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Is Facelift Too Premature for a 45 Year Old Woman?

asked 2 years ago by vickifa7 in Connecticut
Latest answer by Lawrence Kass, MD
Question viewed 4,103 times
Tags: age 45-54, face, nasolabial folds, under eyes, female, eye bags

I'm 45 and have under eye bags and nasolabial folds that really bother me. I've gotten 3 different recommendations on what I need, ranging from lower Blepharoplasty with Juvederm for the folds, to uppper/lower bleph with a Forehead lift plus a midface deep plane facelift.

The doctor who recommended "the full monte" is highly regarded and his work is outstanding, but I don't think my face is that bad "yet," and I'm wondering whether I should do everything now or only the most urgent items. A Facelift seems premature to me. Looking for opinions/recommendations. Thanks!

37 answers to Is Facelift Too Premature for a 45 Year Old Woman?

+3

Facelift in 40's

The only person who can answer if you are ready for a facelift is you; nobody else including doctors can answer this question for you. Once you inform yourself about the recommended procedures, you will have to decide whether it is worth it or not. Technically speaking, there are many procedures including a facelift, necklift, cheek, eyelid, volume augmentation and brow surgery that would benefit your appearance and make you look younger and prettier.
+3

Surgery or Not at 45?

Your question is a good one because many women of your age group ask the same question. How do we measure the right time for a Facelift, by chronology or by aging changes? From looking at your pictures, you do have the aging changes that would benefit from a Facelift, and Lower Lid Blepharoplasty. However, you may not want to consider surgery and it is not unreasonable to consider fillers and Botox. The important point to understand with the minimally invasive route is that you will not... more
+2

Right age for Facelift

Without giving you a very long-winded answer, the important issue here to consider is that this is purely elective. Your surgeon should provide you with the information you need to make the best decision FOR YOU. This means providing you with information about the procedures (injections, peels, surgery) that are possible and the risks, benefits, recovery period, and cost of each. You must weigh this with what you think bothers you most, your timeline for recovery, and what you want to... more
+2

Appropriate age for a Face Lift depends on degree of facial aging

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.
+2

Facelift at 45

Hi, Chronological age is not a factor in deciding on facial cosmetic procedures. Physical aging definitely is a factor in deciding when to do cosmetic facial procedures. Facelifts can be tailored to the specific needs of every patient. Some need more some need less. Its a matter of how much physical aging has occurred. Best, Dr.S.
+1

Facelift at 45?

Certainly you are not too young to have a limited incision facelift (which unfortunately goes by many, many names, some of which are trademarked). This will help your lower face, jowl, and neck. Other things that you might consider are a small incision browlift or eyelid surgery or skin rejuvenation procedures. It depends what bothers you most!
+1

Best Age to have a Facelift

This is a very common question. The best age to have a facelift depends on: anatomy, expectations, and surgeon. First of all, if you like what you see when you pull in the mirror, there is a good chance that you are a candidate for a facelifting procedure. My younger patients are starting earlier as a maintenance and prevention strategy. They are not waiting until they have a lot of sagging or they look like an older relative. When you start younger, your... more
+1

Is Facelift Too Premature for a 45 Year Old Woman?

The philisophical answer is no. looking at your pictures you would benefit from some stuff, surgical and otherwise. the exact procedures to be determined by you and your surgeon. one thing i can say is that you do not need a forehead lift. good luck
+1

Facelift at 45 is this premature?

Chronological age and facial aging differ in patient to patient. I have done Facelifts on many 45 year old women due to the fact this is what they needed and desired. In your case I can see a side view of the neck area. In reviewing your photograph and not being able to speak with you directly my advise would be to start with an endoscopic brow lift with mid face extension. This means you get a lift in the mid face, under and above the eyes with the endoscopic approach. I would also use some... more
+1

Facelift - am I too young?

Surgery is a personal choice.  I always tell my patients that they should feel 100% before proceeding with any procedure.  You should be the one to decide what aesthetic problems are "urgent".  A facelift will definitely improve your jowels and the rhytids on your lower face.  And filler with product or fat will help fill out some of the hollows.  Blepharoplasty will help rejuvenate your eyes.  However, I cannot stress enough that it is your choice... more
+1

Maintaining Facial Harmony is very Important

It can be very confusing when you get such very different opinions regarding facial rejuvenation. My personal opinion is to correct anything that has noticable signs of aging so that facial harmony is maintained. If we spot treat one area, but leave other areas that have signs of aging, then we are creating facial dysharmony. All areas of the face don't match. It's not horribly obvious, but when you maintain the harmony, the patient just looks more natural, more rejuvenated,... more
+1

At 45 is it time for a facelift or not

I don't think that it is your age that is the issue as much as it is the issues that are of concern to you.  I have certainly done facelifts on 45 year old women - but usually it is for laxity along the jawline, jowls and neck.  For the midface region I prefer use of fat injections or fillers rather than surgery.  For the lower eyelids - blepharoplasty or, if not too bad, sometimes a fractional CO2 laser treatment.  Same for the upper eyelids / forehead region -... more
+1

Time for a facelift?

