Typically, there is no right age for rhytidectomy ,or rhytidoplasty, or face lift surgery. Facelifting can be classified as reconstructive, restorative, or cosmetic. Reconstructive face lifting is typically performed as early as adolescence because it addresses either the total absence of facial musculature, as may be found in certain syndromes, or paralysis of the facial muscles, whether traumatic, or congenital. Restorative face lifting is used to set back some of the changes brought about by aging. Prominent nasolabial folds (the lines running from the nose to the outside of the mouth), marionette lines (lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin, jowls, hanging, crepe-like front neck skin, and wrinkles can all be tackled using an appropriate face lift technique. The procedure is more of a restorative rhytidectomy, ore reconstructive rhytidoplasty, because the plastic surgeon attempts to place the skin back to it original position. Patients may be candidates for this as early as their thirties. It all has to do with how severe the changes are, and what the patient desires. Typically, the massive weight loss patient will present at an earlier age, while most will present later in life. Minimal changes will likely be corrected with less invasive methods, whereas severe aesthetic disturbances may need a full face lift combined with other surgical and non-surgical modalities. Provided the patient is healthy, there is no upper age limit to rhytidectomy face lift surgery.
Jacob Gerzenshtein, MD, FACS,
A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
