Facelift: Everything You Need To Know In 5 Questions

If you are considering cosmetic surgery to reduce the signs of aging on your face, be aware that facelift techniques have greatly evolved and now offer a more natural result. We propose to help you understand everything about facelifts in 5 questions.

1- What is the best age for a facelift?

People who wish to reduce the signs of aging with a facelift often wonder at what age they should plan this cosmetic surgery.

Although there is no ideal age for the first facelift, it is possible to consider this operation between 40 and 50 years old.

However, if you are over 60 years old and in good health, it is not too late to undergo this cosmetic surgery and erase the visible signs of aging on your face. After the procedure, some patients look 10 to 15 years younger and appear more rested.

2. What are the different types of facelifts?

Facelift surgery is the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery operation in France after liposuction, rhinoplasty, and breast surgery. It involves lifting and tightening the skin and then removing the excess skin to give the face a more youthful appearance.

Even though the principle of this procedure remains the same, there are different types of facelifts for the face. During your first consultation, the plastic surgeon can offer you different techniques to correct the sagging of your features.

Depending on the area targeted during the procedure, plastic surgeons distinguish:
• The temporo-frontal facelift which concerns the forehead and temples. It rejuvenates the upper part of the face by softening frown lines and crow's feet.

• The malar facelift which concerns the central part of the face. With this technique, the result is particularly visible around the lower eyelids, tear troughs, and cheekbones. The procedure lifts sagging cheekbones and smooths out the nasolabial fold.

• The cervico-facial facelift which concerns the entire face and neck. This surgical intervention aims to redefine the facial contour and tighten the neck skin. It eliminates two signs of aging: jowls and neck bands.

• The mini facelift which is a good alternative to the cervico-facial facelift. This procedure is possible when the skin laxity on the face and neck is moderate, without the presence of jowls.

If you do not know which type of facelift to choose, rely on the expert advice of an experienced surgeon. Dr. Franck Benhamou, who practices in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is a specialist in facelift surgery. With his expertise in this field, he offers each patient a personalized treatment. It is indeed very important that the procedure be adapted to the patient's morphology, on a case-by-case basis, for the postoperative result to remain natural.

3- Will the facelift result look natural?

The question of the result is another legitimate concern when considering a facelift to rejuvenate one's appearance. Many patients wonder if this cosmetic surgery will be noticeable. They express the fear that the outcome of the procedure might not look natural and that their face may appear "frozen" or "redone."

When this cosmetic surgery technique was first invented, it simply involved pulling the skin back, which gave the face an artificial look. Today, cosmetic surgeons tailor the type of facelift and the techniques used to each individual's morphology, resulting in a much more natural outcome.

Nowadays, the goal of this procedure is no longer just to tighten the skin but rather to restore the volumes of the face. You should be able to recognize yourself and not shock those around you. The result will certainly be noticeable, but in a good way. Your close ones will likely tell you that you look well without suspecting a surgical intervention.

It should also be noted that the operation does not leave visible marks on the face because the scars from the facelift are skillfully hidden within the scalp, around the ears, and in the natural folds of the skin.

4- What are the risks of a facelift?

As with any surgical procedure, a facelift carries risks related to anesthesia and the surgical act itself.

The main risks associated with this cosmetic surgery are:
• a hematoma that needs to be evacuated.
• an infection.
• a healing problem.
• a hypertrophic scar.

To minimize these various risks as much as possible, it is essential to consult a qualified plastic surgeon. In any case, two consultations with the surgeon are necessary before undergoing surgery, as well as a consultation with an anesthesiologist.

Note: If you are a smoker, it is also recommended to stop smoking at least one month before the procedure and not to resume smoking until one month after the surgery.

5- How does a facelift evolve?

On average, a facelift allows one to look ten years younger. Right after the procedure, the result improves over the first six months. The neck and face lift becomes more beautiful and natural.

However, this procedure does not slow down skin aging. As the skin continues to age and evolve, the result of this cosmetic surgery lasts for about ten years. It is completely normal for the result to deteriorate over the 10 to 15 years following the procedure.