The Best Age for a Facelift: When to Consider This Rejuvenating Procedure

It’s funny how we use the word aging when we become adults, and our faces start to wrinkle, and our joints get a little creaky. The reality is that the aging clock starts running from the moment you’re born, perhaps even at conception. And this clock varies from person to person in terms of the outward signs of aging.

So, when people want to know the right age for a facelift, our belief is that it depends entirely upon each person’s unique circumstances and goals.

At Jonathan Zelken, MD, in Orange County, Dr. Zelken and our team focus on facelifts. Over the years, we’ve performed scores of these procedures for clients in almost every age group.

So, if you’re wondering at what age you should consider this popular procedure — about 340,000 facial surgeries, including facelifts, are performed yearly in the United States — read on.

Aging is different for everyone

When people ask us about the right age for a facelift, we first point out that everyone ages differently. No two people follow the same timeline when it comes to aging, and many factors can influence the signs of aging on the outside, such as:

Genetics and race

Your family tree and background have the biggest influence on how your skin ages. For example, darker skin tones have denser collagen, so people of color tend to develop wrinkles much later than people with fair skin.

You can also look to your parents for clues about how your skin ages, as genetics plays as important a role as your ethnic background.

Exposure and environment

The second most significant factors are exposure and environment. Here in Southern California, we enjoy abundant sunshine that can lead to premature aging as the sun’s ultraviolet rays break down collagen fibers faster. In fact, UV exposure may account for up to 80% of visible signs of aging.

When we talk about the environment as an aging factor, we’re referencing the toxins that fill the air, such as car exhaust, which can further break down skin.

Other factors to plug into the aging skin equation include habits like smoking and your skincare routine over the years.

The right age for your facelift

We hope we’ve illustrated why there’s no such thing as an ideal age for a facelift—that number is unique to you. From our point of view, as long as you’re a healthy, consenting adult, you’re a candidate for a facelift.

Dr. Zelken sits down with each patient to discuss their goals. During this consultation, Dr. Zelken examines your skin and your anatomy to determine the best way to achieve your cosmetic wishes, and it may not even include a facelift.

Our point is that Dr. Zelken doesn’t believe that there’s one solution that works across the board. A true artist, Dr. Zelken takes the time to figure out which treatments or procedures will bring out the best in your face and points you in that direction. Check out this video to hear directly from Dr. Zelken about age and facelifts.

Dr. Zelken also considers which procedures will deliver the best results down the road. For example, more and more, we’re performing early intervention facelifts that can set the stage for a more aesthetically pleasing aging process.

We do want to note that there can come a time when you age out of facelifts — when elective surgery isn’t a great idea, and your skin isn’t strong enough for the procedure.

The best way to figure out whether a facelift is right for you, no matter your age, is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zelken. To get that ball rolling, please call our Newport Beach, California, practice at (949) 432-4730. You can also request an appointment using our online booking tool.