Key answer
There is no fixed age for a facelift. Consider how much sagging at the cheeks or jaw bothers you, whether surgery can achieve the change you want, and whether your health allows it. Ask where the incision will run around your ears and hairline.
At what age do people usually have a facelift?
Facelifts are commonly performed in the 40s through 60s, but there is no set age. Cleveland Clinic describes candidates as people with signs of facial aging who still have some skin elasticity. This commonly includes people aged 40–60, but younger and older people also need an individual assessment of their face and health.
Two people in their 50s may want different treatment: one may be concerned only about the jawline, while another has sagging from the cheeks down to the neck. Identify the area that bothers you most instead of rushing because of your age.
What matters more than age?
Skin thickness and elasticity, wrinkle depth, facial fat and the condition of the SMAS all inform the surgical plan. Notice whether cheek tissue makes the area around the mouth look heavy or whether the jawline and neck have lost definition.
If sagging is mild, compare nonsurgical lifting with surgery. For more extensive changes, ask what surgery can address. A mini facelift and a facelift differ in their incisions and treatment area: see SMAS, deep-plane and mini facelift differences.
What if a facelift is done too early?
When sagging is mild, weigh the likely change against scars and recovery. Facial aging continues after surgery. Discuss whether you might want another operation in the future, but age at the first operation alone cannot determine whether or when that will happen.
A systematic review of patients who had a repeat facelift reported average intervals of roughly 9–12 years in the studies it reviewed. These are records of people who actually underwent repeat surgery, not a schedule everyone must follow. [PMID 42382704]
Can people over 60 have a facelift safely?
Being in your 60s does not automatically rule out surgery. For people aged 60 or older, blood pressure, medications, existing conditions and anesthesia are assessed individually. Tell the surgeon about aspirin and other medicines; the prescribing doctor and surgeon should decide together whether to adjust them. Do not stop medication on your own. [PMID 34212140]
Where are facelift scars, and when do they fade?
Scars remain where incisions are made. Depending on the operation, the incision may follow the temple hairline, the front of the ear or behind the ear. Ask the surgeon to show you your proposed incision.
21 Plastic Surgery Clinic describes protecting the wound initially, then using silicone gel or scar tape after suture removal and protecting the area from sunlight. Ask your surgeon when care should start for your wound. See public information on 10 Gangnam facelift clinics and facelift technique differences.
What should I ask at a consultation?
| Your concern | Ask the surgeon |
|---|---|
| Mild sagging around the jaw and mouth | Can a nonsurgical treatment achieve the change I want? |
| Sagging from cheeks to jaw | How do the treatment areas of a mini facelift and a facelift differ? |
| Sagging extends to the neck | Should the face and neck be treated together, and how does recovery differ? |
| High blood pressure or medication | What tests and medication advice are needed before surgery? |
| Scars near the ears | Where will my incision run and how will the scar be cared for? |
What if I have had previous treatment or have an important event?
- Tell the surgeon when and where you had a thread lift or surgery, and about any problems you experienced.
- Allow time for suture removal and returning to daily activities. See facelift recovery.
Common misconceptions
A facelift at a younger age does not guarantee you will never want another. Your face continues to change; a later decision depends on your condition and goals.
Turning 60 does not automatically make surgery impossible. Health, medications and the anesthesia plan matter alongside age.
Conclusion
Start by asking whether the operation can address the change you want. Show the surgeon where sagging bothers you and discuss the incision, recovery schedule and health assessment before deciding on timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can I have a facelift?
There is no required starting age. The decision depends on facial sagging, your goals and health.
Can I have a facelift if I am over 60?
You can seek a consultation. Blood pressure, medications, existing conditions and suitability for anesthesia are evaluated before deciding.
What if I take blood-pressure medicine or aspirin?
Tell the surgeon the name and dose. Your prescribing doctor and surgeon decide whether medication needs adjustment; do not stop it yourself.
Where are facelift scars?
Some incisions follow the temple hairline and the front and back of the ear. Ask to see your own planned incision because techniques differ.
When will the scar fade?
Scars change over months. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes scar maturation as taking 6 months to a year, while the NHS says fading may take two years or more. Contact your surgeon if redness or pain worsens.
Should I consider a mini facelift or thread lift first?
Compare the area each method can treat, the change you want and the recovery involved.
Consultation checklist
- □ Ask whether a thread lift, mini facelift or facelift fits your concerns.
- □ Ask when a further operation might be considered as aging continues.
- □ Discuss blood pressure, aspirin and other factors affecting bleeding.
- □ Discuss existing conditions, medicines and anesthesia.
- □ Ask where the incision will run and how the scar will be managed.
- □ Question claims that everyone must operate at a particular age or that it is too late.
Sources and reference date
- Cleveland Clinic: facelift, checked 2026-10-28; incisions, checked 2026-10-28.
- PMID 42382704: systematic review of 14 studies involving 737 patients, checked 2026-10-28.
- PMID 34212140: review of facelift complications and risk factors, checked 2026-10-28.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: scar healing, checked 2026-10-28; NHS: scars, checked 2026-10-28.
- 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic: choosing a facelift, posted 2026-07-02; 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic: sagging in the 50s, posted 2026-08-12; 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic: scar care, posted 2026-10-09, and scars and complications, posted 2026-08-14.
- POP Plastic Surgery Clinic: timing a facelift, checked 2026-10-28.
Editorial responsibility and interests
Written and edited by the Korea Beauty Report editorial team. No direct medical review; no contractual or advertising relationship with the clinics in this article. First published: 2026-10-28; sources last checked: 2026-10-28.