56, very fit and healthy - Am I a facelift candidate? (Photos)

Question

I am 56, 5'6 & 114lb. Very fit and I eat healthy. I feel very young on the inside and just want my outside to match! Am I good candidate for a facelift and how much would that cost?

Don W. Griffin, MD · Answer

Based on your photos, you have signs of facial aging including skin laxity, loss of upper cheek volume, and neck laxity which would all benefit from face and neck lift surgery. Small volume fat grafting done at the same time, would help restore the volume loss in your cheeks. This is an excellent addition that I incorporate in a lot of my facelifts as most women, and men, lose volume in their fat pads as they age. Done appropriately, it can restore lost volume without changing your overall facial shape. The goal is restoration, not overinflation. It is difficult to assess your eyelids in the photos presented, but you would also benefit from a brow lift to slightly elevate your brows and open up your eyes. 
Additionally, I would recommend starting you on a medical grade skin care regimen including a retinol, an antioxidant and a pigment suppression cream to improve your skin quality and pigmentation prior to surgery. Lastly, the to improve the texture and pigmentary changes in your skin, a series of fractional resurfacing lasers like Halo Hybrid Laser, would be instrumental in helping you achieve the best overall facial rejuvenation addressing not only the skin laxity, but also the skin quality, brightness and skin integrity.

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

Based on your photos, you appear to be in very good condition and a strong candidate for facial rejuvenation surgery. Your fit lifestyle and overall health are definite advantages and typically contribute to better healing and outcomes.
At your age, the most natural and long-lasting results are usually achieved with a deep plane facelift combined with a neck lift, as these techniques reposition the deeper tissues rather than just tightening the skin. This helps create a more natural, refreshed appearance rather than an operated look.
In addition, I would recommend fat grafting to restore volume in areas where age-related loss has occurred, which further enhances a youthful and balanced result.
This is the approach I commonly use in my practice, and when properly planned, it can provide very natural, elegant outcomes. A more precise treatment plan and cost can be determined after a detailed evaluation.

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

In my opinion, you may be in the age and health range where a facelift or lower face and neck lift can be considered, especially if your main concerns are jawline, lower face, or neck looseness. Photos are helpful, but candidacy depends on an in-person exam of skin quality, facial anatomy, medical history, medications, smoking status, and your exact goals.
If laxity is mild, I would discuss whether non-surgical treatments may help skin quality, but they will not reposition deeper facial tissues the way surgery can. Cost varies widely by surgeon, region, anesthesia, facility fees, and whether a neck lift, fat grafting, eyelid surgery, or laser resurfacing is combined. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon is the best way to confirm the safest plan and get an accurate quote.

Vikram Mookerjee, MD · Answer

Determining whether you are a good facelift candidate first starts with fully understanding your goals! However, since you mention that you feel young on the inside, but don't feel like the outside matches, I am assuming that one of your main goals is to look refreshed and somewhat younger, but still like yourself. 
A consultation with a facial rejuvenation expert would start with a broader conversation about facial rejuvenation, covering the spectrum of treatments available. They should discuss options ranging from least invasive to most invasive, as well as nonsurgical and surgical. Although you may be primarily interested in a facelift, it is still useful to understand what your other options are, since a facelift is a major surgery with a real recovery. That way, you can tailor your treatment plan to your goals as well as the anticipated recovery.
Some nonsurgical treatment options include: neuromodulators such as botox to diminish the appearance of dynamic wrinkles; fillers to restore volume in areas of volume loss; skin resurfacing such as chemical peels or lasers to improve the skin texture and tone. There are also many surgical treatment options such as facial fat transfer, face and neck lift, and periorbital surgery such as eyelid surgery and brow lifting. 
To summarize, based on your photos as well as your stated goals, I do believe you are a candidate for a facelift, but it's vital that you are also presented the alternative treatment options. That way you can make a fully informed decision. 
The price of a facelift varies significantly by surgeon, as well as if it's combined with other procedures such as fat grafting or facial lasers. However, there are many surgeons who offer reasonable and affordable pricing! Hope this helps, and good luck on your journey!

