Here is a question you may have asked yourself in the past: how many facelifts can you have?
If you are interested in prejuvenation and rejuvenation, this is an important question to ask. You have a goal to look young and vibrant and know that facelifts can help you with that. At the same time, you want to avoid looking like Joan Rivers.
So, is it safe to get multiple facelifts over the course of your lifetime? Or is there a better alternative?
Don’t Focus on a Number
There is no set number for how many facelifts a person can have without compromising their health or looking like a cheap Halloween face mask. This is because it is less about how many procedures you have and more about their quality and whether or not you select the right ones for you.
Quality facelift results depend on your skin, facial structure and natural volume. As you lose elasticity and volume, facelifts are less effective.
To give this some context, imagine a person who got their first facelift at 55. About a decade later, they notice some significant sagging skin and wrinkles again and decide to get a second procedure, opting for a mini facelift. A decade after that, they notice that their neck and jowls are starting to wrinkle and sag. Is it time for a third facelift?
Not necessarily. If the skin on the face overall is still looking great, a neck lift might be the better choice. However, it is also important to consider the overall state of the skin and whether or not it is still suited to a facelift. Facelifts are most effective when the skin is loosening but there is still plenty of elasticity and the body is producing adequate collagen. Once this window passes, facelifts are unlikely to deliver the results you seek, no matter how well you plan them.
Thinking Beyond Facelifts
Skin elasticity and collagen production are central to not only quality facelift results, but also to looking youthful in general. As such, people should consider facelift alternatives or using other treatments in conjunction with plastic surgery to maximize results. There are many different med spa treatments that are specifically designed to stimulate collagen and elastin production, allowing your body to naturally improve the condition of your skin.
Another contributing factor to signs of aging is loss of facial volume. Facial fat is lost as we age, and bone can also be reabsorbed, leaving the face with a hollowed-out appearance. Replacing this lost volume with injectable fillers can help to restore your facial features to a more youthful appearance.
Both of these options can be combined with a facelift to help prevent the skin from looking too tight or hollow.
To summarize, focus less on how many facelifts you can have in your lifetime and more on selecting the best procedure or combination of procedures for your needs at every age. Working with a quality board-certified facial plastic surgeon helps to ensure you get the guidance you need as you work towards perfecting your appearance in every decade of life.
Serving Davidson County since 1996, Plastic Surgeon Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS, is fully committed to excellence in cosmetic surgery. At Green Hills Plastic Surgery, Dr. Davis specializes in breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks, facial surgery, Botox and dermal Fillers in Nashville, and much more.
