Facelift: Q&A
Ask a Question
My Mother is 80 Years Old and Wants to Have a Facelift. Is She Too Elderly for Plastic Surgery?
She hasn't smoked for decades and she's not overweight or sickly, but she does have a pacemaker and takes blood pressure medication.
Tags:
24 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
lovingdaughter
in Hallandale Beach, FL
+2
Facelift at 80 years of age
At 80 years of age it is acceptable to undergo elective cosmetic surgery as long as one is in good health. A pacemaker will have to be demagnetized prior to surgery since surgical electrocautery must be used during the procedure and can potentially short out the pacemaker. Typically a cardiologist must perform the demagnetizing and remagnetizing of the pacemaker a hospital setting, which can be cost prohibitive for a patient. In addition, the patient’s blood pressure...
more
+1
Facelift at 80 with Pacemaker and HTN
A facelift in an 80 year old with a pacemaker may be more risk than most plastic surgeons want to take. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
+1
Elderly Facelift at Age 80
In my practice in New York, I've performed facelift on patients as old as 87. This is based more on their physical age rather than their chronological age. I also make it a point to avoid performing surgery for longer than 2 hours and do the procedure under local anesthesia with 'twilight' anesthesia with the Quick Recovery Facelift procedure I developed. She should be cleared by her medical doctor as well as be able to be off any blood thinners (in my experience, many patients...
more
You might also like...
Real Stories
FFS? There Are Better Choices - Manchester, GB
I had surgery with Brian Musgrove for the purpose ofFacial Feminisation. I am not very...
+1
Age and facelifts
If there is a anatomic indication for a facelift and facelift is a reasonable intervention inedependent of age. so if there is cheek descent, jowels, obtuse cervicomental angel a facelift is likely indicated, what is more important than age is a patients medical conditions and their understanding of the procedure adn its risks and benefits.
+1
Facelift Surgery and Age
The age of the person is not the most critical factor in determining whether or not a person could undergo surgery. The most important factor is the health and condition of the person. There are 50 year old patients that can't have an operation because they have severe heart disease and there are 90 year old patients that lead a healthy life style, have no illnesses and take no medications who can have surgery.
That being said I have performed facelifts on patients...
more
+1
My Mother is 80 Years Old and Wants to Have a Facelift. Is She Too Elderly for Plastic Surgery?
Since your Mother is 80 with hypertension and a pacemaker...assuming she can get a medical clearance from her internist...commonsense, IMHO, would dictate that a conservative approach be followed. This may mean a minimal incision Face Lift that can be done in 90 minutes or less. I personally would not agree to do any surgery that was more extensive than that because of her age.
+1
Health status more important than age
To be safe every patient should be thoroughly evaluated from a medical standpoint regardless of age. I would focus more on the medical issues than purely the age. To answer the question, a facelift is possible but I would only entertain that if it's safe for your mother and she is motivated to have this procedure in addition she has to be made aware of the post surgical issues and should have help as she heals.
Tampa Plastic Surgeon
+1
Facelift in 80 Year Old Lady
Age is recognized but not a critical factor in deciding if a patient should have a facelift. I have operated on patients your mom's age as long as they were in good health. Clearance by all of her physicians, including her internist and cardiolgist, will be necessary. Anesthetic techniques will be an important part of the pre-op discussion.
+1
Facial Rejuvenation at 80
Age is just a number and does not necessarily reflect a person's health. I have operated on a number of patients in their 80's, even with high blood pressure and pacemakers. I would definitely speak with her cardiologist and make sure that he/she has no concerns about the surgery. Also, if she is on any medicine that thins the blood, such as aspirin or Plavix, the cardiologist would be able to say if it is safe to stop those medicines before surgery.
My oldest cosmetic patient...
more
+1
Face lift after 80
As long as she gets medical clearance from her cardiologist, has her blood pressure controlled, and gets the pacemaker 'serviced' she should have an acceptable level of risk. Age alone is not a huge issue as long as general health is OK
+1
Facelift at age 80?