Javier Parada, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your details.At 56 years old, 5’6” and 114 lbs, very fit and in good health, you are generally considered a very good candidate for a facelift, especially if you are noticing sagging in the lower face and loss of jawline definition. Good overall health, stable weight, and realistic expectations are key factors for success.In your case, a facelift (often combined with a neck lift) can effectively:Improve jowls and jawline definitionTighten loose skin in the lower face and neckRestore a more youthful, rested contour while still looking naturalRegarding cost, it varies depending on technique, but in Mexico it typically ranges from approximately $7,500 to $10,000 USD for most facelift procedures, with deep plane facelifts at the higher end.My honest advice: you are in an ideal category for surgery&mdash;healthy, lean, and motivated. The best results usually come from a natural, conservative approach focused on restoring your jawline and neck rather than changing your face.

Pasha Mostofi, MD, DMD · Answer

Hi there. You sound like exactly the kind of person who often does very well with a facelift - healthy, fit, and wanting your outer appearance to better reflect how youthful you feel. Based on your photos, I can see some natural age-related changes like mild sagging along the jawline, some looseness in the neck, and softening around the cheeks. These are all areas a well-done facelift is specifically designed to improve in a natural, refreshed way rather than making you look “tight” or overdone.
Being slim and healthy actually works in your favor, because your skin quality and healing ability tend to be better, and the results can look more refined. The goal wouldn’t be to change how you look, but to restore the definition you likely had years ago, especially along the jawline and neck.
As for cost, it varies quite a bit depending on your location and the surgeon’s experience, but most patients in the U.S. can expect somewhere in the range of about $15,000 to $30,000 for a facelift. That usually includes surgeon fees, anesthesia, and facility costs. Sometimes, small add-ons like eyelid surgery or skin treatments are recommended to get a more balanced result, which can affect pricing.
The most important next step is an in-person consultation with a qualified surgeon. They can assess your skin, facial structure, and goals in detail and recommend whether a full facelift, a smaller “mini” lift, or even a combination approach would suit you best.
Overall, from what you’ve shared, you seem like a strong candidate, and with the right surgeon, you can expect a natural, refreshed version of yourself rather than a dramatic change.

Natalia Vidal Laureano, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question!

Based on your concerns, you appear to be an excellent candidate for a facelift—congratulations on taking the time to explore your options. A facelift is designed to refresh the mid-face, lower face, and neck. It works by gently lifting and repositioning the deeper tissues of the face, which can restore natural volume to the cheeks, soften the appearance of jowls along the jawline, and tighten loose skin in the neck area.

The goal is a smoother, more youthful contour while still looking like yourself. In addition, I would recommend considering fat grafting. This involves using your own natural fat to restore volume in areas like the temples and around the eyes, which can further enhance a youthful, refreshed appearance.

I hope this helps clarify things for you! Wishing you the best as you continue your journey.

George Marosan, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photos. Based on what I see, you have good underlying bone structure but show significant soft tissue descent and volume loss in the mid-face and temples.
You appear to be an excellent candidate for a deep plane facelift to address sagging, combined with fat grafting for volumization and a lip lift for a more rejuvenated appearance. My practice specializes in this combination to create a natural, refreshed look.
I highly recommend a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your tissues in person. Best of luck!

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a facelift.  You have excess skin that would benefit from this surgery.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry and sharing of photographs.

To understand what the face-lift surgery is likely to achieve for you, I advise you to examine the appearance of your face in a mirror when you lie down completely flat. It has a strong correlation with the impact of the surgery and will give you a lot of the answers that you seek when deciding whether facelift is a good option for you. 
In the same position, you will notice also a slightly higher position of the eyebrows. In general, when the facial fat tissue is very limited and the face-lift uses a vertical vector for the changes, it generates some excess skin in the temporal areas. This is resolved relatively well by the brow lift procedure, which on its own has also some additional impact on the shape around the eyes

Costs vary greatly between areas and practitioners, so it is better to inquire directly with the surgeon or surgeons that you feel more comfortable with.

56, very fit and healthy - Am I a facelift candidate? (Photos)

Answers (11)

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