Is the “Pre-emptive” Facelift Worth It?

Many patients considering a facelift at our Chicago practice think the procedure is reserved for people 40 and above—women and men who want to solve significant aging concerns. However, the truth is this lower face surgery actually has the power to address a number of needs across a variety of age groups.

Being a good facelift candidate has less to do with age and more to do with the issues each patient would like to address. In this blog post, we will look at a few factors—if you are wondering about the usefulness of a facelift for you.

When can an early facelift be a benefit?

• A facelift can prevent a drastic change in facial features later in life. Many people curious about getting a facelift are just beginning to show signs of aging. Making small adjustments early on can negate the need for more dramatic procedures later in life. When done well with a concentration on deep tissue lifting, a facelift can provide a jump start on the anti-aging process and create a natural-looking result with concealed scars.
• You won’t risk having the “overfilled” look. Some patients who want to slow down signs of aging on their face decide to do so through nonsurgical means. This can eventually lead to the “pillow face” effect, which happens when one’s cheeks or under-eye areas become puffed up with dermal fillers in an attempt to re-create surgery-level results nonsurgically. When done repeatedly over time, the shape of the face can begin to change. A facelift is designed to adjust tissue in a way that will highlight the bone structure and avoid the need for round after round of fillers.
• It can correct the effects of severe weight loss. Outside of the typical constraints of age, a facelift can provide a solution for patients who have excess skin after weight loss. As an example, I once performed a facelift on a patient in her 20s who had recently lost 100 pounds. The best way to determine if this is the right option for you is to request an in-person consultation.

When is it too early for a facelift?

• A facelift may not address what you want it to. Concerns such as marionette lines (or parentheses lines) around your mouth are best addressed with fillers. A facelift or mini-facelift is best for patients who want to address drooping skin, jowls, or loss of definition around the jawline.
• Your skin may not have enough laxity yet. As we age, the skin loses its elasticity, which leads to the drooping lower face skin seen in many facelift patients. The procedure is most effective once the elasticity fades and sagging becomes noticeable. Until that point, injectable treatments are typically a better route.

Ultimately, a facelift can be helpful for a variety of ages, depending on the patient and their circumstances. It’s important to seek out board-certified surgeons, like those at TLKM Plastic Surgery, who have the knowledge about the timing of this procedure.

To see real facelift patient examples, visit our before-and-after photo gallery.

If you would like to learn more about how a facelift in Chicago may help you, please contact us online or call (312) 788-2560 to request a consultation.