How Young is Too Young for a Face Lift?

Face lifts (also known as Rhytidectomy) have long been a popular plastic surgery for people aged 60 and up who want to make their faces youthfully firm and smooth once more. In recent years, however, younger and younger age groups are increasingly opting for face lifts too.

While a face lift can certainly be transformative, it’s important to understand your needs and options, as well as a few key factors affecting optimal timing, before undergoing this popular procedure.

So, if you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and pondering a possible face lift, here are a few key facts and factors to consider…

Who’s Getting Face Lifts These Days?

Every year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes a roundup of the previous year’s surgical statistics from plastic surgeons across the United States. Here are some of the key findings from the 2023 Procedural Statistics Release regarding face lifts:

• Between 2022 and 2023, the total number of face lifts reported went up 8% — a much greater increase than the previous year. 
• “Elder Gen X and Boomers” still account for the majority (58.9%) of face and neck lifts.
• Even though patients ages 30-39 underwent only 2% of facelifts in 2023, overall face lifts among those aged 20-29 and 30-39 went up 7% from the previous year.
• Patients ages 40-54 made up 18% of all face lifts, a 3% increase year-over-year. 

Factors Affecting the Right Time for a Face Lift

Even while statistics show the growing popularity of face lifts among younger individuals (30s-50s), it’s still important to evaluate whether this procedure is a good fit for your unique body right now.  

Considering these factors may help:

Safety

Before undergoing any major surgery, it’s important to understand your overall health. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) and your plastic surgeon about whether you have any specific risk factors or conditions affecting the safety of having surgery right now. 

Ask yourself, are there certain health goals I need to achieve before doing this (i.e., quit smoking, achieve a stable weight, stop certain medications, etc.)? Plus, do I have the time and resources to support adequate recovery and healing? Your answers to these questions may help provide clarity about whether it’s the right time. 

Skin Elasticity

Everyone’s skin’s elasticity — its ability to stretch and then return to its previous state — deteriorates with age. This is especially apparent when we begin to lose facial volume (another natural effect of aging), and rather than contracting in kind, our skin now looks loose and saggy in places where our faces were once full and smooth. 

However, if your skin is still relatively elastic and you’re not seeing much drooping, sagging, or creasing yet, it may be too early for a face lift. While a face lift is a long-term anti-aging solution, it is not permanent. (The average effectiveness is about 10 years.) So, think about where you’ll be in 10 years. Do you want to have a secondary procedure at that point? Or would you rather wait and plan to have the procedure only once in your lifetime?

By the way, did you know? (A note about skin laxity)

It’s important to remember that some laxity (aka looseness) is normal and necessary to give us freedom of movement (i.e. around our necks and torsos). While laxity does increase with age, if it’s relatively minimal, it may not be worth undergoing major surgery for a relatively small change — especially because surgery cannot prevent future loosening. 

Expert Input

There is no perfect or “magic” age for a face lift — and in some regards, your unique anatomy is more important than age. That’s one reason it’s crucial to consult with a trusted plastic surgeon, who can evaluate your overall health, consider your specific goals, and assess your face and skin. Then together you can identify the best timing for you. 

Alternatives to Face Lifts for Younger Patients

If you decide it’s too soon for a face lift, you still have many great (and typically less-invasive) options for slowing aging’s effects and promoting self-confidence. For starters, everyone can benefit from a high-quality skincare routine and a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Nourishing your body and your skin supports aging with beauty. 

Plus, depending on your unique face and skin, you might benefit from: 

• Injectable fillers or micro-fat grafting to restore lost volume and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Chemical peels to help smooth your skin’s surface and eliminate blemishes
• Skin resurfacing or dermabrasion to restore softer, more radiant skin
• Microneedling to boost collagen production and restore elasticity

For patients seeing early signs of skin laxity, non-invasive treatments like Ellacor may offer subtle skin-tightening effects with minimal downtime. While not a replacement for surgery, these options can help delay the need for more invasive procedures. Dr. Lucas is currently exploring this treatment and happy to answer questions about it during a consultation. 

Choose a Solution to Fit You Now

Whether it’s a face lift or not, our team at The Lucas Center would love to help you find the procedure or treatment to best serve you. When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Jay Lucas, he will work with you to determine the right approach for your health, skin, and goals. Then, with a customized plan to achieve the results you want, you’ll be on your way to real, lasting confidence, no matter your age! Give us a call today at (865) 217-0572 or schedule your consultation to get started.