How Long Does a Facelift Last?

A facelift is for many like turning back the clock and getting a fresh start.View many, many before and after images. Ideally, the photos range from several weeks to several years after their facelift surgery. The quality of your skin before your facial rejuvenation procedure will definitely have an effect on the lasting results of a facelift.For example, a person who has previously been a heavy smoker, a serious sun worshipper, or a person who has been morbidly obese may have skin laxity issues that can contribute to results that don't last as long as a person who starts with great skin before surgery.Taking care of your skin following surgery can also help maintain results. It is not uncommon for people to have minor touch ups years after their initial surgery. Sometimes very minimal maintenance can keep the face looking fresh and youthful.Be very careful about selecting a plastic surgeon to perform facial rejuvenation surgery. We all have seen people with obvious looking facelifts, ears that are no longer in a natural position, necks that seem unnatural, hollowed eyes. obvious scars etc. These changes can be permanent and full correction can be difficult even with revisional surgery.The following are a few things that can distinguish some surgeons from others1) Graduating from a top tier medical school at the top of their class. 2) Membership in Alpha Omega Alpha. THis is the medical honors society. Alpha Omega Alpha is to medicine what Phi Beta Kappa is to letters 3) Formal surgical training from prestigious medical universities. The minimum number of years of surgical training for plastic surgeons to be board certified in five years. Some physicians have as many as ten years of formal surgical training. There simply is no substitute for stellar academic and practical surgical training. 4) Very experienced surgeons with meticulous surgical technique and natural looking outcomes will have photgraphic evidence of their work. Patients should be able to view many photos of the surgery of interest, photgraphed from three different perspectives all with similar lighting, distance from the camera and croppingThe elite experience extends beyond the surgeon to the facility, and the surgical team. You should be able to see the surgical theater and know who else will be in the OR with you during surgery. The Joint Commission (JCAHO) is an organization that provides certification to hospital OR's. The Joint Commission and AAAASF are two of the organizations that can provide certification to surgical suites. Some plastic surgeons elect to have their surgery centers dually certified.The anesthesia experience is critical to a safe and comfortable surgical experience. A board certified anesthesiologist can administer general or MAC anesthesia. My preference is to have a board-certified anesthesiologist at the bedside of my patients for the duration of surgery.Plastic surgeons who cater to high profile individuals who place a high value on privacy will have a private first floor entrance and exit so patients never need to be in a public lobby or elevator for pre-operative or post operative visits.

Great question!
Most surgeons will quote that a facelift "lasts" for about 10-15 years. I think this can be a bit confusing for patients as it doesn't immediately revert to how things were before surgery at the 10-15 year mark. I like to think of this more in terms of aging as a car going down a hill and surgery resets and puts a brake on the car for about 10-15 years before resuming its slow descent.
As far as how long the facelift lasts depends alot on your surgeon and their chosen technique. Something like a deep plane facelift that utilizes the muscular/SMAS strength layers for the lift is likely to last longer than a mini lift or something that doesn't address the deeper layers of the face.
Hope this helps!Kyle Kimura, MD

A well-executed facelift generally can make you look 5-10 years younger. The results and duration depend on multiple factors including your age, unique anatomy, and the surgeon’s technique. The results of a facelift won’t disappear over time, but you will continue to age. In other words, a facelift will turn back the clock, but won’t stop the clock. Ten or even twenty years after surgery, you will show less facial aging than if you had never had a facelift. You can help maintain your results by avoiding sun exposure and smoking, following a good skincare regimen, and nonsurgical treatments like Botox and skin resurfacing.

Hello,

The longevity of a facelift depends on many factors, including genetics and aging patterns, lifestyle habits(sun exposure, smoking, weight) and the quality of the surgery! Generally speaking, most facelifts last anywhere from 5-10+ years.
I always tell my patients that they are set back in time permanently and will always look better than they would have without the surgery. Some undergo a second facelift if they are dissatisfied with the recurrent pattern of aging and are very particular about their appearance. Those who undergo their first surgery at a relatively younger age may opt for a second surgery to maintain their lift 10-15 years later.
Performing a complete face/neck lift with SMAS flap technique, and fat grafting restoration of soft tissues imparts greater longevity as well.

