When is the Best Time to Get a Facelift?

Interested in getting a facelift, but not sure when is the best time to get a facelift? If so, you are in good company since facelifts are one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported roughly 234,374 people had a facelift in 2020. Many of them wondered when the best time for their procedure was. The best time depends on your needs. When patients ask us the best time, they may ask one of two equally valid questions.

• They may wonder about the best age to get a facelift
• Or they may be asking about timing their facelift so the downtime doesn’t interfere with their lives

While these are very different questions, we will tackle each since both relate to timing the procedure to fit your needs.

The Best Age for Your Facelift

Most people opt for a facelift in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, but everyone ages at different rates depending on their genetics, whether they smoke, accumulated sun exposure, and more. The exact age varies depending on the skin texture and other signs of aging. Since non-surgical facial rejuvenation cosmetic treatments like Botox® and dermal fillers have advanced in recent decades, many don’t feel they need a facelift until later in life.

On the other hand, someone who lost large amounts of weight may find their facial skin and neck looking saggy, aging them well beyond their years. While some skin tightening treatments can help the skin heal, many may prefer a facelift a little earlier than their peers.

As plastic surgeons, we treat each patient as an individual and help our patients navigate these highly personal decisions.

The best time to get a facelift will be when you want to address signs of aging that less invasive methods just can’t help anymore. For most people, it is when they are bothered by jowls, saggy skin, and deep wrinkles.

Next, the type of facelift makes a difference in timing. Here are a few types of surgery to reverse signs of aging:

• A Traditional (or Full) facelift is more dramatic than a mini-facelift treating the mid-face, lower face, and neck. Traditional facelifts remove and reshape excess skin and fat, then redraping the skin and muscles. They can produce more dramatic and long-lasting results than other facial rejuvenation procedures
• Mini facelift for people who want to tighten their lower face. This is a less invasive operation that people in their late 30s and 40s often seek
• A neck lift is a facelift focused on loose skin, saggy skin, and excess fat in the neck area

• An eyelid lift is focused on the area around the eyes. Sometimes when people want an early facelift, they actually are most concerned about sagging skin around the eyes
• A brow lift addresses the upper face around the brows instead of the lower face and neck treated during a facelift

Multiple lifts may be performed depending on the patient’s needs and aesthetic goals. Most people opt for a full facelift in their 60s or even early 70s. However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that more people under 55 years old are opting for facelifts since they are aware that recovery from surgical procedures is usually smoother for younger individuals, and the results also tend to be more natural looking.

The best way to plan when to have a facelift is to see a plastic surgeon early and discuss your hopes, concerns, any problem areas that bother you, and your goals.

Depending on your needs, your plastic surgeon may suggest other less invasive operations, non-surgical treatments, or the type of facelift most likely to deliver the results you seek.

Timing Your Facelift

If you decide on a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure, you may wonder when the best time of year is to book your operation. Look at your calendar and consider the following:

• Do you have any special events coming up in the next year or two that you want to look your best for? Examples include a high school or college reunion, a child’s wedding, a grandchild’s graduation, or a major trip like a cruise
• When can you take time off work to recover? Are you able to clear your social calendar as well? Do you have extra vacation time available?
• When do you travel? For many who travel during the summer, winter after the holidays is the ideal time to book their facelift

Ideally, book your facelift at least six months in advance of a special “camera-ready occasion” or trip to ensure you have time to heal. Also, try to plan to spend two weeks at home while the bruising and swelling heals.

Sun exposure is another thing to consider since you will want to avoid it during the weeks following your facelift while you heal. Of course, protecting your skin from the sun is always a good idea and essential to maintaining your facelift results.

Considering all these factors, many find that winter after the holidays is the best time to schedule a facelift so they can combine vacation time with holiday leave.

This will vary depending on your holiday plans, of course. Some may prefer January after the New Years’ celebrations. There isn’t one right time for every individual. So, it is important to consider your own social life, health, finances, and priorities.

Begin Your Facelift Journey

Schedule a consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon for more details on how to plan your facelift or whether it is the right choice for you. The team at Charlotte Plastic Surgery has helped Charlotte residents look their best, rejuvenated selves for decades.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation appointment.