56, female, how long does a facelift last & how can I improve it's longevity?

I counsel my facelift patients that the results will last around 10-12 years. Think of a facelift as "setting the clock back." The goal is to make you look refreshed and more youthful--and still like yourself. After facelift surgery, you will continue to age, and I recommend maintaining a very good skin care regimen including medical grade products and regular laser more microneedling treatments.

This is such a great question with so much to unpack. In terms of length, it depends where you started, your biology, your surgeon's technique and how you define an ongoing result. Its important to understand that while facial rejuvenation, which includes a facelift, turns back the clock, it doesn't stop it. With the right technique, it may slow it down, but the clock keeps ticking.
As for whether its the right time for you, thats a personal decision and should be made together with both those whom you love and your surgeon, but certainly people benefit from facelifts even before they are 56, as early as in their mid to late 40's.
As for longevity, skin care will be critical, including sun protection, not smoking and other maintenance treatments you can discuss with your surgeon!

Your question about the longevity of a facelift is indeed a common and important one. As you consider this procedure, it's natural to wonder about the right timing and how to maintain your results post-surgery.

Generally, a well-performed facelift can last anywhere between 10 to 20 years. However, it's important to remember that individual experiences vary. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and skin care play a significant role in the aging process and, consequently, how long the results of a facelift will hold.

At 56, you are at a prime age for a facelift. Most women have gone through menopausal changes by this age, which can affect skin quality and facial structure. Yet, typically, the skin still retains enough elasticity to heal well and adapt to the changes a facelift provides. This makes it an opportune time to consider the procedure, as it can significantly rejuvenate your appearance while working with the natural aging process.

In terms of maintaining and improving the longevity of your facelift results, I advocate for a comprehensive approach. Aftercare is crucial, and in my practice, we emphasize the importance of proper maintenance therapies post facelift. This includes a diligent skincare regimen tailored to your skin's needs, regular treatments like BroadBand Light (BBL) therapy, and laser treatments. These non-surgical procedures complement the facelift by improving skin texture, tone, and quality, thus prolonging the youthful appearance achieved by the surgery.

I encourage you to discuss these aspects in detail with your surgeon during your consultations. Understanding the procedure, what to expect, and how to care for your skin afterward will empower you to make informed decisions and enjoy your results for as long as possible.

Wishing you the best in your journey towards rejuvenation!

56 is a great age to start thinking about facial rejuvenation procedures, in large part because it will not be such a drastic change that will draw attention. Before proceeding with a facelift you must be taking care of your skin and regular visits with a medical esthetician for facials, and maintenance lasers if you are a candidate, and at an optimal weight. Selecting a surgeon who avoids over pulling and focuses on natural results is important. You may also want to consider Co2 Laser Resurfacing depending on your skin type to help with overall skin quality, texture, wrinkles, and fine lines

Thank you for your question. 56 is within an appropriate age-range to consider a facelift. Whether it will benefit you is determined by a discussion and physical examination by the surgeon. I typically tell patients that a facelift will refresh and rejuvenate you by at least ten years. The results will of course permanently "set back the clock," however, you may notice skin changes in 10-15 years after your facelift depending on genetics and lifestyle. You can improve the longevity by avoiding UV exposure, nicotine, excessive use of drugs and/or alcohol, stress, or significant weight fluctuations. You can also support a facelift's longevity with nonsurgical treatments such as neurotoxins, laser treatments, and chemical peels. Best of luck to you.

Things that a patient can do to enhance longevity include maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a stable weight, good diet, lots of exercise, balanced stress management, and a healthy sleep cycle. The timing of a Facelift must begin with the presence of indications and a desire to address these aging changes, but then shifts to the patient's personal preference. A well performed facelift should last for at least 10 years, but this is a very subjective measurement based on patient satisfaction and tolerance of aging changes. A patient's inherent genetic makeup is also a huge factor in determining timing and affecting longevity.

While we usually say that a facelift "sets back the clock" by 10-15 years, it depends on the condition of the skin and other things, Skin sags because it lacks adequate collagen and elastin, doesn't retain moisture, and all of the other things that contribute to aging. At 56 you are at a great age to do it because your skin will be less youthful when you are older and so the results will not hold up as well. Good skin care with medical grade products, along with maintenance treatments such as ultherapy or microneedling will help.

A facelift should last ten years or more. Protecting your skin from sun exposure is very important as sun will age your skin more than just about anything else

The longevity of facelift results can vary significantly based on individual factors such as skin type, genetics, lifestyle, and the specific techniques used by the surgeon.
Generally, a facelift can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, but many patients continue to see improvement in their facial appearance even beyond this time frame.
As for whether it's the right time for you, that decision is very personal. Contrary to what was previously common, (performing a facelift after the age of 60), we currently operate on younger patients, achieving more satisfactory results because the quality of the skin and tissues is better.
To maintain and potentially improve the longevity of your facelift results, consider the following steps:Sun Protection: Always use sunscreen and avoid excessive sun exposure to protect your skin.Skincare Routine: Invest in a good skincare regimen that includes moisturizers, antioxidants, and possibly retinoids to promote skin health.Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a balanced diet, stay hydrated, avoid smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.

In general, the ages between 45-60 are the best time to undertake facial aesthetic procedures since health is usually in general good and skin has excellent healing. Skin hydration, good diet, antiaging products and not smoking can significantly help your maintenance of long term results.