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How Long Does a Facelift Last?

How long does a facelift last? What factors determine how long a facelift will last?

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plastic surgery

2-10 years, depending on the technique and the patient

These are averages for what patients report after their surgery. Threadlifts: Most patients notice a benefit for 6 months to 1 year. No permanent benefit is usually noted since the tissues usually slide past the sutures. In all cases when we have removed threads during revision procedures, the sutures have held no tension and were often quite loose. The data are not fully in on Endotine lifts performed with undermining (lifts performed with a self dissolving device that hooks onto the... more

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Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lasting results depend on technique

Some Face Lifts only tighten the loose skin. These procedures will last the least amount of time. This might be an acceptable procedure for some patients, but it might not give a long lasting result. The SMAS Lift offers the most natural improvement to the face because the underlying tissue layers and muscles of the face are lifted and repositioned, improving the jaw line and neck area. By using this technique, patients look more the way they used to look before the aging process since the... more

Vivian Hernandez, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

A great facelift is long-lasting

A facelift is for many like turning back the clock and getting a fresh start. 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 suegery. Taking care of... more

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Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lasting Results from a Facelift

Facelifts are also referred to as a rhytidectomy procedure. The longevity of a face lift result really depends on the type of face lift and the depth of correction. Routinely, a well performed face lift not only addresses the redundancy of skin but also the underlying fascial and muscular support. Shorter, no downtime facelifts do not adequately correct the underlying muscular and fascial support and are more prone to relapse.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

It depends which procedure you choose

While genetics and skin quality are important in longevity of a facelift, technique is the number one factor in how long the result will last. Fast recovery and minimal facelift techniques will last the least amount of time: Thread Lifts - were very popular in the media over the last few years, but patients found they only lasted a few months to a year, and were very disappointed. Mini-face lift - S-lift - refers to a face lift with a small amount of skin undermining (non-extensive), with... more

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Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Excellent question which is posed by almost every...

Excellent question which is posed by almost every patient looking for cosmetic rejuvenation. Unfortunately, no physician can tell how long a facelift will last just as no physician can tell you what you will look like in the future without a facelift. There are many factors which affect how skin ages including: smoking sun exposure genetics stress nutrition All of these factors play a role in the aging process. Another important factor to consider is what type of facelift is to be... more

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D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Longevity

The longevity of any face lifting procedure will be influenced by multiple factors beyond the type of facelift performed and the skill and expertise of the plastic surgeon: the extent of tissue elasticity and sagging, genetics, amount of sun damage, life style (smoking, significant weight fluctuations, excess dieting or exercise), general medical health and other adjunctive procedures (like fillers, Dysport or Botox, peels, skin care program) performed in conjunction with (the facelift or as... more

Robert Singer, MD

La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Can my facelift last forever?

It is a misnomer and misconception calling for duration and longevity of a face lift result. Aging face is a dynamic process. A well performed facelift surgery generally washes away about 10 years from your face, but remember you will continue to age. According to my experience, ten years post facelift surgery; you should still have a firmer and better looking neck than your pre operative appearance. There are various elements affecting facial aging process after face lift surgery which... more

Kevin Sadati, DO

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Longevity of face lifts

There are tons of different types of face lifts. I hear this question a lot, and here's the deal. I cannot speak for all surgeons but here's what I see. Every single one of us in on an escalator of aging. The escalator moves at different speeds for each of us depending on genetic factors and environmental factors such as sun exposure and smoking. The rate at which the escalator moves dictates our apparent age. Some of us are lucky in that our escalator is slow and... more

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Raghu Athre, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face Lifts

In the face and neck lift operation many problemes are corrected, some of this problems are pemanitly corrected and this can be the transesections of the muscles and some of them like the removal of the extra skin can be not as permantly change. The condition of the skin particurally sun damage influence the permancy of the results. Also in Face Lits dependes if the surgeon attack all the differents problem areas like muscles ans fat removal. Thank You... more

Alejandro J. Quiroz, M.D.

Mexico Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Facelift Longevity

This is probably the most common question asked in Facelift consultations. The topic has already been very well covered, but several points need to be reinforced. In a mid 50's patient with appropriate expectations in excellent health (non smoker who practices sun safe measures) who has the procedure performed by a well qualified local Facelift Surgeon (Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon), using a technique which is appropriate for the aging changes present, the procedure will... more

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Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long does a facelift last?

Hello, What factors come into play regarding longevity; include genetics, sun exposure, original quality of procedure, your perspective / expectations and health as starters. In terms of my results, patients that come in for touch ups are in the 7-10 year period after their first procedure. I have pictures of patients that come in for touch ups that still look better than they did when they first walked in for their first laser vertical Facelift, 7-10 years prior.

Michael Kulick, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How long does a facelift last?

