When should I get a Facelift? with Dr. Carey Nease

The truth is there is no magic answer to that question. There’s no perfect age or a blanket timeframe for everyone. The average age of RefinedLooks’ facelift patients is between 55-60 years old. The best place to start is figuring out what type of facelift is the best option for you. 

There are two types of options for a facelift: non-surgical and surgical. If you’re not ready for surgery then there are options like botox & fillers, laser treatments, microneedling, and something we call FaceTite. FaceTite is a complete contouring solution for the face and neck that helps achieve results similar to a facelift without excisional surgery, providing dramatic improvement in skin laxity on the face and neck while removing excess fat. In other words, it’s a minimally invasive surgery that tightens up the areas you want. 

If you’re thinking about taking the non-surgical route, we have an amazing staff at RefinedLooks Spa that are experts in their field. Check out some of the before and afters of the injectables we offer on this page of our website. 

In reality, you may not totally qualify for a full facelift procedure so going the non-surgical route could be best for you. Now on the other hand, you might be the perfect candidate for a facelift. What makes a perfect candidate? According to Dr. Nease it’s someone who “has lots of loose skin, jowling or what we call turkey neck.” 

If you fit that description, then a facelift is really the only thing that will allow you to see an improvement in your face and provide a youthful appearance that’s long lasting. “A facelift can be done very naturally without looking pulled, plastic, or like you’re in an airplane with the windows down”, says Dr. Nease. 

In its simplest form, a facelift, also known as Rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to tighten the sagging skin, remove excess fat and tighten underlying muscles in the lower two-thirds of the face and neck. While a facelift cannot stop your face from aging, it can improve your appearance by “setting the clock back.” 

What’s the recovery for a facelift procedure? For the first week following your facelift, it is recommended that you rest and keep your head elevated to minimize swelling. Beginning 3-5 days after your facelift, stitches will begin to be removed and you can wash your hair. You can resume light activity after one week and patients can expect to return to work 2-3 weeks after their facelift procedure. 

A facelift only touches the lower two-thirds of your face, so if you’re concerned about the upper part of your face like excess skin or lines around your eyes or on your forehead, then a brow lift or eyelid surgery might be the best option for you. 

We offer many solutions for whatever problem areas you have and in your consultation session, Dr. Nease will walk through this process with you to determine the best route for you. The options may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. 

Check out some before and after photos on the facelift page of our website.