52 years old. Will I see a difference if I get a deep plain facelift? Also, would a lip lift look good as well? (Photos)

Question

Hi I'm 52 I've done minimal fillers, Botox, and a few other non invasive treatments. I was considering a facelift / neck lift . I was worried that maybe it's best to wait until you really need one. I hate to pay for a procedure and then I don't notice a difference. What are your thoughts about getting one before things get really bad. Obviously at 52 I have some laxity mostly a lil neck and nasal labial area. My jaw is still pretty good.

Kerem Sami Kaya, MD · Answer

Hello,
In fact, it is not possible to make a complete and accurate assessment based on this photograph alone. It would be necessary to evaluate you from different angles and with additional photographs in order to provide a more reliable opinion.
However, based on what I can see, the signs of facial aging do not appear to be particularly pronounced. It is also important to know where the filler treatments have been performed, as this can significantly affect the overall assessment. I also believe there may be filler in the lips, which can make it more difficult to accurately evaluate whether a lip lift procedure would be beneficial.
My recommendation would be to have a consultation with an experienced surgeon. Following a thorough examination and discussion of your goals, it would be possible to determine whether surgery is truly necessary and which treatment option, if any, would be most appropriate for you.
Kind regards,

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

It is difficult to say from one straight on photo. With face and neck lifting, you don't have to wait until it is heavy, but you have to have some visible sagging along the jawline and neck to make it worthwhile to go through. Otherwise, in the end, you won't see much difference. A lip lift is useful if the upper lip is long and covering the teeth when the mouth is slightly open. It can be done at the same time as a facelift. I would probably also do some fat grafting for you at the same time. Be sure to see a facial specialist for consultation.

Hayati Akbas, MD · Answer

When performed together with a facelift, a lip lift procedure can further enhance facial proportions and overall balance, creating a more youthful, attractive, and harmonious appearance.
The lips are one of the most important indicators of youthfulness, particularly in women. As we age, the distance between the nose and the upper lip tends to lengthen, and the visibility of the upper teeth decreases. This is a common sign of facial aging.
A lip lift shortens this distance, increases the visibility of the upper teeth, and enhances the fullness and definition of the upper lip. These changes contribute to a younger and more aesthetically pleasing appearance. When combined with a facelift, the two procedures complement each other beautifully, resulting in a more elegant, attractive, and rejuvenated facial appearance.

Muhsin Yilmaz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

At 52 with mild neck laxity and early nasolabial changes, you are actually at a favorable stage for a deep plane face and neck lift. Waiting until the changes become more pronounced does not necessarily improve the outcome &mdash; tissue that has descended further is more difficult to restore naturally, and the result can appear less balanced. Based on your photos, the laxity you describe is within the range where this procedure can produce a meaningful and natural improvement. The deep plane approach addresses not just skin but the underlying tissue layers, which allows for a longer-lasting result without a pulled or operated appearance. Regarding the lip lift &mdash; that is a separate question that depends on upper lip length and the relationship between the lip and the teeth. Photographs alone are not sufficient to assess that. An in-person evaluation is necessary to confirm candidacy and discuss which combination of procedures best suits your anatomy and goals.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

Waiting until it is bad has gone out of fashion. A deep plane lift now, in your early fifties with only mild laxity, is easier to operate on and ages more naturally than one done after everything has fallen, because the tissue lays back where it wants to go and there is less to overpull. You are not wrong to worry though. If there truly is not much slack to move, the result reads subtle, and you might get more out of good skin care and some energy tightening for now and save the lift for when there is actually something to lift.

Per your picture, your nasolabial folds are just starting and the jaw is still holding, like you said. A deep plane lift plus a neck lift goes right at those folds and the neck you mention. The neck I cannot call from a chin-down selfie, so send a good profile and a chin-up shot so I can judge what slack is really there.

A lip lift is about proportion, not volume. It only makes sense if your upper lip has gotten long. Send a straight-on photo at rest.

#StayBeautiful,

@RealDrWorldWide

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

You're a great candidate for facial fat grafting and a lip lift. Not ready for a face and neck lift based on this photo.

Mike Majmundar, MD · Answer

It’s really hard to tell from this photo since your hair covers much of your face and jawline and it seems you may be pouting your lips.  The best time to get a facelift is when you feel like your facial tissues are dropping causing folds around the mouth, loss of jawline definition, and loss of neckline definition.  If you’re starting to see this AND you are bothered by it, a facelift would definitely be a good idea. A deep plane facelift to address minor concerns may be overkill but it is an option as it does provide the most natural look and the best longevity and addresses all lower face concerns. You may want to consider a minifacelift or even a SMAS lift to give you the result that you want as it addresses your concerns with some adequate longevity.  Visit with a facelift surgeon to discuss all of these options.

Adam David Lowenstein, MD, FACS · Answer

At 52 with your background (minimal fillers, Botox, a few non-invasive treatments), you are actually in a very good position for a facelift. Here is why: you have not spent years adding volume and filler to compensate for structural descent, which means your underlying anatomy is likely still fairly predictable. Patients like you tend to get some of the most natural-looking results.

Whether you will see a meaningful difference depends on what is actually happening structurally. At 52, the most common changes driving visible aging are descent of the midface (which flattens the cheeks, deepens the nasolabial folds, and starts to affect the lower eyelid area), SMAS laxity in the lower face (which creates jowling and softens the jawline), and early to moderate neck changes. A well-executed facelift addresses all of these at the structural level rather than just tightening the surface.

In my practice, the sub-periosteal midface elevation is often the component that surprises patients most. People focus on the jowls and neck because those are obvious, but restoring the midface vertically -- lifting it back off the bone to where it sat in youth -- changes the whole character of the face. The lower eyelid shortens, the nasolabial fold improves, and the cheek regains its natural convexity. Combined with appropriate SMAS correction tailored to your anatomy, the result looks like you, just noticeably younger.

Regarding a lip lift: that is a separate, relatively simple procedure that can be done at the same time. The key question is whether your upper lip has lengthened over time and whether there is tooth show at rest. If the proportions call for it, combining it with a facelift is very efficient from a recovery standpoint.

Worth doing an in-person evaluation to assess your specific anatomy before committing to a plan.

Adam Lowenstein, MD
Montecito Plastic Surgery, Santa Barbara, CA

52 years old. Will I see a difference if I get a deep plain facelift? Also, would a lip lift look good as well? (Photos)

Answers (8)

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