A better question would be, "How much younger will a facelift make me look?" Facelift surgery is a way of "resetting the clock of aging in your face." The same factors that caused your face to age before surgery will continue to cause facial aging. In the average patient, a facelift operation rejuvenates the face by ten years. There are exceptional cases where the surgery can make a patient look twenty years younger. I suggest you bring some photographs to your facial... more

Maurice M. Khosh, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

SMAS Facelift lasts 7-10 years in general

Everything is relative and variable. All patients are of course different. On average though, I let my potential patients know that a facelift will last approximately 7-10 years. This is when the SMAS is treated. Simply doing a skin lift is most often a waste of time and money for the patient. We can not stop aging, but a well done facelifting procedure will leave the patient always looking that much better than having never done the procedure in the first place. As I am sure you have read... more

Amiya Prasad, MD

New York Oculoplastic Surgeon

4 Keys to Longevity of a Face Lift

Face lift longevity depends a lot on four key aspects. 1. The type of technique. 2. The expertise and experience of the surgeon that’s performing the procedure. 3. The genetics of the patient. 4. The environment in which they live. To optimize the length of a face lift such as one that I perform, which is a Lift and Fill facelift with deep layer SMAS elevation and filling of the central deep fat compartments to re-shape the face. This type of facelift usually lasts 7 – 10 years... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Your Anatomy, Genetics, Skin Care & Type of Facelift

Hello, I would agree that a well performed and appropriately selected Facelift will last 5-10 years. It is important to recognize that in all patients after the first few weeks a little "settling in" occurrs, where 5-10% of the "tightness" initally seen goes away as the swelling of the facial tissues go down. That's why its is useless and frankly unethical for after pictures to be taken very soon after surgery since these are not the utlitmate results that will be seen... more

Kamran Jafri, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

A facelift can last 5-10 years on average...

The facelift is performed using techniques designed for a long term improvement. The long lasting results of a facelift depend on your lifestyle choices...such as smoking and sun exposure. Bone structure and heredity also play a role. A healthy patient in their fifties can have lasting results up to ten years plus.

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Andrew Miller, MD

Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift benefits last a lifetime

The results of a well-performed facelift should be evident for a lifetime. That being said, the aging process will still continue on even after having facelift surgery. Facelift surgery generally takes off about 10 years. Many factors affect this including each person's unique genetic aging process, ongoing skin care/sun protection, and avoiding tobacco use. As mentioned, the facelift technique also plays a role. Less extensive/shorter-recovery lifts don't have as durable a result.... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long does a facelift result last?

The benefits that occur from a well done facelift can and should last a lifetime. You will never look the same as if you never had the lift. That being said, the facelift will elevate the tissues of the face but gravity, loss of facial volume, and aging of the skin still occur. Thus, while the clock is set back some 10 years or so it is, in fact, still ticking. There are times when I see someone 10 years after a facelift who truly needs additional elevation... more

Douglas Stevens, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

A facelift will not stop the clock just set it back 5-10 years.

Facial rejuvenation procedures set back the clock, 5, 10, 15 years, but do not stop the aging process. It is variable from patient to patient how quickly signs of further aging will manifest itself depending on history of sun exposure, smoking, genetics etc.

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Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

4 important considerations

1. Type of Facelift Procedure: From a facelift technical persective, the longevity of a Facelift is directly proportional to the extent of SMAS repositioning performed. A carefully performed SMAS lift will last from 8 to 12 years. On the other hand, a skin only facelift will typically stretch out within a year. 2. Skin Elasticity: Genetic factors, history of cigarette smoking, and sun exposure all influence skin elasticity. These are... more

Paul S. Gill, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Face lift benefits last forever

This is one of the more commonly asked questions in my practice. If the face lift is done properly, namely the surgeon is skilled and experienced and corrects all the deep structures in the face, than the results last forever. By this I do not mean that the face remains "frozen" or uncharged with years. There is always some aging that's going to occur with time. I tell my patients that a face lift will turn back the lock significantly, but it will not... more

Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

How long do Face Lifts last?

Face Lifts last on average for 10 years. There are a number of factors that will determine how long your results will last including the type of face lift performed. Typically younger patients have better skin quality and their results can last longer than older patients. Avoiding significant sun exposure and nicotine along with proper skin care can help increase the longevity of your results. Face Lifts that do not rely on the skin and that elevate the SMAS or tissue below to the... more

Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Improvement with Facelifts

The results of a Facelift last forever. When someone who undergoes a facelift, it turns back time. However, if we are lucky, we continue to age. Facelifts turn the clock back. They do not stop it. A Facelift performed by a qualified, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon should please you for years.

Malcolm A. Lesavoy, MD

Encino Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lasting facelift results

I like to tell patients that a facelift will set the patient’s appearance back anywhere from 8 to 12 years, depending on the aging characteristics in the face. As the patient then continues to age, the features that were corrected will, in time, eventually recur. There are various traits that determine how fast the appearance of aging will take place - poor elasticity of skin, significant weight loss, and cigarette smoking are all risk factors.