Gravity and aging are no friends to the face. If you wish you could go back in time and bring back the reflection you once saw in the mirror, it may be time for a facelift. The following signs can help you determine whether it’s the right time for you to undergo this anti-aging procedure

1. Perceived Age vs. Actual Age

If others around you think you are older than you really are, they are probably “reading” that in your face. Major indicators of aging, such as facial wrinkles and jowls, can add years or even decades to your appearance. Other people’s misperceptions about your age could be a sign that a facelift is in order.

2. Facial Aging Misrepresents You

Signs of aging can sometimes be mistaken for other things. Facial aging can make a person look tired, sad, or angry all the time, even when they are perfectly happy and well-rested. If you have noticed an increase in unwarranted comments about your emotional state or fatigue, take a good look in the mirror and assess whether facial aging could be sending others the wrong message about you.

3. You are Over 40 Years Old

Individuals still in their 30s or 20s can typically achieve optimal results with injectables and other less invasive treatments. While there is no official rule about exactly how old a person must be to undergo facelift surgery, it is generally recommended that the person be at least 40. Most ideal facelift candidates are between the ages of 40 and 60 (or even 70), as these years are when the most significant signs of aging begin to occur.

4. Significant Aging Signs

Many fine lines, wrinkles, and skin quality reductions can be improved with alternative treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, facial fillers, and skin rejuvenation. However, significant signs of facial aging must be corrected with surgery. When minimal or no improvement occurs with less invasive treatments, or when your doctor anticipates that this will be the case, you’ll know it’s time to take the plunge.

5. Facial Wrinkles and Folds

You shouldn’t jump into a major surgery at the first sign of fine lines, but you may want to take it more seriously when those lines become full-on wrinkles and folds. If you have permanent, deepening creases in your cheeks and lower face that are visible from an increasing distance away, a facelift can help. Facelift surgery trims away excess skin and tightens the facial tissues to eliminate many wrinkles and folds.

6. Facial Jowls and Sagging

Does your face appear droopy? Are your cheeks sagging? Is your jawline poorly defined because you have jowls that hang below it? All of these can be corrected with a facelift, which lifts the facial tissues upward to create a more youthful appearance.

7. Loose Neck Skin and Neck Bands

Sometimes it’s not the face but the neck that reveals your age. “Turkey gobbler deformity”, where vertical neck bands (like those of a turkey) appear, is a common issue that facelift surgery can correct. Loose neck skin and banding can both be improved with a facelift.

8. Desire for a More Youthful Appearance

From a non-physical perspective, there are emotional indicators that it may be time for you to get a facelift. The most important of these is whether you want to undergo this procedure. Do you have a self-motivated, lingering desire to look more youthful? If so, you should feel free to pursue it.

Schedule your personal consultation today to find out whether it’s the right time in your life for a facelift. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrés Taleisnik will be more than happy to discuss your situation with you and help you achieve your goals.