Does a Facelift Last Forever?
Having a facelift is a big decision, but it can pay off in a big way, too. Facelift surgery restores the more youthful contours of your face, addressing sagging, wrinkles, lines, and volume loss, all in a single surgery. The results can be even more dramatic when combined with a neck lift.
Before investing in a facelift, many patients wonder what to expect in the months and years afterward. Specifically, many patients wonder about the longevity of their results — whether their facelift will last for the rest of their lives.
As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever — and that includes facelifts. However, facelift surgery does “turn back the clock” on facial aging, and with the right technique and aftercare, you can enjoy your results for a long, long time.
At Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, Soheila Rostami, MD, FAAO, FAACS, uses the most advanced facelift techniques coupled with an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy to achieve personalized, beautiful results. In this post, learn more about facelift results, including how to prolong your outcome.
Aging after a facelift
While a facelift can restore more youthful contours, it doesn’t stop the underlying aging process. Over time, your face will continue to age, which means you can expect to see some signs of aging, like wrinkles and lines due to natural volume loss and good, old gravity.
In addition to the natural aging process, your genetics play a role in facial aging, too. So do your environment and lifestyle, including poor diet, chronic stress, smoking, and sun exposure.
The good news is, of course, because a facelift leaves you with a more youthful-looking face, those age-related changes take longer to appear, and they’ll appear more gradually as you get older. And by choosing the right surgeon and following a little aftercare advice, you can make those results last even longer.
Technique matters
If you’re thinking about having a facelift, choosing a surgeon is one of the most important decisions you can make to get the desired results. Like any surgery, facelift surgery requires mastery of techniques and, in today’s world, technology used during the surgery and even during the planning stage.
In addition to surgical expertise, your surgeon needs to understand facial anatomy — not just how a face is shaped, but how your unique facial structure will respond to facelift surgery. This type of understanding helps the surgeon plan your surgery for optimal results.
Finally, an experienced and skilled facelift surgeon needs to understand the artistic aspect of facelift surgery in addition to its scientific requirements. This unique combination of surgical expertise and facial artistry ensures you get beautiful, natural, and long-lasting results.
Extending your results: Touch-ups and lifestyle tips
In the years following a facelift, it’s important to do all you can to keep your skin healthy. Maintaining skin health reduces the signs of aging, so your facelift results last longer.
In general, it’s important to:
- Eat a healthy diet, avoiding sugars and processed foods
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
- Limit or avoid direct sun exposure
- Use sunscreen every day
- Follow a skincare routine optimized for your skin
- Practice stress management
Regular visits with Dr. Rostami can help you design a skincare regimen you can stick with.
In addition to these simple lifestyle tips, many people decide to maintain their facelift results with minimally invasive treatments. For instance, Botox® and dermal fillers help reduce or eliminate lines and wrinkles as they appear, while facials maintain overall skin health and promote skin turnover and regeneration.
Learn more about facelift surgery
Facelift surgery offers amazing results for both women and men and with just a little special care, you can ensure your results last as long as possible. To learn more about facelifts and other facial rejuvenation procedures at our practice, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Sanctuary Cosmetic Center today.