Do facelift patients seem to be getting younger?

Once favoured by more mature ladies, facelift surgery appears to be attracting a much younger crowd, with women as young as 28 turning t the scalpel to hone their facial contours. Save Face investigates what’s really going on.

Many famous female celebrities and Hollywood stars have been linked to facelift surgery over the years; often starting their journey in their 50s, they went on to have further revisions in their 60s and 70s. The likes of Jane Fonda, Sharon Osbourne, Janice Dickinson, and Cher, all reported to have ‘gone under the knife’, paint a picture of the typical demographic we became used to hearing about in relation to facelift surgery to ‘pull back’ and tighten the face. Joan Rivers was famous for making fun of her own facelift obsession, joking, “I’ve had so many facelifts, if I sneeze, my nose could end up in the back of my head.”

What we commonly refer to as a facelift is clinically known as a rhytidectomy, from the Greek. The etymological meaning is rhytid, a wrinkle or crease in the skin, plus -ectomy, denoting the surgical removal or excision of a part of the body. Thus, rhytidectomy literally means the ‘cutting out’ of wrinkles, and we associate a facelift with a type of cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure intended to give a more youthful appearance.[i]

According to the 2024 procedural statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), patients under 19 or aged 20-29 accounted for only 1% of reported facelifts, and similarly, those aged 30-39 only accounted for 2%. This starts to see a notable increase as patients aged 40-54 accounted for 18% of reported rhytidectomies. However, it is a larger group, those aged 55-69, that still accounted for 59% of all facelifts, with the over-70s taking up the final 20%.[ii] The 40-somethings are certainly getting in on the action, and the trend for more mature facelift patients may be changing.

In 2025, ASPS stated that “facelifts are no longer reserved for seniors.”[iii] When asked about trends, surgeons reported to them that patients in their ‘midlife’ – those in their 40s and 50s – were embracing the surgical option earlier, with “the GenXers coming in a little earlier than the Baby Boomers did”.[iv]

Rather than spending additional time and money exhausting every non-surgical treatment option available to them, before finally throwing in the towel and having facelift surgery as a last resort, patients are tending to spurn more needles and opt for surgery at a younger age.

Similarly, the American Academy of Facial, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) reported that, according to their 2024 annual member survey data, facelift patients are indeed trending younger, with patients aged 35-55 rising in accountability from 26% to 32% of reported facelift procedures in recent years. When surveyed, 67% of AAFPRS members agreed that the average age of their facelift patients is getting younger.[v]

Commenting on the trend, Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Senior Emergency Physician, Dr Paul Baguley, who has over 40 years of clinical practice, said,

“What I’m seeing clinically mirrors the data rather than the hype. What I do not see in any meaningful numbers is a surge of patients in their late 20s or early 30s requesting traditional facelifts. Those cases exist, but they are outliers, often amplified by social media and cosmetic tourism rather than reflecting mainstream, responsible surgical practice.”

Being younger has its advantages; patients are generally healthier, have stronger support structures, better tissue elasticity and viability for wound healing, tend to achieve quicker recovery with improved outcomes, and have a greater chance of achieving a natural look; plus, they are more likely to enjoy their results earlier in life when relationships and social lives are more front and centre. The downside tends to be longevity and expectation, notes Dr Baguley. Undergoing surgery at a younger age does mean there is an increased likelihood of repeat operations or revisions, whether through temptation or feeling pressured, he warns, which can be more complex (and expensive).[vi]

Ageing is very patient specific, making it difficult to outright state the ‘perfect’ age for a facelift; lifestyle factors, genetics, and even medications (see our other article on the effects of ‘Ozempic face’) can all factor into why one person in their 60s may have little facial ageing and be unsuitable, but another, in their 40s could benefit from facelift surgery.

“Younger patients rarely describe their motivation as ‘anti-ageing’. Instead, they talk about looking tired, heavy, or not matching how they feel internally. It’s more about facial shape, definition, and proportion than trying to look younger. A common theme is frustration with non-surgical treatments. Many feel that dermal fillers have plateaued or subtly distorted their face, and they want a structural, longer-term solution rather than repeated temporary interventions.”

In fact, many Gen Xers (born 1965-1980) are regarded as achievers in their careers or as business owners, are financially secure, have raised their children to young adults, yet still want to enjoy themselves, have active social lives, and have embraced the image-centric world of social media and video calling, so why not opt for a surgical solution sooner?

However, recent social media reports are highlighting women in their late 20s also turning to surgical facelifts. Of course, the biggest question after hearing this news tends to be, why? This cannot be about ‘cutting out wrinkles’.

Emily, 28, from Toronto, Canada, had a deep plane, mid-facelift in Turkey (alongside a plethora of other surgeries at the same time, including a blepharoplasty, lip lift, partial buccal fat removal, and rhinoplasty) to achieve a ‘snatched look’, as reported by the BBC.[vii] Describing it as ‘life-changing’, her aim was a sculpted, sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and fox eyes.

This is far from what we associate with a traditional rhytidectomy and goes some way towards highlighting a modern distinction. Younger patients are not seeking an anti-ageing facelift solution, but a way to sculpt their features, to get that ‘Instagramable’ look. This trend is further driven by the under-30s having grown up in a digital world fixated on self-image, selfies, filters, Zoom calls, and body shaming.

“Surgery does not stop ageing”, cautions Dr Baguley. “It should address a genuine structural problem, not social pressure, filters, or unrealistic expectations. If the indication isn’t there, the correct answer is often ‘not yet’”.

Classic facelift surgery involves three areas: the upper face, lower jawline and neck, where jowls and ‘turkey necks’ become prevalent. It is a serious operation generally regarded as suitable for those over 40 with an excess and laxity of facial skin. It would be highly unusual to perform such a traditional procedure on someone in their 20s or 30s.

But, as modern surgical methods have evolved to include less dissection with mid-face procedures or mini-facelifts aimed at the upper two-thirds of the face, it has become more popular for facial contouring, and to alleviate the early signs of ageing noted at a younger age. Such facelift techniques use less invasive methods that are attractive, offer more permanent results, and are value for money.

“Modern facelift surgery is far more nuanced than the traditional, skin-tightening model. Younger patients usually do not need extensive lower-face skin excision. Instead, contemporary approaches often focus on the mid-face, the upper third, or deeper structural support (such as SMAS or deep-plane techniques) with minimal skin removal. The emphasis is on repositioning and balance, not tightening. In younger patients, small adjustments to deeper tissues can restore contour without altering facial identity.”

The perception surrounding facelifts is certainly changing, and patients are getting younger, but generally not ‘that’ young. Dr Baguley concludes,

“The idea that facelifts are rapidly being driven into ever-younger age groups is overstated. What is really happening is better-informed patients, earlier engagement, and a growing recognition that structure matters more than endless injectables. Good facelift surgery hasn’t become younger. It has become more precise.”

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