You may look in the mirror and notice that your jawline is less defined, jowls have developed, or loose skin around your lower face makes you appear older than you feel. When these changes become difficult to address with nonsurgical treatments, you may consider a facelift.
At his Park Avenue practice in New York City, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Robert Guida brings over 30 years of experience to facial rejuvenation. Before deciding on surgery, consider these important factors.
The specific changes you want to improve
Start by identifying what bothers you. A facelift is intended to address age-related laxity and sagging tissues in the cheeks, jawline, lower face, and neck. It may improve jowls, restore definition along the jaw, and create a smoother transition between your face and neck.
However, a facelift does not address every sign of facial aging. Fine lines, uneven skin texture, or isolated volume loss may require different or complementary treatments. Being specific about your concerns helps determine whether facelift surgery matches your goals.
Your anatomy matters more than your age
There is no single age when you suddenly become a good facelift candidate. Two people of the same age can have very different degrees of facial aging because genetics, skin quality, facial structure, sun exposure, and lifestyle all influence how your face changes.
Instead, candidacy largely depends on your anatomy and the extent and location of tissue laxity. During your consultation, Dr. Guida can examine your face and neck to determine which approach may provide meaningful improvement while maintaining natural proportions.
The type of facelift you actually need
Not every facelift technique is the same. A smaller procedure may sound appealing because it seems less extensive and involves less downtime, but choosing surgery based primarily on incision length or the word “mini” can be misleading.
A mini facelift is generally better suited to earlier or more limited laxity, while more significant jowling, neck looseness, and tissue descent may require a more comprehensive approach. Dr. Guida offers several options, including mini, lower, and full/SMAS facelifts. The appropriate choice depends on where your tissues have changed and how much correction is necessary.
Whether your weight is stable
Consider your weight plans before scheduling facial surgery. Significant weight loss after a facelift can reduce facial volume and create additional laxity, potentially changing the contours achieved through surgery.
If you are actively losing a substantial amount of weight, it makes sense to reach a sustainable weight first. Maintaining relative weight stability can help preserve your facial contours.
Your expectations for recovery
A facelift requires genuine recovery time. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and temporary changes in sensation can occur as your tissues heal, and your appearance will continue to settle well beyond the point at which you feel comfortable returning to everyday activities.
Think about your work, social commitments, travel, and major upcoming events when deciding when to have surgery. If you have an important wedding, reunion, or professional event approaching, give yourself time to recover rather than planning surgery immediately.
Your expectations for the final result
A successful facelift should rejuvenate your appearance, not make you look like somebody else. The goal is generally to reposition tissues and restore cleaner, more youthful facial contours while preserving the features that make your face recognizable.
This is also why reviewing before-and-after photographs and clearly communicating what you consider natural-looking are important parts of your consultation. Your surgeon can explain what surgery may realistically change and where its limitations lie.
Your choice of facial plastic surgeon
Facelift surgery requires both technical surgical precision and a keen understanding of facial anatomy, proportions, and aging. Your surgeon’s training, experience, approach, and ability to understand your goals should therefore factor heavily into your decision.
If you’re considering a facelift in New York City, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Robert Guida brings more than three decades of facial surgery experience to your care. Schedule a consultation at his Park Avenue office or at his Staten Island office to discuss your concerns, explore your facelift options, and determine an approach tailored to your facial anatomy.
Medically Reviewed by: Robert A. Guida, MD
Double Board-Certified Surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor at the Weill Cornell School of Medicine
About Robert A. Guida, MD