Some people are young at 80 and others old at 60 or less. If she wants it, she must be young at heart. Providing she is medically cleared and healthy, a facelift can be done, and she will be a happy, grateful patient. Everyone should be given the opportunity to look in the mirror and like what they see. Certain precautions must be made, however. The procedure should be done as simply and uneventfully as possible, and many facelifts can be done under mild sedation and local anesthesia....
more
+1
Age Limitations For Facelift Surgery
Facelifts can be done at any age as long as one is medically stable. I have done a facelift on one patient at age 92. Since she has a pacemaker, she will need clearance from her cardiologist for the surgery. In some patients, the extent of the facelift is modified to to balance the amount of improvement gained with the length of the surgery and recovery that best suits the patient.
+1
80 year old facelift
Agree with the other docs - 80 is not too old for a facelift if she gets cardiac clearance. In our office in South Florida we require a stress test for anyone over 60 and anyone under 60 with any significant medical issues. We tend to do the older patients under IV sedation and try to limit the surgical time.
+1
Facelifts for Elderly People
It isn't a matter of your mother's age, but her overall health—physiologic age is more important than chronological age. Whether she can have a face lift or not will depend on her general health, which will need to be assessed by a doctor. If she is not healthy enough to undergo a full face lift, she may be a candidate for a "mini facelift" such as the LiteLift™, which is a simpler facelift procedure.
+1
Is age a risk factor for facelift surgery?
Age by itself is not a risk factor for facelift surgery; however, she will need to get medical/cardiac clearance prior to surgery to make sure it is safe for her to undergo anesthesia. I hope this helps.
+1
Plastic Surgery for elderly patient
Your mother would need a medical clearance by her internist before elective surgery. If she is deemed low risk then their should be no reason that she could not have surgery. Your surgeon may also elect to do less invasive techniques to decrease surgery time. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.
+1
She may do great with this.
Much depends on her actual individual medical considerations. There are facelifts and there are facelifts. With older individuals, my opinion that she is better off having less time under general anesthesia. Her heart status is a concern. WIth a pacemaker, high blood pressure, and a history of smoking in the past, there is good reason to be concerned about her ability to tolerate the stress of elective general anesthesia for a cosmetic surgery. An ethical...
more
+1
My Mother is 80 Years Old and Wants to Have a Facelift. Is She Too Elderly for Plastic Surgery?
As long as her overall health is good and is still fairly active...In my patients at this age, I do get Cardiac clearance to make sure that everything is stable and I feel better having patients at this age spend a night or two in a recovery care center where the nurses can keep an eye on her...And there has never been a problem...
+1
Is 80 too old for a facelift
Whether 80 is too old for facelift will depend on the 'medical' factors or state of health. Medical clearance, and coordination of the care and followup after is very important. If you doctor says you are in good health and your surgeon feels you have clear and achievable goals, then 80 may be the best time for facelift.
Best of luck, Peter Johnson, MD
+1
Too old for a facelift?
Being 80 years-old is not a contraindication for a facelift. It's not chronological age, but rather medical age that is more important in determining whether your mother is a good candidate for a facelift -- we all know 50 year-olds who have many medical problems and 90 year-olds who seem soooo much younger. What this means is that if your mother is healthy, active, does not have problems with chest pain or shortness of breath, she may be a good surgical candidate. I...
more
+1
Health is a bigger factor than age in surgery
As long as your mother is healthy without any cardiac concerns, she would be a candidate for a face lift by a board certified plastic surgeon.
+1
Age and Facelift
It is not the chronological age which is important. The more important is the biological age or that health of the patient. If she has a pacemaker and is on blood pressure medications, it is very important that she have a throuough cardiac medical clearance prior to surgery. If she is a good surgical candidate, then she should be okay with surgery.
Good Luck.
+1
Facelift at age 80?
For me, age is just a number that needs to be put in context to the overall health status. I have safely performed face and neck lifts on patients as old as 87 years. As long as the facelift candidate is in good overall medical condition, it should be reasonable to perform such a procedure. Your mother has a pacemaker which requires specific preparation before her surgery. Your facial surgeon will work closely with your mother's cardiologist and the anesthesiologist.
+1
Facelift for an 80 year old?
Of course she is not too old to have a facelift. I would be most surprised if anyone on this forum suggests differently. As long as she is reasonably healthy, without acute chest pain or shortness of breath, I see no reason to prevent her from having a procedure which will make her happy and feel good about herself.
Comments (0)