has already been done.

The environment casts its impact on your skin. Your skin texture and bone structure can be affected by environmental toxins, skin exposure, and smoking. Therefore, to keep your skin rejuvenated after the surgery you must take good care.

The way your skin looks postoperatively very much relies on the skills and technique used for the procedure. The modern facelift is no longer just a simple procedure of trimming the excess skin and closing the surgical cuts. Unlike old methods, today’s procedures impart multiple benefits and result in a more natural look:

• Tightening of underlying facial muscles
• Restoration of lost volume
• Removal of excess skin

The patients may be recommended to undergo neck lift surgery too. This is to avoid the disparity between facial and neck skin. In the neck lift procedure, sagging neck skin (aka turkey wattle) is restored to its tight and fresh form.

The patient get to choose between two types of anesthesia:

• Local anesthesia with IV sedation
• General anesthesia

A pre-operative consultation is done by the surgeon with the patient and the pros and cons of all the options are discussed. The extent of work is the deciding factor for anesthesia selection.

The decision is also shadowed by the advice of a board-certified anesthesiologist.

On average a facelift procedure lasts for 3 hours or so. However, the duration of the surgical procedure varies from one individual to another and is dependent on these factors:

• The extent of the changes to be undertaken
• Type of technique used

For example, a mid-face lift procedure lasts for a couple of hours. When going for extensive surgical combinations such as facelift neck, neck lift + eye lift, the surgical procedure can take well over 5 hours.

The majority of incision lines given during surgery are hidden behind the hairline or in the natural creases. The scars from the operation are noticeable in the initial days of recovery. Several months after the procedure, scars start to fade and blend into the surrounding skin. They become less and less noticeable overtime.

Where possible, the plastic surgeon tried to avoid giving big incisions. So, a smaller incision is faster to heal and the scar is smaller too.

All surgical procedures take time to heal. In order to carry out proper care for your facelifted skin, you should limit your activities for a few days initially. You can follow these instructions for better and quicker recovery:

• Do not do exercise for at least 2-3 weeks after surgery
• Keep your head elevated when resting
• Relax as much as you can in the 1st week of healing
• Gently wash your face (after dressing removal)
• Avoid sun exposure

You can return to normal life working by following these precautions. Usually, patients can resume work 2 to 3 weeks after the surgery.

The healing rates vary between patients and are greatly affected by the age of the patient. Young patients have a faster healing rate while older patients take longer. You can experience the following healing stages:

First 10 Days

This is the first stage of healing. In this stage, it is common to experience a rise in swelling which it typically peaks around  the fourth day after the procedure. The swelling will start to subside gradually and continue to improve over the next week.

10 – 14 Days

The next stage lasts for a couple of weeks after the first stage. By this point, there is an evident improvement in the skin. Majority of the swelling and the bruising would have subsided, therefore, patients start to resume social interactions by this stage. The remnant swelling which will still result in slight puffiness will take a longer time to subside fully.

14 Days – 6 Months

The process of healing continues to proceed at a slow rate from 3 weeks to 6 months. In most cases, maximum results are achieved after 3 months (90%).

You can discuss your issues with the surgeon who analyzes your skin tone, texture, and quality along with the extent of the issue. Based on the medical history, age, and facial features, the surgeon recommends the best treatment option.

Plastic surgeons give you a realistic approach towards the changes that can be brought about. The limitations to your (if any) will be discussed prior to the treatment to avoid any inconvenience later on. If you are a suitable candidate for the facelift the doctor will tell you so. Otherwise, he would recommend other procedures such as thread lift for your consideration.

Your surgeon may recommend the following before the surgery:

• Stop certain medications days prior to surgery (including blood thinners, and anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.)
• Stop taking any herbal supplements
• Avoid smoking

These precautions allow for a better chance of quicker healing and minimize surgical risk.