I am 68 years old and wondering if I am «too old» for a facelift. I had a midface lift and upper eyelid surgery 13 years ago and would like to explore some options for updating my look.
Answer:
You are never too old! Actually, I don’t believe that the chronological, or real age, matters when deciding to have surgery. What is important is your health. A healthy 68-year-old person is a good candidate for elective surgery, while a 50 year old with heart disease may not be a good candidate. I have all patients that are undergoing surgery have a full medical evaluation with their medical doctor. This evaluation will included lab work, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-ray, and any other test that the primary care physician thinks it is necessary. This is not a time to take short cuts or avoid tests. After the patient is deemed low risk for surgery (the best category), the patient is then allowed to proceed with surgery. If you are told by your primary care physician that you should not undergo surgery because he or she believes it to be risky, then follow the advice! Do not search for a surgeon that will operate on you. It is safe to say that you will probably find one, however, you would be putting yourself in danger. Any ethical and moral surgeon would not electively operate on a person that was deemed high or elevated risk for surgery. So to answer your question, seek a medical evaluation to see if you are low risk for surgery. If you are, go ahead and consult with a reputable physician for an evaluation. Good luck!
Posted by Dr. Bustillo