Should face-lifts be performed before the age of 40?

Patients are seeking rhytidectomies at a younger age. Review of literature indicates most procedures are performed in patients over 40 years of age. This paper attempts to answer the question, "Should face-lifts be performed before 40?" In a study by the author, measurements of skin removed from 50 female patients were taken. Five of the 50 patients were under 40. The amount of skin removed was grouped and compared by decades. Surprisingly, the amount of skin removed from patients under 40 was greater than that removed in other groups. This group represented a high degree of patient/doctor satisfaction and a low complication rate. The study identifies patients with considerable laxity in their skin because of hereditary predisposition and other factors. There is no reason to defer rhytidectomy for an under-40 patient as long as other preoperative criteria are met.