Dear Vickifa, Thank you for posting your picture along with your question. The question of which procedures to select requires a very personal answer. It really depends on which areas concern you. You have great features and all of the procedures you mention, if properly done, should give you a beautiful result. There aren't really any 'urgent' needs. If ou are only interested in your lower eyelids and nasolabial folds by all means you can focus just on those areas. You... more
+1

Facelift in 45 Year Old Lady

The extent of facial aging and patient desires are more important than chronological age in deciding what to do. Without your imput, I would recommend upper eyelid blepharoplasty, lower eyelid blepharoplasty with repositioning of lower lid fat in the depressions causing the grooves at the lower lid margins, and a deep plane sub-periosteal midface lift. If midline neck band are present, a facelift would be discussed.
+1

Age for facelift

The blepharoplasty procedure on the upper lids is done primarily to remove excess skin. The goal of lower blepharoplasty is to remove fat bags underneath the eyelids. The primary goal of a face/neck lift is to rejuvenate the entire face and neck structures, tighten the jowls, remove fat in the neck, and tighten the neck and facial structures. None of these procedures will help with nasolabial folds. Typically facelifts are done on women in their 50’s, which is when most women feel... more
+1

You could consider a full facial rejuvenation or start more slowly

Everyone ages at different rates, but many individuals notice an acceleration of aging changes in their mid to late 40's and early 50's. You would do well with eyelid surgery and a cheeklift and botox and fillers, and I suspect that this approach would best suit your frame of mind. I do think that you could also consider a full facial rejuvenation that would include an endoscopic assisted forehead lift, upper lid blepharoplasty, lower lid blepharoplasty, cheeklift, face and neck lift, fat... more
+1

Consider your options carefully

The timing of a facelift is dependent on an individual's aging process. One must also make the personal choice of downtime, risks, costs, availability of less dramatic options versus the gold standard of facelifting. Fillers, blepharoplasties, thermage all can be performed with little or no recovery and satisfy your current aesthetic needs. The issue with early facelift is not its initial results but the aesthetic effect of multiple touchups as the aging process continues into one's... more
+1

Facial Rejuvenation

Difficult to really see your neck, but I believe you would benefit from upper and lower bleharoplasty as well as facial fillers. A facelift is beneficiall in patients who have jowling as well as neck banding or excess skin. I cant tell if you have any issues in your neck area as I would need to see a profile view. Good luck.
+1

Anatomy is the defining thing and never age. Value also counts.

You need a well done facial reuvination which must include your neck and as little injections as possible to get longevity and value. If you can afford it the eyes should be done at the same time. This will not only make you look younger, but the face will be better balanced. A well done neck-face lift which includes repostioning of your facial fat and tightening of the muscle (platysma) in your neck will give you the most durability as well as cost effectiveness. I do a lot of injectables,... more
+1

Proper age for a facelift

Everyone ages at different rates, and some of it is dependent on lifestyle choices. From the photo you submitted, I agree that surgery will give you substantial improvement, and most people opt to do these procedures younger while they are healthy. Most people say: "I wish I had done it sooner". I had a blepharoplasty at 32 and it was one of the best things I ever did, other than marry my wife. Injectables such as Botox and fillers certainly have a role, but they are not a... more
+1

Loss of Volume in the Face with Age

You have lost a lot of volume in your face. If you do a facelift it still will leave your face looking narrow and thin. You need the extra volume in the right places to look young and healthy. You don't need browlift as much as upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Here is my plan; 1. Upper Blepharoplasty 2. Sculptra 3-6 sessions to restore facial volume especially in the cheek bone area ( I might even use Radiesse to give a quick extra bulk) 3. Facelift 5 years from now if not 10. Regards more
+1

Age is just a number

I think it is often better at looking at what aspects of your face you are trying to rejuvenate rather than focus on your age. In particular, the neck and jawline are areas which are classic areas to respond to a well planned facelift. For most patients, aging begins with the use of volumetric enhancement (use of facial fillers or fat) followed by surgical options such as a face or eye lift.
+1

When SHOULD you have a Facelift

"Looking one's age" is, at best, a rough estimate. A more accurate way to proceed is to set goals as to what features a person wants to either achieve or get rid off, regardless of their age, and how to best go about getting them. In your photograph you present:- loss of volume in the central face- a high forehead with creases at rest associated with droopy flattened brows- skin excess of the upper lid (dermatochalasis which may or may not be associated with sagging of the brow-... more
+1

Treat only what bothers you.