Warm regards,
Dr Pedy Ganchi
Village Plastic Surgery

Great question. I generally tell patients there are a couple of ways to look at this. In one sense, the results are permanent because even 10, 15, or 20 years later you will look better than if you didn’t have a facelift. We will turn back the clock, but the clock keeps ticking. You will continue aging from a new, younger-looking baseline and your genetics and lifestyle choices will affect your long-term outcome. Your results will last longer if you limit sun exposure, avoid smoking, follow a healthy diet, and use great skincare. Max out maintenance with Botox, fillers, and collagen-stimulating treatments like micro-needling or TempSure Envi RF treatments, and your facelift will last even longer! As always, I advise patients to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial surgery and find someone you connect with and trust. Good Luck!

Experience has shown that, when based on an effective SMAS correction, a facelift should provide rejuvenation in appearance of the treated areas in most for around 8 – 12 years, and often longer. Naturally this can vary depending on an individual’s genetics, skin elasticity, lifestyle and skin care. The benefits achieved by the removal of excess skin and the provision of deep layer support will provide a degree of benefit for a lifetime. This means that if you are 50 and your facelift helps you look, say, 40 years of age in treated areas then, when you are 60, treated areas should still look around 50 and so on. In other words, the years that have been taken off your external appearance should largely stay off, however, as we cannot stop the ageing process completely, you will continue to age, albeit slower than most others around you

The longevity of a facelift is largely dependent on the technique used in surgery.  Our preferred technique for a facelift is a Minimal Access Deep Plane Facelift.  A Deep Plane Facelift treats the heavy and sagging underlying musculature- which can create more substantial improvement that is longer lasting than other "SMAS" based facelifts.  

Of course, one facelift does not equal the other. When we ask our patients how much the facial rejuvenation surgery turned back the clock for them, the answer ranges from 8 to 15 years. This also means that after such a timeframe, the patient may look similarly to the time before the procedure. On the other hand, a facelift has a permanent benefit as after a good facelift, you should always look better than your imaginary twin who did not have the surgery. 

When we are dealing with human tissue, the answer is as diverse as there are types of skin. Genetics, and environment are great  indicators of how long your facelift will last. If your face started aging early this could mean weak collagen that will not hold a repair for a long time. Physical activities that involve bouncing, such as running, are guaranteed to cause early laxity of skin. I've seen patient start to develop mild laxity after a year, and others look tight after 10. So, the answer to your question is that it depends on the individual .Best,Dr Results

Thank you for your question. On average, most people get a decade of looking their best. Every patient differs. Factors working against you include: genetically poor skin elasticity, poor muscle tone, depression, smoking, or if you are unrealistic.
Best wishes.

The duration of the results achieved with a face and neck lift cannot always be accurately predicted. If sagging was severe, it will obviously take years before the condition becomes as bad as it was before surgery. If the natural degenerative process in the skin is occurring rapidly, wrinkling and sagging will also accumulate more rapidly. This is precisely when “tuck-up” or “spot-welding” procedures are helpful.
A facelift generally helps turn back the clock about 10 years in most patients, but it does not stop the ticking. Nevertheless, most patients look forever younger than had they not had the procedure done at all. The excess skin and fat in the neck and lower jaw is removed at surgery. Any slack seen in the post-operative period is a result of continued aging and breaking down of the skin that remains.  This could be advanced by poor skin elasticity, stress, or environmental factors (e.g. sun, smoking, etc...)
Had the surgery not been performed, the patient would have the “new” sags on top of the “old” sags, which were removed at surgery. Tuck-ups help maintain a youthful appearance in the patient who chooses to have additional surgery. Tuck-ups are generally less extensive, less expensive, and quite effective. 
Addressing the SMAS during surgery is one way to help ensure that the best results possible can be obtained.Be sure your surgeon is a board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon.