Angelo Cuzalina, MD
Study Examines Best Age for a Facelift
People considering facial plastic surgery often ask: what is the best age for a face or neck lift? A new study from Cleveland Clinic shows that with proper screening, even patients over 65 can undergo a facelift with no increased risk.
The researchers from Cleveland Clinic followed 216 female facelift patients of varying ages for three years, comparing their outcomes. 148 of the patients were under the age of sixty-five, while 68 of them were over the age of sixty-five. They tracked their progress and noted any complications.
“Facelift surgery in the elderly has always been perceived to carry more post-operative risk,” says Dr. James Zins, Cleveland Clinic chairman of plastic surgery. [But] “according to our study and pre-operative screenings, patients over 65 had no statistically significant increase in complications.”
Age alone should not be considered a predictor of facelift risk, the study suggests. The authors stress that good screening is a critical aspect of the procedure. Many older men and women considering facelift surgery may not be good candidates because of health problems. “Careful screening of the elderly patients, and excluding those with significant co-morbidities, led to the low complication rate, ” explains Dr. Zins.
What is the best age for a facelift?
For most patients, the best age for a facelift is some time between ages 40 to 60, when wrinkles and folds begin to appear on the lower face and neck. While younger people might address cosmetic problems in this area with neck liposuction or a chin implant, an older patient typically has loose skin that needs to be tightened.
Is there an age limit for facelift surgery?
According to the authors of the study, “The Safety of Rhytidectomy in the Elderly,” more research is needed to determine if there should be an age limit for facelift in patients over 65 years of age. In the study, the average age of their elderly group was 70 years.