20 Feb Allure Lists Facelifts as One of the Biggest Plastic Surgery Trends for 2023
Every year, Allure gathers a team of experts to discuss trends in plastic surgery and predict what will be in hot demand for the year to come. At RefinedMD, we aren’t surprised to see that facelifts top the list—but not just any facelift. The article describes them as “facelifts light,” but what they are really describing is a mini lift. “Plastic surgery does not exist in a vacuum,” says the author. “It’s influenced by the economy, by technology, and by lifestyle and cultural shifts.” Thus, trends in plastic surgery are “a thing,” and if you’ve been thinking about a facelift you aren’t alone. You might not consciously realize everything that went into you considering this option, but according to Allure there’s good reason younger patients (those in their 40s) are scheduling more and more consultations for the most well-known facial surgical procedure.
Facelifts also don’t exist in a vacuum. Both surgical technique innovations and pairing fat injections with facelifts have helped this procedure yield totally natural-looking results. Today’s facelifts are a world apart from those in the 1990s (and earlier). In fact, Allure predicts that in 2023, patients will start to see facelifts as part of a longer-term maintenance plan rather than the old-school idea of it being a “one and done” procedure. Plus, one of the experts interviewed says “Facelifts have historically been pretty recession-proof.”
A Facelift for Your 40s
Your 40s is considered young for a full facelift. In years past, most patients were in their 50s, 60s, and better before they considered this procedure. However, in your 40s, experts have noted that many clients are starting to wonder if they’re ready for a facelift. It’s becoming a common discussion, even when compared to two years ago. However, these clients are very specific about their wants and needs. Allure reports that, “The facelift they’re mulling over is ‘not your mother’s facelift that was this super-pulled Saran Wrap kind of result’.” Yes, with a mini lift and deep plane facelift, some excess skin is still removed—but that’s not the be all, end all of the surgery. In actuality, facelifts seldom remove a lot of skin. It’s what lies beneath that matters.
Prior to the techniques used today, surgeons really did simply remove excess skin, stretch the skin tight, and called that a facelift—thus the severely fake, windswept look. Today, a reputable surgeon addresses the tissue below the surface. By manipulating these tissues and muscles, you get a natural look after trimming away excess skin.
Not only are results organic looking, but it’s a quicker and easier procedure than that of years past. Most incisions can be easily hidden in the crevices of the ear. In some cases, there may need to be an incisions tucked inside the hairline. Regardless, gone are the days when the tell-tale incision scar behind the ear would give away that you had anything “done.” As a bonus, today’s techniques also make the surgery even more predictable.
Complementary Procedures
It is becoming increasingly common to pair a facelift with fillers. Even though people in their 40s typically don’t have a lot of excess skin, when you tighten the face it is going to highlight hollowness. We also lose the good fat in our face as we age, and that can make us look older just as much as sagging, lines, and wrinkles. Dermal fillers can be injected virtually anywhere in the face, but with a facelift one of the most common sites is the cheeks. Otherwise, particularly for slender patients or anyone without much fat in their face, you might be left with a gaunt look after a facelift.
The experts say that this leads to a balance with the lifting and further helps to ensure patients aren’t pulled too tight. “It’s much more three-dimensional now than it’s ever been” says the Allure panel. However, it’s still important to remember that a facelift is still a surgery. There might be less lifting done these days and recovery times are shorter (two weeks before most patients feel like they look back to normal, even though full healing takes months). But the benefits are worth it for increasing numbers of patients. Most facelifts, especially mini lifts, last 5 – 10 years before some laxity returns. At this point, a patient may want a full facelift (or another mini facelift), thus the shift to seeing this procedure as a maintenance treatment. For many, this “every few years” treatment is an excellent alternative to being totally dependent on fillers and Botox. Patient are planning long-term and that’s a great thing. To start planning your facelift, contact RefinedMD today by calling the office or filling out the online contact form.