Top Ten Signs To See If You’re An Ideal Candidate For A Rejuvenating Facelift

Aging is a natural and unavoidable part of life that you simply cannot escape, no matter how hard you try. Lasers, fillers, and neurotoxins may help you postpone the inevitable for a few years, but those volume boosters and line smoothers aren’t that effective. All the skincare routines and pricey lotions in the world won’t help you beat a fundamental symptom of aging – loose, sagging skin.

When we age, the skin starts to slacken as the muscle and fat underneath it begins breaking down. A turkey neck, drooping cheeks, and a sagging jawline are all symptoms of this process. Many people whose skin starts aging this way opt for surgical procedures such as facelifts to beat these signs. Facelifts are extremely popular in the US, with over 120,000 people opting for this procedure in 2018 alone.

If you’re looking for more information regarding facelifts, we highly recommend reaching out to a board-certified local plastic surgeon who can give you a definitive answer on whether your appearance can be enhanced for the better with this surgery. However, you can also watch out for the following indicators that will help you determine whether you’re the right candidate for this procedure. We spoke to three accomplished plastic surgeons to prepare this list of ten signs that can confirm you’re a viable candidate for a facelift procedure and 4 signs to find out whether you’re better off without it.

 

1. You are physically fit and healthy

People who lead active lifestyles without any smoking or unhealthy eating habits are great candidates for cosmetic surgery procedures. Being in top shape before a facelift ensures a quicker healing period and reduces the risk of suffering from post-surgical health complications. Active and healthy people can also enjoy the benefits of cosmetic procedures for much longer as a nutritious diet is known to lend a youthful appearance to the skin.

 

2. You no longer want to go for short-term treatments

Whether it’s injectable treatments like Juvéderm and Botox or prescription-grade anti-aging serums, you’ll find numerous nonsurgical procedures that claim to be capable of restoring and maintaining your skin’s youthful appearance. While you might have used them in the past and enjoyed their benefits, they all suffer from one glaring flaw – their effects are surprisingly short-term. The elasticity of the skin will continue to suffer as you age with short-term solutions becoming less and less effective. While facelift procedures won’t halt the body’s aging process completely, you’ll be fine for several years to come, instead of having to go back every couple of months, which can be a hassle.

 

3. There are deep creases near and around your lips

Factors like lifestyle choices and genetics mean that people age at different speeds. As a result, there’s no ‘ideal age’ that you have to wait until to get your facelift. People who are concerned about the signs of premature aging showing up on their faces can get a facelift ahead of time as a preemptive measure. While your wrinkles may be eliminated to some extent with injectable fillers, if the ‘marionette lines’ between your mouth’s lower corners and chin or nasolabial folds bracketing the mouth start getting more and more deeper, it’s time to go for a facelift to treat them effectively.

 

4. Your mid-face area has lost quite a bit of volume

Facelift procedures don’t just treat your wrinkles – they also restore a youthful appearance to the face by adding volume in hollow and sunken areas, such as your cheeks. Dr. Sheffield generally carries out this procedure by repositioning your fad pads and fixing various facial muscles, which have a tendency to slip back as you age. This restores a healthier and plump appearance to your cheeks.

 

5. The overall look of your neck and jawline bother you

Well-defined jawlines are synonymous with youth in most societies. As people get older, the dropping skin located along their neckline and underneath their chin may rapidly accelerate the aging process further. It’s a phenomenon that happens due to poor skin elasticity and gravity. You can resolve your turkey neck, jowls, and double chin issues with a simple facelift that will do away with sagging, drooping skin.

 

6. Your reflection bothers you

Does your reflection show you someone who seems much older than they truly are? Do you often feel like you’re physically turning into your parents? Although a facelift can’t make you look younger by 20-30 years, it certainly can make you look younger by 5-10 years. A facelift will keep you looking young and happy even as the years go by, thus making it worth your while.

 

7. You’re being passed over for opportunities in both your personal and professional life

Most people unconsciously judge the intellectual abilities and skills of a person based on their looks. Your work history and qualifications won’t help you if potential employers think that you’re looking too old to do your job well.  Your romantic life can suffer a hit due to poor looks as well. When people act differently around you solely due to your age, it can shatter your self-confidence. Many employers also have ageist biases against hiring older people, which can make it difficult for you to find a new job as you grow older.

 

8. You’re constantly sporting an angry or tired look

Are people scared of approaching you because of your permanent angry resting face? Lost facial volume and skin laxity can cause cheeks to seem sunken or flattened, giving rise to a scowling expression on your face. Such expressions may cause others to believe you’re upset or fatigued, even though you may be happy and well-rested on the inside. A good facelift procedure will revitalize your looks and transform you for the better.

 

9. You have enough time to spare for the recovery process

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you can get back to work in a couple of days after the procedure. Patients undergoing a full facelift procedure require 10 – 14 days to recover fully. They have to follow various postsurgical instructions and take rest to achieve optimal results. Most patients use this time for leisurely activities like reading books or bingeing their favorite shows – it’s a ‘staycation’ of sorts.

 

10. You’re emotionally prepared for a change in appearance

There are numerous factors that need to be considered before undergoing a procedure like a facelift. If you have any concerns regarding the procedure that are discouraging you from going ahead, prepare a comprehensive list of these questions and seek answers from a plastic surgeon. This will also help you go in without any unrealistic expectations. Skilled, experienced surgeons like Dr. Sheffield can perform facelift surgery procedures that give you a natural, smooth appearance without that pulled-back, ‘wind-tunnel appearance commonly seen in people who have undergone a facelift procedure. A successful and effective facelift procedure will rejuvenate your skin drastically, making it seem like you just came back from a peaceful holiday.