Should I Have An Early Facelift?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 37 years old and although I still have a fairly young looking face, I am beginning to develop a few bothersome issues. I am beginning to get some marionette lines and the very beginnings of jowling. I have tried some injectable fillers to improve these issues and all they did was make my face look bottom heavy. I have read about mini-facelifts and jowl lifts which sound like more of what I need given the problem. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having this type of facelift at my age? I prefer to take a preventative approach and address issues before they become too big. But will starting early make me look unnatural?

A:  While the concept of a facelift historically seems inconceivable at your age, today’s facelifts are not your mother’s facelifts so to speak. Contemporary facial rejuvenation procedures, and facelifts in particular, are tailored to the magnitude of the problem rather than a standard cookie cutter approach. In essence, small early aging problems merit a more limited facelift, more advanced aging issues need a more complete and extensive facelift approach. Although you are young, appearance and need are more important criteria than a chronological number. There are numerous advantages to early intervention…everything is smaller from the scope of the surgery to recovery to cost. Early facelifts actually create a more natural look because the changes are less dramatic than when a facelift is done at an older age.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana