Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Plastic Surgery Candidates

A facelift, clinically known as rhytidectomy, is a major cosmetic surgery procedure to tighten sagging facial skin and mitigate the obvious facial signs of aging. An ideal candidate for facelift will maintain realistic expectations and will be committed to following the pre- and post-operative instructions of the surgeon. The patient’s candidacy will be determined during the initial consultation.

At that time, the surgeon will also review whether the patient may require additional procedures such as neck lift or upper face procedures, and create a customized surgical plan. Dr. Wright Jones is a double board certified plastic surgeon providing facelift to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Stockbridge, Marietta GA, and surrounding locations.

Attributes of a Candidate

A typical candidate for facelift will have the follow the following attributes:

Degree of Skin Elasticity

An ideal facelift plastic surgery candidate will have a reasonable degree of elasticity, suppleness and flexibility in the facial skin. The procedure will involve tightening of facial muscles and trimming away of loose skin. If the skin has some degree of elasticity, the results will be smoother and more natural looking when the skin is pulled taut.

Supportive Bone Structure

The facial bone structure of a facelift candidate should ideally be well-defined and robust. This will constitute the foundation for the surgery and contribute to the final outcome. If the facial features are less distinct, the surgeon may recommend facial implants in addition to facelift.

Realistic Expectations

The candidate will acquire a clear understanding of the strengths and limitations of facelift surgery. They will check several facelift before and after photos of previous patients to know what to expect and what not to expect from the surgery. Such candidates will often be more appreciative of the final results and feel more satisfied.

Good Overall Health

Facelift is a major surgery, and only a patient with good general health should undergo the procedure. If the candidate has any underlying health condition, they should discuss with the surgeon so that advance preparations can be made appropriately. Fitness for undergoing general anesthesia will also be determined in advance.

Loose Skin in the Face or Neck

Facelift surgery is primarily designed to excise loose skin from the face and neck, and create a subtle facial lift. If excess fat tissue deposits are involved, the surgeon may add facial liposuction along with facelift.

Age Factor

There is no specific upper age limit to determine the candidacy for facelift surgery. The key issue is to evaluate the candidate’s general health and skin laxity. In any case, most candidates for facelift will be between the ages of 40 and 70 years. According to the ASPS data, more people above the age of 50 now seek facelift surgery.

See all plastic surgery procedures that Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Wright Jones performs of the face, nose, body, and breast in and around Atlanta, Buckhead, Stockbridge, Marietta, GA and surrounding areas.