If I lose 30 - 40 pounds after I get a facelift will my face be saggy again?

If you think you can seriously lose 30 to 40 lbs, you should lose that weight before having your facelift. Significant weight loss will affect the skin on the face and most likely cause laxity, thus distorting your facelift results. If you can lose 15 to 20 lbs before your facelift, that would not cause as much laxity if you were then to lose another 15 lbs or so after the facelift. My advice is to get as close to your goal weight as possible before having your facelift done in order to achieve the best, longest-lasting results. I hope this helps.

In general, I would like
to see a patient be within 30 pounds of his or her goal weight before a
facelift, but it depends on how much your face changes. For many people, the
face does not change very much. That being said, I have had patients lose more
than that and still retain their firm jawline and neck improvement many years
later. It is important to be realistic: Most of us have a goal weight that is
more ambition than reality. I would
guess that you would be fine to go through with surgery at your current weight
without much concern about future sagging, but I would discuss this with your
surgeon. A facelift that does a deep-plane, extensive SMAS correction will hold
up much better than a mini lift or a procedure that relies primarily on
suturing to correct the deeper layers. Best of luck with your decision.

There's no doubt that successful
weight loss is tough, and I commend you for your efforts. Although it's not
guaranteed, a weight loss of 30 or 40 pounds is likely to alter your results by
increasing your skin laxity. However, don't postpone your facelift for too
long. Before undergoing surgery, you should be at a maintainable weight for 6
months or so. If you don't think you'll be able to achieve or maintain your
weight loss, have the surgery sooner rather than later.

Hi MotherHubbardThanks for posting. It is difficult when you set yourself a goal and it takes longer than you think it's going to. Be encourage to keep trying to loose weight, it will make a very big difference to your life.With regards to the facelift, it would be best to loose the weight first, as you may find that the skin after the loss, will be looser. However, having a FL may give you the incentive to keep on with the weight as you feel better already. It would something you need to think about carefully, and decide what is the best option.Our procedure is less invasive than a traditional facelift and there is less scarring, bruising and swelling for a significantly quicker recovery period. This innovative procedure combines the latest surgical techniques with the use of local anaesthetic to dramatically reduce the risks associated with traditional facelifts, while significantly reducing the bruising and downtime of your recovery, from months to a matter of days.This is a combination of a SMAS lift and skin tightening that allows the procedure to have it's longevity without the trauma and invasiveness of a traditional facelift. It is understandable that people are skeptical about the outcomes and that's because it is unique to us, so no one will know how it is performed. I have done over 800 of these, with clients from as far away as the states, that are extremely happy with the outcomes.All the best with your endeavours!

I usually recommend that patients that are “realistically”
planning on losing more than 15lbs of weight loss, undergo the weight loss,
prior to a facelift or necklift. This is because when you lose weight, you will
inevitably lose volume in your face, and it will lead to excess sagging of the
skin of the face and neck. You might as well wait until all the weight is lost,
in order to make the most of your surgery. However, I did say “realistically,”
because I do have patients who wish to lose 25-50 lbs, but have been
unsuccessful at doing so despite trying for several years. So, if it is not a
realistic goal, it may be a better option to undergo the facelift. But if you
go on to lose the weight after the surgery, you do need to be aware that the
subsequent weight loss will affect the long-term results of the surgery. I hope
this helps.

Thank you for the great question! This comes up pretty frequently in consultations. First, it is important to realize that weight gain/loss affect different people in different locations. Some people have significant changes in their face with weight loss, while others do not. Second, the type of weight loss (significant) you are striving for is liking to produce some extra skin laxity in the face/neck regardless. If you strongly feel that your weight loss goal is achievable, I would wait until after to have your facelift. Best of luck!

Thank you for your question. It is usually ideal to loose weight prior to having a facelift. I would recommend an in person exam to discuss your goals and candidacy. Dr. Leonard Lu

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  It is always best to try to get as close as you can to your goal weight prior to undergoing a facelift.  If you lose an additional 10 - 15 lbs, it is unlikely to make that much difference in your result.  However, if you lose 30 - 40 lbs, I think you will notice some loss of facial volume that will allow the skin of the face and neck to sag, diminishing your postoperative result.  Therefore, try to get close to your goal weight prior to your procedure.  I would suggest that you seek a consultation with a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in facial rejuvenation to assess your individual anatomy, concerns, and goals in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.  I hope this information is helpful.

Good question. You are correct by trying to lose weight prior to having a facelift performed. Weight loss of 30-40 pounds after facelift would result in some skin laxity, so it is best to achieve your weight loss goals before surgery. Best of luck!

Hello! Ideally you should be at a stable sustainable weight prior to facelifting. If you are actively in a weight loss program and seeing no results, perhaps a physician can assist or a personal trainer. Knowing one should lose weight and actively losing are two different things, however, and if the weight loss is simply desired but probably not going to be achieved soon then consider facelifting. As long as you understand you will have some loose skin with that kind of weight loss you can have a discussion with a surgeon who specializes in facial cosmetic surgery. Good luck!