Face Lifts Are Still A Popular Option

Plastic surgery is an industry that, by nature, is constantly changing. It changes for many reasons, including changes in technology and changes in the attitude of the general population. As an elective medical procedure, plastic surgery trends often follow economic trends.

When people cannot afford their basic necessities, they opt not to “afford” plastic surgery as well. Drastic, expensive procedures, like the face lift, can have even greater shifts in popularity. Right now it appears the shift for this particular procedure is downward, but does that mean it is on its way out?

The issue surrounding plastic surgery as whole right now is a change in dynamics in the population. People are not looking to plastic surgery to change their looks drastically. We have come to a point as a population that we accept, and even love, who we are. Instead, we want to embrace our more appealing younger selves. Now, that does not necessarily rule out a face lift, because the goal of this procedure is to make the individual look younger, not different.

However, the goal to remain young-looking has caused people to turn to plastic surgery at younger and younger ages. They bring their high school yearbooks with them and ask the doctor to help them regain that glow, opting to have procedures in their 30s or even 20s, rather than their 50s and 60s. Young adults are busy balancing the needs of a blossoming career and a growing family. They do not have time for long recoveries required from extensive surgeries.

Also, technology has offered new procedures that may, in fact, work better in the short term. Botox and other injections, for instance, appear to soften the look of lines and wrinkles without the long recovery period linked with a face lift. For the young adult who wants instant results with minimal pain and down time, this is a better solution.

So does that mean doctors should hang up their scalpels in favor of needles? Not necessarily. Patients are still opting for surgical procedures. The emphasis is changing, however. Instead of the all-over face lift, they may opt for lifting just a portion of the facial features, such as the brow or the jowl area. This limits the recovery time while still providing excellent results and long-lasting age fighting. For those seeking plastic surgery early in their lives, this is often the preferred option for dealing with facial lines and wrinkles.

That said, one demographic of patient is seeking face lift procedures at an increased rate. That is the over 80 demographic. As more and more people are living well into their 90s and even 100s, they are starting to embrace younger looking images and turn to cosmetic surgery to help them do so. And those in their younger years with extensive aging and sun damage are still opting for the full procedure. So, even though the trend is for faster and simpler procedures, lifts as we know them are probably going to be around for a very long time.