Is your best anti-aging option really a facelift? As a Toronto plastic surgeon, I often meet with men and women who aren’t sure whether the surgery is the right approach for them. It may be one of the most popular facial rejuvenation procedures in the world, but it is not right for everyone.
Whether your signs of aging aren’t advanced enough or your concerns call for a different procedure, there are a few reasons you may not be an ideal facelift candidate. In this blog post, I’ll discuss a few signs that indicate a facelift is the right choice for you—and a few signs it isn’t.
5 Signs You’re a Good Candidate for a Facelift
You Have Jowls and a Square Face Shape.
As we age, the tissues in our face gradually droop, thanks to the effects of gravity and depleted collagen. This sagging causes many people to develop jowls, pockets of fat along the jawline that give the face a downward-pulled appearance. These also create a square face shape rather than a more youthful oval or V-line shape.
While nonsurgical treatments work well to smooth away wrinkles and add volume, they aren’t typically the best way to address these concerns. A facelift, however, lifts the deeper layers of the face to restore its structure and definition, delivering an effective and long-lasting solution.
You Have Notable Skin Laxity, Especially in the Lower Face.
Loss of definition along the jawline is one of the most common concerns addressed with a facelift. Nonsurgical skin tightening treatments have come a long way, but if you have significant loose skin on your lower face and neck, nothing compares to the difference surgery can make.
Your Neck Has Developed Vertical Bands.
There is a muscle called the platysma that runs vertically down our necks. During the aging process, this muscle starts to protrude, creating one or two vertical bands on the front of the neck. A facelift, especially in combination with a neck lift, is usually the best way to correct these. Learn more about combining facelift and neck lift surgery in this blog post.
You’re in Good Enough Health To Undergo Surgery Safely.
To be an ideal facelift candidate, you need to be a nonsmoker who is in good health both mentally and physically. This keeps your risk of complications low.
Nonsurgical Treatments Aren’t Giving You Ideal Results Anymore.
For many people experiencing early signs of aging, nonsurgical treatments such as injectables are the first line of defence. As facial laxity develops over time, however, men and women often find they need more and more filler to achieve the same result. This leads to overfilling and a “pillowy” look in some cases. When this becomes the case, it’s typically time to consider surgery.
To see examples of good facelift candidates and their results, please visit my before-and-after photo gallery.
3 Signs You Are Not a Good Candidate for a Facelift
Your Main Concern Is Your Eye Area.
There is a common misconception that a facelift lifts the entire face from forehead to jawline, but this isn’t the case. A facelift focuses on the mid to lower two-thirds of the face, leaving the brow and eye area as is.
If your primary goal is to rejuvenate your eyes, eyelid surgery and a brow lift are typically better solutions. If you’re looking to address your entire face, you can combine your facelift with an eye or brow lift to enjoy a comprehensive result from a single surgery.
You Want To Address the Quality of Your Skin Rather Than Laxity.
While a facelift addresses loose skin and the shape of the face, it does not enhance the quality of the skin itself. Major folds and wrinkles will be smoothed away, but fine lines, roughness, and pigmentation issues will remain. These concerns are typically best addressed with facial treatments such as HALO® laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels.
You Don’t Have the Time To Recover.
Swelling and bruising are par for the course for 2 to 3 weeks after a facelift. However, most people find they can cover much of the remaining bruising with makeup once their sutures are removed, which is typically after about 10 days. If you’re planning any big events in the near future or can’t spare the recovery time due to obligations, a facelift may not be suitable for you at this time.
If you aren’t sure whether a facelift is your best solution, consult with a Royal College-certified plastic surgeon to find out. In the Toronto or Oshawa areas, you can meet with a facelift specialist by requesting a consultation online or calling (416) 925-7337 to schedule your visit.
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