Deciding whether to have a facelift is a deeply personal choice and a decision that goes far beyond just your outward appearance. At 111 Harley St., led by triple board-certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Yannis who has decades of experience in facial surgery, it’s our belief that the best results come from informed and educated patients who understand both why they’re considering surgery and what the procedure can achieve.
So, how do you know if you’re ready for a facelift?
Let’s walk through some of the most common indications that Dr Yannis looks for during the consultation process. Since our philosophy is to always use The 111 Method and take the least invasive route to achieve your aesthetic goals, you can be assured that, whether your consultation determines you have the physical signs of being ready, or not, you will receive the best advice – and that may mean a non-surgical option instead.
Loss of Definition Between the Chin and Neck
A youthful profile will typically have a sharp, well-defined angle between the chin and neck. With age this angle can soften or become more rounded, sometimes creating a “double chin” effect.
Loss of lower face definition is one of the most common concerns we hear about from patients enquiring about lower facelifts, such as Dr Yannis’ signature Y Facelift.
Surgery for Bands on the Neck
You may notice Platysmal Bands on the neck – these horizontal bands appear with age and can be softened with non-surgical options such as Botox, however depending on the severity, a lower face and neck lift such as the Y Facelift, or standalone Neck Lift may be the only solution to achieve the desired result.
Heaviness in the Mid-Face
You may notice your cheeks have lost their youthful position and are appearing flatter or lower with more accentuated nasolabial folds. These lines can deepen with age and are something a facelift can improve.
Looser Skin or Skin Laxity
As we age, skin naturally looses volume and the body produces less collagen – the scaffolding of the skin – and elastin, which allows skin to snap back into place. The result is looser skin that eventually succumbs to gravity. If this is a concern, it could be an indication that you may be a good candidate for a facelift.
Loss of Volume
Loss of volume naturally leads to the skin sagging and an aged appearance. It can be a sign that a facelift would be the right procedure for you – this would be determined in a consultation with the surgeon. Dr Yannis will often use Face Fat Injections to add volume to the face using the patients own biocompatible fat as a form of natural filler
So, Are You Ready?
As a rough guide, if you recognise several of the above concerns, it may be that a facelift could be a good option to address them. An important factor is also how you feel, and many patients decide a facelift is something they want to explore when they no longer feel their outer appearance aligns with how they feel on the inside.
Your general health is of course, always a factor when it comes to surgery, as are your goals and expectations which, again are always discussed during the consultation process.
If you feel a facelift is for you, the first step is to book to see the surgeon – they will be able to provide their professional opinion and discuss the techniques, and potentially, combination of procedures that can help you achieve your desired outcome.
