How long will the results of a facelift last?

Charlotte, Lake Norman, Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville facelift

Nonsurgical procedures like laser skin resurfacing and intense pulsed light (IPL) are effective methods for facial rejuvenation, and many of our patients are interested in these procedures. However, for those who want the most dramatic results possible, a surgical facelift is the most likely way to meet their goals. During a facelift, Dr. Miles removes excess sagging skin and other tissues, and repositions the remaining tissues to create a more youthful appearance.

While many people are looking for the great results that a facelift can offer, it does also represent a significant commitment. It’s common to wonder how long the results of a facelift will last. Will the results be permanent, or will they fade over time? Will you always look young after a facelift?

Facelift results last for about ten years

The commonly accepted wisdom among plastic surgeons is that facelift results will last for up to ten years. The available scientific research backs this up. As we age, our skin also continues to age and lose elasticity. For this reason, some people choose to have a second facelift later in their lives. On average, they choose to have the second procedure about ten years after their first. Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean that their results had completely faded. They may just have experienced enough additional aging that they wanted to get rejuvenated again.

In fact, there was a very interesting study that used a standardized and validated scoring system to evaluate patients after a facelift. Five and a half years after their procedure, they looked younger than they had looked before the procedure – even though they’d actually aged by another five years or so and would have looked that much older if they hadn’t had a facelift. Instead, they looked younger.

A facelift doesn’t last forever

Of course, it’s important to understand that nothing, including a facelift, can stop the aging process. After you have your facelift, you’ll still continue to age. You can take actions that slow down the aging process (like limiting sun exposure, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking), but it can never be stopped completely. This is still true after you have a facelift.

However, because a facelift reverses some of the visible signs of aging, you will continue to look younger than you would have looked if you hadn’t had the procedure. Even if you never choose to have facial rejuvenation again, there will still be some effects of “turning back the clock.” Although the clock will keep ticking, it will still be behind where it would have been without the facelift.

Repeat facelifts are certainly possible, and are considered to be a safe procedure, with no additional risks compared with the first facelift. Once they see what the results of a facelift are like, some patients want to have another one later in life, usually in about ten years. This is an option if you choose, but having just one facelift will still have an impact on your appearance, even years later.

Charlotte, Lake Norman, Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville facelift

If you’re in the greater Charlotte area and you’re considering facial rejuvenation, we invite you to come in for a consultation. Dr. Miles will be happy to talk you through both your surgical and nonsurgical options, and make recommendations about what would be most likely to get the results you’re looking for. As a double-boarded plastic surgeon, he has the surgical skills to get great results for his patients, and he loves to see the smiles on his patients’ faces when they come in for their follow-up appointments after a facelift. To schedule your appointment, please contact our office.