Hi. We certainly do facelift and blepharoplasty in 45 year olds, but I would not recommend that for you. Fillers may be all you need. Restylane in the tear troughs under the lower lids camouflages the bags. And Juvederm in the nasolabial folds and possibly in the upper cheeks should do the rest.
+1

Start out slowly before facelift at 45

From the tone of your inquiry, I can only guess the correct course for you. An in-person consultation as you have done with a few docs has only increased your issues and confusion. Therefore, when I am presented with a patient similar to you and your issues, I start S L O W L Y. I would use non surgical intervention therapies FIRST! Like fillers, Botox (Dysport), peels, IPL to see if you like the slight improvements attained. If you do than continue in the non surgery venue. If you then... more
+1

Face lift in a 45 year old

IF you are asking an expert face lift surgeon for his/her opinion about performing a face lift, you have to expect that answer. Never let anyone force you into a procedure you don't want. However, if you are asking for my opinion, you would be an excellent candidate for the face lift and should have great results in the hands of a skilled surgeon that should typically last 5-10 years.
+1

Liquid Facelift should be considered before Full Facelift

Full facelift can provide fantastic cosmetic results if done right by a board-certified plastic surgeon; however, it does require general anesthesia and your face will have somewhat of a 'frozen look' for at least the first couple months. The trend in 2010 is to maximize nonsurgical options that are natural, subtle but effective, with minimal downtime. Our face is like a balloon, and the 'balloon' is getting more deflated every year due to loss of volume triggered by the normal aging... more
+1

Facelift Will Help

A facelift operation will help. Often patients choose lesser alternatives such as Botox, Juvederm, or Sculptra first. The neuromodulator and filler approach are performed as drive in, and drive out office procedures with minimal to no downthime. Facelift surgery has significantly more downtime and will need time off of work. The ultimate choice is yours.
+1

Facelift for a 45 year old

From your picture, you appear to be an exccellent candidate for everything you mention, except, perhaps, a brow lift. You may also be a candidate for the brow, depending on your examination. This does not mean that you NEED anything done. What you should correct is what bothers you. You do have to realize, however, that once you have corrected one part of the face, the rest of it will look worse and sometimes can look very strange when one part is youthful and another is aged. There are also... more
+1

When to do a facelift

From the photo that you provided you look like you would benefit from a facelift. You already have significant facial and neck ptosis (drooping), and descent of the midface. You may also benefit from belpharoplasty to rejuvenate your eyes. Good luck.
+1

A facelift may not be premature at age 45

There are many individuals who have thin faces and thin skin, or may have had significant weight loss who may indeed benefit from a form of facelift. A short scar facelift, also called a mini facelift or 'soft' lift has become a common procedure for those 40 somethings looking to refresh, yet not in need of a 'full' lift. Speaking of the 'need' for a facelift, the decision is personal as not everyone who benefits will elect the option. Fills such as Juvederm can provide some improvement.... more
+1

It seems like you would benefit from Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation (A Liquid Face Lift).

You could improve the appearance of your forehead with BOTOX Cosmetic. Your lower eyelid bags could be improved by an Injectable Filler treatment. You could also consider Injectable Fillers for Lip Augmentation, and facial volume replacement in your cheeks. I think you're a candidate for a short-scar facelift, but I nearly always recommend non-surgical rejuvenation when appropriate. So I would start with some volume and BOTOX, and leave surgery as a last resort: when your jowls and neck skin... more
+1

There is no perfect time for a facelift

Dear Vicki There is no question that you would benefit from a lower facelift. It is not "too early" to have it. On the other hand, it is important to do what makes sense. You should listen to your own feeling about this and not be pressured to have the "full monte" by a surgeon. Some surgeons are a bit abusive and have subtle and not so subtle ways of making you feel bad as a means of closing the deal. Stick to your guns, figure out what makes sense for you and if... more
+1

Facelift for 45 year old

Age really has no bearing on what procedure is right for you. If you are bothered by a problem and your surgeon has determined that he can give you the results that you desire, then there should be no reason, from a philosophical or moral standpoint, tht you hold off because of your age. We really have these procedures down to a science and are very precise with our outcomes so the bottom line is do you want your problem corrected? The average age of my facelift patient is 47 years old... more
+1

Facelifts are procedures desgined for people who have sagging

Having a facelift is more important for treating the condition than for the age. Women and men in their 40's comprise a large percentage of patients who have the procedure. The procedure itself is done to improve a sagging neck and jawline and to improve the cheeks if they have fallen and to help with jowls. As far as whether you have a deep plane facelift versus a standard facelift, there is controversy in the literature and most experts now agree there is little difference in the outcome... more
+1

Facial rejuvenation

Facial rejuvenation is an elective process. If you are happy with your face, don't do anything. The first step is to identify what bothers you, what the anatomy is, and what result is going to make you happy. You will determine what needs to be done. It really doesn't matter what surgeons think. It matters what you think. You can do things piecemeal, or in a more comprehensive way. There is no right way. A surgeon can make you look like a man if he wanted. That is not the point. The surgery... more
+1

Timing of a facelift

From your photos, a facelift is not premature and would give you a nice improvement. I would differ on the choice of technique as I prefer a SMAS lift with a vertical lift on the deep tissues and a natural redrape of the skin (see my photos on this site for examples). A deep plane facelift pulls all the tissues as a unit and is less popular than it was 10 years ago. Your upper lids also could benefit from a blepharoplasty plus Restylane to the tear troughs below the lower lids. more

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