The continued rise of the 40+ facelift

In today's age of self-expression, people are increasingly seeking confidence with not only tweakments, but also surgery.

Over the past year, the UK has seen a 97% increase in people opting for facelift procedures with a higher number having consultations with surgeons earlier than ever before. Once a luxury reserved for celebrities or those with the financial means, it has now become increasingly popular even amongst those in their late 30’s to 40’s. Businesswoman and reality TV personality, Caroline Stanbury recently spoke about her facelift with Olivia Falcon, the founder of The Editors List, a respected cosmeceutical and surgery concierge service.

“Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed a shift in the conversation in the aesthetics space - what once used to be taboo, is now openly being spoken about," said Falcon. "I’ve seen a significant increase in the desire for a facelift over other tweakments amongst the younger demographic”

But why the sudden surge? It seems that as non-invasive treatments have become increasingly normalised and socially accepted, people are feeling more comfortable exploring new ways to enhance their appearance and turn back the clock.  There's also a growing dissatisfaction with the limitations of some of these ‘tweakments’, leading to a desire to seek out more permanent solutions. With demand growing, Kshem Yapa, reconstructive plastic surgeon and NHS consultant, offers his opinion and guidance to those contemplating such a procedure.

Yapa mainly attributes this latest popularity to technological advancements in surgical techniques that have made it possible for people to achieve subtle, refreshed looks without drastic changes. Instead of just pulling the skin tight, a key characteristic of older-fashioned methods, new techniques focus on the deeper layers of the face, like the SMAS, to create more natural results, sometimes even making it extremely difficult to detect any surgery at all. Yapa also highlights the procedure’s latest popularity amongst men, with celebrities such as Brad Pitt or Marc Jacobs leading the way. 

Looking ahead, with the increase in life-expectancy and the further improvement of techniques, he sees facial rejuvenation surgery becoming part of a broader approach to wellness, longevity, and functional medicine.

“With the rise of social media and the rapid growth in video conferencing during the pandemic," added Yapa, "We have never spent more time in history looking at ourselves” 

What happens to the face as we age?

In our late 30s and 40s, we might notice hollowing around the eyes, fine lines, and some loss of volume. Initially, many opt for non-surgical treatments to address these early signs, but as ageing progresses, deeper folds and jowls may develop, along with more significant volume loss. The overuse of filler or energy treatments not only makes facelift surgery more difficult to perform due to scarring and inflammation, but also easily becomes an attempt to camouflage changes, which can lead to the face looking unnatural and tight. When non-surgical options become less effective, procedures like facelift surgery, particularly those that include fat grafting, such as Yapa’s Deep Lift and Restore Facelift, prove to be most successful in restoring volume and rejuvenating the face.

However, Yapa does see a place for such ‘treatments’ within the realm of plastic surgery. Especially, in the aftercare process post-facelift, skin hydration treatments can work wonders in caring for the skin. He advocates for better coordination between surgeons and clinicians, offering an ideal model where an early consultation includes a formulated long-term plan involving such treatments. 

Is there a best time for a facelift and do you ever really need one?

The right time for a facelift isn't just about age—it's about whether your patient's skin shows signs of sagging and its presence of structural laxity. Your patients also need to be physically fit and healthy enough for anaesthesia or sedation. While recovery is similar for everyone, younger patients may see more subtle, natural results due to the level of skin firmness. 

It’s important to remember that a facelift doesn't stop ageing, but it can effectively reverse its effects. However, if signs of ageing reappear, revision surgery is always an option, even if a previous facelift was performed. Complementary non-surgical treatments such as botulinum toxin for prevention and skincare for hydration and protection play a supportive role. Most importantly, it’s things like maintaining overall health, nutrition, and wearing the right amount of SPF that really play a huge role in slowing down the ageing process.

Yapa emphasises that the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery should always be made freely, without any external pressures impacting your choice. Yapa believes in empowering patients to make informed decisions about their own well-being and appearance. He never pushes patients into considering surgery, but instead, always presents doing nothing as the first option. However, if a patient genuinely feels unhappy with ageing signs and has realistic expectations, he believes facelift surgery can offer amazing results. Yapa strongly encourages patients to seek out skilled surgeons for safe and effective treatments, prioritising their well-being and satisfaction above anything else.

