A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgery procedure that tightens and lifts sagging facial skin and underlying tissues. This facial rejuvenation technique addresses signs of natural aging by removing excess skin, repositioning facial muscles, and creating a more youthful appearance.
According to the University of Utah Health, a facelift surgery will last around 10 years for most patients. This duration varies significantly based on factors like surgical technique, individual skin quality, and lifestyle choices. While the natural aging process continues after surgery, you’ll also get a more youthful look compared to the pre-facelift appearance.
Facelift Longevity by Type
A facelift generally lasts around 10 years, though the exact longevity depends on the type of facelift performed. Factors like skin quality, age, and lifestyle habits can also influence how long the results remain noticeable.
1. Liquid Facelift
According to Dr. Seungjae Baek of Reberry Clinic at Myeongdong, a liquid facelift typically lasts 12 to 18 months before requiring touch-up treatments. This non-surgical procedure uses dermal fillers and neurotoxins to restore volume and smooth wrinkles without incisions. The results fade gradually as your body naturally absorbs the injectable substances. Most patients schedule maintenance appointments every 6 to 12 months to preserve their refreshed appearance.
2. Thread Lift
According to the International Centre for Cosmetic Medicine, thread lifts generally last around nine months and, in rarer cases, up to three years. The dissolvable threads stimulate collagen production while providing immediate lifting, but the threads themselves dissolve within 6 to 8 months. The collagen boost continues to give some skin-tightening effects even after thread dissolution. This minimally invasive option offers shorter longevity compared to surgical alternatives.
3. Onda Lift
An Onda lift delivers results that typically last 2 to 4 years with proper maintenance treatments. This radiofrequency-based procedure stimulates deep collagen remodeling and skin tightening without surgery. The therapy creates ongoing improvements for several months post-procedure as new collagen forms. Most patients benefit from annual maintenance sessions to sustain the lifting and tightening effects.
4. Titanium Lift
Titanium lift results can last 3 to 5 years, making it one of the longer-lasting non-surgical options. This facelift procedure uses titanium microthreads that remain permanently in the skin to provide structural support. These biocompatible threads continue stimulating collagen production long after insertion. The combination of permanent support and ongoing collagen renewal creates more durable facial rejuvenation than temporary thread lifts.
5. Mini Facelift
A mini facelift typically provides results lasting 5 to 8 years before significant aging becomes noticeable again. This less invasive surgical procedure targets the lower face and jawline with smaller incisions than traditional facelifts. The shorter recovery time comes with a trade-off of reduced longevity compared to more comprehensive surgical options. Most patients appreciate the balance between downtime and duration of results.
6. Deep Plane Facelift
Deep plane facelift results typically last 10 to 15 years, representing one of the most durable facial rejuvenation options. This advanced surgical technique repositions deeper facial structures rather than just tightening skin. The comprehensive approach also addresses muscle layers and fat compartments for more natural, long-lasting improvements.
7. SMAS Facelift
An SMAS facelift generally provides results lasting 10 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. This procedure targets the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the deeper layer of facial muscles and tissues. By addressing both skin and underlying structures, SMAS facelifts create more comprehensive and enduring improvements. The technique offers excellent longevity while maintaining natural facial expressions and movement.
What Factors Affect the Longevity of a Facelift?
The longevity of a facelift depends on several factors, including your skin’s natural elasticity, which determines how well it adapts to the changes; your lifestyle habits, such as sun exposure, smoking, or stress; and how carefully you follow post-surgical care instructions provided by your surgeon.
Here are the factors that affect the longevity of a facelift:
1. Skin Elasticity
Skin elasticity plays the most critical role in determining facelift longevity, as more elastic skin maintains lifted results longer. Patients with good collagen production and minimal sun damage typically enjoy extended results because their skin can better support the repositioned tissues. Poor skin elasticity from aging, genetics, or environmental damage leads to faster sagging and reduced procedure duration.
2. Lifestyle Factors and Stress
Smoking significantly shortens facelift results by reducing blood flow and breaking down collagen at an accelerated rate. Excessive sun exposure can also cause skin damage that affects surgical improvements and speeds up the aging process. Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can degrade skin quality and reduce the longevity of facial rejuvenation results. Poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and high alcohol consumption also affect the skin’s health and reduce the duration of facelift benefits.
