Facial Aging Surgery: Healing Time, Duration Over the Years, and the Right Time to Perform a Facelift.

[BACKGROUND] The "time variable" assumes paramount importance, especially regarding facial rejuvenation procedures. Questions regarding the length of recovery time before returning to work, how long the results will last, and the ideal time (age) to undergo this particular type of surgery are the most commonly asked by patients during the initial consultation.

[OBJECTIVES] The authors endeavored to determine the healing time, optimal age to perform the surgery, and duration of the results after cosmetic face surgery.

[METHODS] A 35-year observational study of 9313 patients who underwent facial surgeries was analyzed. The principal facial rejuvenation interventions were divided into 2 subgroups: (1) eyelid and periorbital surgery, including eyebrow lift, blepharoplasty, and its variants and midface lift; and (2) face and neck lift. Significant follow-ups were conducted after 5, 10, and 20 years. To evaluate the course of convalescence, the degree of satisfaction with the intervention, and the stability of the results, a questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of 200 patients who underwent face and neck lifts.

[RESULTS] The answers given indicated that surgery performed according to rigorous standards allowed for a relatively rapid recovery, and the positive results were stable up to 10 years after surgery. The level of patient satisfaction also remained high even after 20 years.

[CONCLUSIONS] The "right time" for a facelift, taking into account age, recovery time, and the longevity of the results, is an important consideration for both the patient and the cosmetic surgeon.