Many patients coming in for facial rejuvenation and ask what is the best age for a facelift. The answer is the same every time…there is no specific age for any one patient, although the age range is typically from 45 to 65.
Younger Patients
Patients in their 40’s who are primarily concerned with sagging jowls are often great candidates for the MACSlift (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension), which is our surgeons version of a mini-facelift. This lift address the lower face concerns and comes with less downtown and shorter incisions than the more comprehensive facelift procedure. It does improve the neck area but is mainly used for treatment of jowling. Submental liposuction (under the chin) is done at the same time to provide more contour.
The downtime is approximately two weeks with and can be done in-office under local anesthetic. The cost is also less for a MACSlift as there are not additional fees for anesthesia and facility and it takes the surgeon less time to complete.
Facelift Candidates
So when is a facelift recommended? Typically when there are a lot of concerns regarding the neck…extra loose skin and sagging. The facelift involves an incision behind the ear and in the hairline in addition to the the front of the ear and temporal hairline, which allows our surgeons to lift and tighten the neck as well.
This is a patient Dr. Thompson performed a facelift on that was 42 at the time of surgery and one of the youngest patients he has done a facelift for. This is because he felt he could not give her the desired results she wanted without the full facelift and that she would have been unhappy with the MACSlift. He also performed eyelid surgery on this patient at the same time, with lower lid fat transfer to fill in the under-eye hollowing.
On the flip side, there are patients in their 50’s that Dr. Thompson feels a MACSlift is perfectly suitable for so it all comes down to patient goals, extent of aging, and their personal desires. It’s best to come in for a consultation with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Henstrom to determine the right plan for you.
For a facelift consultation in Utah, call (801)776-2220.