 

In today's age of self-expression, people are increasingly seeking confidence with not only tweakments, but also surgery.

Over the past year, the UK has seen a 97% increase in people opting for facelift procedures with a higher number having consultations with surgeons earlier than ever before. Once a luxury reserved for celebrities or those with the financial means, it has now become increasingly popular even amongst those in their late 30’s to 40’s. Businesswoman and reality TV personality, Caroline Stanbury recently spoke about her facelift with Olivia Falcon, the founder of The Editors List, a respected cosmeceutical and surgery concierge service.

“Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed a shift in the conversation in the aesthetics space - what once used to be taboo, is now openly being spoken about," said Falcon. "I’ve seen a significant increase in the desire for a facelift over other tweakments amongst the younger demographic”

But why the sudden surge? It seems that as non-invasive treatments have become increasingly normalised and socially accepted, people are feeling more comfortable exploring new ways to enhance their appearance and turn back the clock.  There's also a growing dissatisfaction with the limitations of some of these ‘tweakments’, leading to a desire to seek out more permanent solutions. With demand growing, Kshem Yapa, reconstructive plastic surgeon and NHS consultant, offers his opinion and guidance to those contemplating such a procedure.

Yapa mainly attributes this latest popularity to technological advancements in surgical techniques that have made it possible for people to achieve subtle, refreshed looks without drastic changes. Instead of just pulling the skin tight, a key characteristic of older-fashioned methods, new techniques focus on the deeper layers of the face, like the SMAS, to create more natural results, sometimes even making it extremely difficult to detect any surgery at all. Yapa also highlights the procedure’s latest popularity amongst men, with celebrities such as Brad Pitt or Marc Jacobs leading the way. 

Looking ahead, with the increase in life-expectancy and the further improvement of techniques, he sees facial rejuvenation surgery becoming part of a broader approach to wellness, longevity, and functional medicine.

“With the rise of social media and the rapid growth in video conferencing during the pandemic," added Yapa, "We have never spent more time in history looking at ourselves” 

What happens to the face as we age?

In our late 30s and 40s, we might notice hollowing around the eyes, fine lines, and some loss of volume. Initially, many opt for non-surgical treatments to address these early signs, but as ageing progresses, deeper folds and jowls may develop, along with more significant volume loss. The overuse of filler or energy treatments not only makes facelift surgery more difficult to perform due to scarring and inflammation, but also easily becomes an attempt to camouflage changes, which can lead to the face looking unnatural and tight. When non-surgical options become less effective, procedures like facelift surgery, particularly those that include fat grafting, such as Yapa’s Deep Lift and Restore Facelift, prove to be most successful in restoring volume and rejuvenating the face.

However, Yapa does see a place for such ‘treatments’ within the realm of plastic surgery. Especially, in the aftercare process post-facelift, skin hydration treatments can work wonders in caring for the skin. He advocates for better coordination between surgeons and clinicians, offering an ideal model where an early consultation includes a formulated long-term plan involving such treatments. 

Is there a best time for a facelift and do you ever really need one?

The right time for a facelift isn't just about age—it's about whether your patient's skin shows signs of sagging and its presence of structural laxity. Your patients also need to be physically fit and healthy enough for anaesthesia or sedation. While recovery is similar for everyone, younger patients may see more subtle, natural results due to the level of skin firmness. 

It’s important to remember that a facelift doesn't stop ageing, but it can effectively reverse its effects. However, if signs of ageing reappear, revision surgery is always an option, even if a previous facelift was performed. Complementary non-surgical treatments such as botulinum toxin for prevention and skincare for hydration and protection play a supportive role. Most importantly, it’s things like maintaining overall health, nutrition, and wearing the right amount of SPF that really play a huge role in slowing down the ageing process.

Yapa emphasises that the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery should always be made freely, without any external pressures impacting your choice. Yapa believes in empowering patients to make informed decisions about their own well-being and appearance. He never pushes patients into considering surgery, but instead, always presents doing nothing as the first option. However, if a patient genuinely feels unhappy with ageing signs and has realistic expectations, he believes facelift surgery can offer amazing results. Yapa strongly encourages patients to seek out skilled surgeons for safe and effective treatments, prioritising their well-being and satisfaction above anything else.