If you’re considering facelift surgery, you’re probably not thinking about the procedure in terms of candidacy, sitting down with a checklist and methodically evaluating whether you meet specific criteria. Instead, you’re probably wondering if a facelift can help you feel more refreshed and confident, a question that might’ve arisen after seeing a photo that doesn’t quite match how you see yourself or catching your reflection in a shop window.
You’re not alone. The question most patients ask isn’t, “Do I qualify?” It’s something more along the lines of: “Can a facelift help me?” “Is now the right time?” “Will I still look like me?” To Dr Janssen, the main intent of the surgery is to look unoperated, without a swoop or pulled look. If we are going to make an error, it will be on the side of too loose, not too tight. With the technique that we use, many are able to be out and about within a week of surgery. We leave “deep plane techniques = long term swelling” to others.
At Fox Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. David Janssen has been having this exact conversation with patients from Appleton, Oshkosh, Green Bay and beyond for decades. What follows is an honest, thorough guide to help you determine if facelift surgery might be right for you before you ever pick up the phone.
What “Good Candidate” Actually Means
Every facelift procedure page will tell you the same thing: ideal candidates should be in good health, have realistic expectations, not smoke or use tobacco, and be reasonably healthy at any age. All of that is true. But whether your concerns align with what a facelift does and if you’re at the right moment in your aging journey to benefit from it also matter.
So, what can a facelift actually address? What are the physical changes that send people searching for answers in the first place?
Well, when we’re young, the face has a youthful V-shape, characterized by voluminous cheeks that taper down into a well-defined chin. As we age, this shape inverts into more of a pyramid, with sagging skin, fat loss and gravity causing volume to shift down into the lower face. The cheeks flatten and descend, jowls form, and the chin and jawline become less defined.
A facelift is the most effective surgical solution for exactly these changes. Dr. Janssen’s approach focuses on repositioning the underlying structures, not just tightening skin, which is what produces a natural look that holds up over time. His primary technique, the MACS lift, from Ghent, Belgium lifts the cheeks and jowls vertically, restoring them to a more youthful position while minimizing tension on the skin. This is often combined with a Lateral Skin Displacement (LSD) from Milan, Italy to tighten the platysma muscle and eliminate banding for even more comprehensive results.
Learn more about what a facelift can address here.
What Is the “Right Age” for a Facelift?
Most people seeking a facelift are between the ages of 45 and 80, but in recent years, facelift patients have trended younger. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) found that, in 2024, 32% of facelift patients were between the ages of 35 and 55, and more than half of facial plastic surgeons reported seeing a younger demographic.
This shift reflects something surgeons like Dr. Janssen have known for decades: the right time for a facelift has less to do with a specific age and more to do with what you’re working with. While most patients are still somewhere in the range of mid-40s to early-70s, it’s not because that is “the window” for facial rejuvenation. It’s that most people reach a point of visible structural change during these years, where surgery offers the clearest benefit.
That being said, a 42-year-old with noticeable volume loss and jowling might be a better candidate than a 55-year-old who looks largely unchanged. When evaluating facelift candidacy, most plastic surgeons emphasize anatomy over age.
When Do Nonsurgical Treatments Make More Sense?
Not everyone who walks into a consultation needs surgery, and any practice that puts patients first won’t hesitate to tell you that.
If your skin elasticity is still good, your concerns are mild, and what you’re seeing is early volume loss or surface-level changes, nonsurgical treatments may still serve you well for several years. Dermal fillers can restore volume and soften early hollowing. Neurotoxins like Botox address dynamic lines and can help with early brow descent. Chemical peels and advanced laser treatments tackle texture, tone and sun damage.
During your consultation, Dr. Janssen will evaluate your concerns and determine if surgery makes the most sense right now, or if you fall into the “not yet” category. We always look at this as a risk vs benefit perspective. There may come a point when injectables and lasers no longer create the same level of improvement. When that happens, you’ll have the opportunity to revisit your options and decide your next move.
How Health, Lifestyle & Expectations Affect Surgical Outcomes
Once it’s determined that a facelift can help you achieve your goals, your surgeon will look at other factors that determine candidacy, such as your health, lifestyle and expectations.
Good overall health is a genuine requirement, not a formality. Medical conditions that affect healing, blood clotting or immune response all factor into whether surgery is appropriate. Lifestyle factors are also important, with smoking being the one that affects candidacy the most. That’s because nicotine use (for instance, cigarettes, vaping and smokeless tobacco) significantly increases the risk of complications after surgery. These risks may include poor wound healing, infection, skin necrosis and unfavorable scarring. Dr. Janssen asks patients to stop smoking at least one month before surgery and for one month after to help ensure optimal healing and results.
Realistic expectations are something Dr. Janssen takes seriously in every consultation. A facelift restores your face to an earlier version of itself. It does not change your fundamental appearance or stop the aging process entirely. Most patients enjoy their results for 10 to 15 years, with many seeing improvement well beyond that, depending on how they care for their skin. That’s a significant return on a single procedure, but it’s worth going in with clear eyes about what surgery can and cannot promise.
Explore What’s Possible at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery
A consultation is less commitment than you think. When you come in to meet with Dr. Janssen, whether at our Appleton or Oshkosh location, or through a virtual consultation, the goal is simply to have an honest conversation. Dr. Janssen will evaluate your anatomy, listen to your concerns, and give you a clear, personalized assessment of what’s possible and what approach would serve you best.
Dr. Janssen is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and a member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The Aesthetic Society, formerly known as the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). He is a skilled and qualified plastic surgeon with years of experience in facelift surgery, and his patients consistently describe him as thoughtful, direct and genuinely invested in their results.
If you’d like to explore your options and find out if facelift surgery is right for you, book your consultation today. Get started by calling Fox Valley Plastic Surgery at 920-233-1540, or request your appointment online!
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