3. Post-Surgical Care
Following proper post-surgical care instructions directly impacts both healing quality and result longevity. Patients who follow regular wound care, avoid premature physical activity, and attend all follow-up appointments typically experience better long-term outcomes. Sticking to prescribed medications and activity restrictions during recovery also ensures optimal tissue healing and positioning.
4. Age at Surgery
Younger patients generally experience longer-lasting facelift results because their skin retains better elasticity and healing capacity. Patients in their 40s and 50s often maintain results for the full expected duration, while those over 65 may see faster recurrence of aging signs. The natural aging process continues after surgery, but younger skin responds better to surgical repositioning and maintains improvements longer.
5. Genetics
Genetic factors control individual aging patterns, collagen production rates, and skin quality maintenance over time. Some people inherit genes that promote slower aging and better collagen synthesis, extending their facelift results naturally. A family history of premature aging or poor skin elasticity can mean shorter procedure longevity despite excellent surgical technique.
How to Maintain a Long-lasting Facelift?
1. Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Avoiding smoking is the most important step to preserve your facelift results, as tobacco damages blood vessels and breaks down skin collagen. Regular exercise improves blood flow to facial tissues and helps maintain healthy skin tone throughout the aging process. Similarly, getting enough sleep allows your skin to repair itself naturally, while managing stress prevents hormone-related skin damage that can shorten facelift longevity.
2. Regular Skin Maintenance
Daily sunscreen use with SPF 30 or higher protects your facelift by preventing UV damage that speeds up aging. A consistent skincare routine with gentle cleansing and quality moisturizing keeps skin healthy and supports long-term results. Professional treatments like chemical peels or laser therapy can enhance your facelift results and address new signs of aging as they develop.
3. Healthy Diet
Eating foods rich in vitamins C and E supports collagen production and helps maintain the skin structure created during your facelift. Likewise, staying well-hydrated keeps skin plump and elastic, which helps preserve the lifted appearance longer. You should also limit sugar and processed foods, which reduce inflammation that can break down skin proteins and compromise your surgical results.
4. Consider Cosmetic Injectables
Strategic use of Botox can prevent muscle movements that create new wrinkles and help maintain your smooth facelift results. Dermal fillers can also restore volume loss that occurs naturally over time, supporting the lifted contours achieved through surgery. These non-surgical treatments work as maintenance tools to extend the life of your facelift without requiring additional surgery.
5. Choose a Qualified Facelift Surgeon
Selecting a board-certified cosmetic surgery specialist like the specialists from Re:berry Clinic ensures proper surgical technique that creates natural-looking results. An experienced surgeon uses advanced methods that address deeper tissue layers, providing more durable improvements than basic techniques. Working with a qualified dermatologist also helps prevent botched facelifts that could leave lasting effects.
How Many Times Can You Do a Facelift?
Most patients can safely undergo 2 to 3 facelifts during their lifetime, with at least 10 to 15 years between procedures. The number depends on skin quality, healing ability, and the amount of available tissue for repositioning during each surgery. Each subsequent facelift becomes more challenging as skin elasticity decreases and scar tissue forms from previous procedures. Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting until significant aging occurs before considering a second facelift to ensure meaningful improvement and optimal safety.
Conclusion
Facelift longevity varies significantly by procedure type, ranging from 12 months for liquid facelifts to 15 years for comprehensive surgical options like SMAS or deep plane techniques. Your individual results depend on factors including skin quality, age at surgery, lifestyle choices, and postoperative care adherence. By choosing the right procedure type, maintaining healthy habits, and working with a qualified plastic surgery specialist, you can maximize both the duration and quality of your facial rejuvenation results.
Why Patients Need to Come to Korea for a Facelift
Don’t settle for temporary fixes when you can invest in results that last 10-15 years in Korea with the most trusted facelift specialists. At Reberry Clinic, we have earned our reputation as the #1 choice among over 1,000 dermatology clinics, with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results to thousands of international patients.
Your youthful transformation is just one consultation away, join the patients from Japan, China, Taiwan, and the U.S. who chose Reberry for life-changing, natural-looking results that stand the test of time.
Reberry Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Facelift be Done Twice?
Yes, a second facelift can be done as well. However it can be complex and is only possible if you are in good overall health.
