Facelift Patients See Lasting Improvement
Most look younger after 5 years than before surgery, study finds
More than three-quarters of people who had a Facelift still looked younger than they did before surgery after more than 5 years, according to a study to determine how facelifts hold up over time. Although some areas of the face showed signs of aging, a range of assessments demonstrated long-lasting results from facelift surgery.
The study recently appeared in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The study was designed to help plastic surgeons answer one of the most common questions asked by patients considering facial rejuvenation: “How long will my facelift last?”
Lasting facelift results after 5 years
Standardized photographs of 50 patients who had had a Facelift an average of 5 1/2 years before were analyzed by researchers Dr. Barry M. Jones of King Edward VII Hospital, London, England, and Dr. Steven J. Lo of Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow, Scotland.
All of the assessments used in the study showed significant improvement, although some loss of improvement in the years since facelift surgery was noted.
“There is no significant objective or subjective sign of continued aging or ‘relapse’ in any area except for the neck,” the researchers wrote. “The vast majority of patients will continue to look better several years after surgery than they did before.”
Lasting improvements identified in key areas
Lasting improvements were identified in key areas regarded as signs of facial aging, including lines running from nose-to-mouth and mouth-to-chin. These improvements showed little deterioration in the years since surgery, with the greatest loss of improvement appearing in the neck area.
“This study provides strong evidence that facelift surgery can provide significant long-term aesthetic gains,” the researchers said. “Scoring suggested that 76% of patients will still look younger 5 1/2 years after a facelift than they did prior to the facelift.”
The study is one of the first to use rigorous, standardized assessments to evaluate long-term followup results.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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