Is it harder to get a good result over age 60 when you have a facelift? They seem to be more effective on younger people

There is some evidence that a facelift procedure will look better and last longer on a younger patient  But don't dismay. More important than your chronological age is your physiologic age, which is determined by your health, genetics and lifestyle. Many patients over the age of 60 are perfect candidates for facial rejuvenation especially when measures are taken to compensate for age-related changes in bone, fat and skin elasticity. Seek a surgeon with experience and expertise in facial rejuvenation that also understands the biology of aging.

A properly performed facelift should produce good results regardless of the age of the patient.  That assumes that the patient is properly selected and has reasonable expectations.  Skin quality as well as general health play a big part in the outcome.  Modern facelifts can produce very natural and long-lasting results at any age.

In my experience, age 60 is the most common time people come in for a facelift. A facelift will typically provide a reduction in apparent age of 7-10 years. This is if the facelift is done properly by tightening the facia system under the skin, and tightening the neck muscles. A skin-only facelift will provide short lived results.Patients with a history of smoking, those with thin inelastic skin, or people who lose a significant amount of weight after their facelift may see less longevity of their result.The facelift operation, in the right patient, done properly, is a very satisfying operation for the patient with lasting results.I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson G. Richards, MD

Thank you for your question.  It is understandable that you may see some facelifts that over pulled or are over tight skin.  Nevertheless, a modern well done facelift actually involves repositioning the tissue under the surface to a previous position.  Therefore, this means lifting the lateral cheek and tightening the neck in a more oblique direction.  This allows for the tissue under the surface to be back where it was a few years ago and the skin re-drapes very naturally and nit in a tight over pulled manner.  This is the basic essence of a modern facelift.

You are at a perfect age for a facelift and it is not harder to get a good result.  Aslong you’re healthy and have realistic expectations, facelift is a great optionfor your aging face. I recommend local anesthesia and twilight sedation insteadof general anesthesia. I have performed well over 2,500 facelifts under localanesthesia with oral sedation for the past ten years. Without doubt it is safeand well tolerated by patients. Compare to the traditional facelift proceduresthat are performed under general anesthesia, the post operative complicationsassociated with local anesthesia cases are lower and risk of bleeding isminimized.

The desire
and age of facial rejuvenation is not determined
so much by your age, but your genetics and health. Facial rejuvenation is commonly
done in patients over the age of 60. You will have excellent results if done in the hands of a Board Certified Plastic
Surgeon with expertise in facial rejuvenation and one who understands the
science of aging.

Everyone ages differently, so when looking at facelift candidates and assessing their potential facelift results, I focus less on the age of the patient and more on how the patient's face has aged. Good candidates for a facelift include those who are experiencing sagging skin on the face or jawline, volume loss, deep lines or creases, or creases and folds on the neck. However, with age the elasticity of skin reduces, which may limit the best outcomes, but overall you can still expect very good results.

You should consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon who has expertise in facelift procedures so he can examine your face and give you a more detailed answer as to what sort of results you can expect from surgery. An experienced facial plastic surgeon should be able to provide you with significant improvements. Additionally, it is important to take care of your skin and face after your facelift to slow the future signs of aging down. After surgery your face will start the aging process again, so if you take care of your skin with a good skin care routine and daily sunscreen, you can slow down the process.

Older patients have poorer skin elasticity which can affect the long term result.  However, that being said, being older does not prevent you from having a facelift or getting a great results.  You are right, however, that younger patient get better results easier because their younger skin is more elastic

Over age 60 is one of the most common age groups for a facelift and the majority will get excellent results. Each person's requirements are different as well as results. The most important factor is selecting the best plastic surgeon for this procedure

Aging affects people at different rates depending on their genetics, diet, and other factors. If you have drooping cheeks, jowls, a loose neck, or other severe problems, a facelift may be a good option for you regardless of your chronological age.Good candidates for a facelift include anyone who is experiencing sagging skin on the face and jawline, deep creases around the nose and mouth, jowls, a double chin, or creases and folds on the neck. Ideally, candidates will enter the process with realistic ideas and will expect that the result will not be a new face but rather a return to their own younger face.