Is Facelift Too Premature for a 45 Year Old Woman?

I have seen 40 year old patients with premature jowling and neck changes that would benefit from a face lift and 60 year old patients who do not. According to a patient's genetics some people will age differently. Having the surgery done at an early age has no drawbacks, other than the patient will likely want to repeat the surgery again in 10 years when things relax in order to continue to look great.

I think that it is usually an ideal age in the proper candidate.  Once we pass 40, we often feel that we have passed the time of our youth.  A lift in your 40's, as long as you are a good candidate, can achieve wonders for passing that hump and looking in a way that makes you feel young again.  Don't go by age but rather by potential result and really ask yourself if it's something that really bothers you.

Age 45 is not too young for a facelift, but many patients are concerned that they aren't yet "bad enough" to need such a procedure. It really comes down to personal preferences. Some patients simply aren't ready. I do believe that making improvements along the way before aging changes get severe is the best approach. Patients that have severe facial aging and then undergo a large rejuvenative procedure do get impressive results, but this makes for a dramatic change when returning to social situations. It is often easier to make more moderate changes over time (at an earlier age) in order to give the appearance that a patient is simply not aging.
In the end, it comes down to a particular patient's preferences, comfort level, desire for change, and lifestyle.
All the best,

A person’s age is best guessed by the appearance of their face. If you feel that your face does not reflect how young you feel inside, you may be a candidate for a facelift. During your #consultation, your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. In doing so, he or she should be sure to have a full understanding of what results you expect. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives.Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. Like the Life-Style™ facelift, this is a modified facelift, individualized for each patient, that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are non-smoking patients 35-60 years old with early changes of the lower face and the neck. But whose skin has elasticity with well defined bone structure. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™.

Your candidacy for facelift really has very little to do with your chronological age and much more to do with the amount of facial aging you're experiencing. In your case, I don't see an obvious "need" for one procedure over the other. JUVEDERM can reduce your nasolabial folds, and blepharoplasty will reduce the under-eye bags that bother you. Facelift surgery will remedy the concerns related to your lower face, but won't do much for your under-eye bags on its own. The best surgery for you really depends on what issues bother you the most.  

Dear Vickifa7,Thank you for your question. Thank you for submitting your photos. It would be better to have your face photos from different angles to make a better review but I would like share my thoughts in general and specifically for your case. Facial aging changes start to become noticeable in the late 30’s for most people. In the process of aging the skin folds and loss of facial volume cause deep furrows and facial lines. By the age of 55 -60 years they are permanent changes already, that are difficult to correct with a facelift alone. We should take in mind the general rule, which states that prevention is always easier than correction. Taking action early, in your 40’s or 50’s, will help prevent these permanent changes. Besides, younger patients normally have better skin elasticity, which may promote a longer lasting result. They are  more healthy  than people over 60, and recover more easily.In that sense I would like to recommend you a face lifting. Surely these needs to be discussed with your local plastic surgeon as a plastic surgeon who have the opportunity to exam you will give he best recommendation.Best wishes and good luck.