Top 5 Facelift Surgery Myths in 2025

By Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon | Sydney & Brisbane

As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with clinics in Sydney and Brisbane, Dr Scott J Turner frequently encounters patients during facelift consultations carrying misconceptions about facelift surgery. Some of these beliefs stem from outdated information, others from social media speculation, and many from well-meaning friends who underwent procedures decades ago when techniques were vastly different.

These misconceptions matter because they can prevent suitable candidates from exploring their options, or alternatively, create unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment. This article addresses the most persistent myths and provides factual information to help patients make informed healthcare decisions.

Surgical techniques continue to advance, and what was true about facelift surgery in 2005 or even 2015 may no longer reflect current practice. With that context in mind, here are five common misconceptions.

Myth 1: Facelift Surgery Is Only for People in Their 70s and 80s

The Reality: The idea that facelifts are exclusively for older patients does not align with modern practice.

While facelifts were historically associated with older individuals—partly because earlier techniques were less refined and patients often waited until facial ageing was advanced—current approaches have shifted this paradigm. Dr Turner consults with patients across a broad age spectrum, typically ranging from their early 40s through to their late 70s.

The question of timing isn’t about reaching a particular birthday. It’s about individual presentation. Some patients develop significant jowling, neck laxity, or midface descent in their late 40s, while others maintain facial structural integrity well into their 60s. Genetics, sun exposure, smoking history, weight fluctuations, and overall health all influence how and when facial ageing becomes apparent.

What Determines Candidacy?

Rather than age, Dr Turner assesses several anatomical factors during consultation:

• The degree and pattern of facial tissue descent
• Skin quality and remaining elasticity
• Underlying bone structure
• Whether non-surgical options (such as dermal fillers or threads) might adequately address concerns
• Patient goals and expectations

For some patients in their 40s, facelift surgery represents the most appropriate intervention while tissue quality remains robust. For others of the same age, a combination of non-surgical treatments may be more suitable. These decisions must be individualised rather than based on arbitrary age thresholds—patients may also benefit from understanding the different facelift techniques available, such as the Short Scar Facelift for those with earlier signs of ageing, or more comprehensive approaches like the Deep Plane Facelift for advanced concerns.

Myth 2: Facelift Scars Are Always Obvious and Visible

The Concern Behind the Myth: Understandably, patients worry about trading one aesthetic concern for another—visible surgical scars. This anxiety often stems from observing older facelift results or seeing the “pulled” look associated with surgical techniques that are no longer standard practice.

Modern facelift approaches place considerable emphasis on precise incision planning and meticulous closure techniques. In the Deep Plane and SMAS facelifts Dr Turner performs, incisions are strategically designed to follow the natural contours of the ear and extend into the hairline, where hair can help camouflage the incision line as it heals.

How Contemporary Techniques Address Scarring

Several elements of Dr Turner’s surgical practice contribute to improved scar outcomes:

• Strategic Placement: Incisions are placed to take advantage of anatomical camouflage—the junction where the ear meets the face (often hidden inside the tragal cartilage), the natural crease behind the ear, and within the hairline.
• Tension-Free Closure: This is the most critical factor. Modern techniques—particularly the Deep Plane approach—lift and suspend the deeper facial layer (SMAS) rather than relying on the skin to hold the lift. Because the deep layers carry the weight, the skin can be re-draped gently without tension. When skin is not pulled tight, the incision line experiences minimal stress, which significantly improves scar quality.
• Layered Suturing: Meticulous, multi-layer closure techniques precisely align the skin edges, further supporting optimal wound healing.

Individual Variation Is Significant

Despite these surgical advances, it is essential to acknowledge that scarring is a biological process that varies between individuals. Factors including genetics, skin type, smoking history, sun exposure, and strict adherence to post-operative scar care protocols all influence the final result—while most patients find their scars mature and fade significantly within 6 to 12 months, some individuals may form more prominent scars regardless of the technique used.

Myth 3: Facelift Results Look Artificial and “Overdone”

Where This Perception Originates

The “windswept,” “pulled,” or frozen appearance that people often associate with facelifts is typically the result of outdated techniques that relied on pulling the skin horizontally (towards the ears). This creates a flattened face that looks unnatural because it goes against the natural pull of gravity.

This perception is reinforced whenever a public figure appears with noticeable surgical distortion. These cases stick in our collective memory, while the countless well-executed procedures that simply make someone look refreshed go undetected.

Why Modern Results Often Differ

Contemporary facelift techniques—specifically the Deep Plane Facelift and Vertical Facelift approaches—focus on repositioning descended tissues to their original anatomical position rather than stretching the skin.

Gravity pulls the facial tissues down, not back. Therefore, effective correction requires a more vertical lift. In the procedures Dr Turner performs, he releases the deeper facial structures—the SMAS layer and the tethering ligaments—allowing the cheek fat and muscle to be elevated vertically as a single unit.

This approach means the overlying skin is simply re-draped without tension. The result avoids the “pulled” look entirely and tends to appear like a younger version of the patient rather than a different person.

Realistic Expectations Remain Essential

Several factors influence the final aesthetic, including individual bone structure (which provides the “scaffold” for the lift), volume loss (which may require facial fat grafting to address), and skin quality—sun-damaged or thin skin settles differently than thicker, elastic skin. During consultation, Dr Turner shows patients before-and-after photographs of previous cases with similar presentations to provide realistic reference points, but specific outcomes can never be guaranteed.

Myth 4: Men Don’t Get Facelifts

The Reality: While facelift surgery has historically been more common among women, a significant and growing proportion of consultations at FacePlus involve male patients. The notion that aesthetic surgery is exclusively female territory is outdated.

Men experience facial ageing through the same biological processes—collagen depletion, fat descent, and skin laxity—but often with heavier tissue. Many wish to address these changes to remain competitive in the workplace or simply to improve their appearance.

Anatomical Considerations for Male Patients

Male facial surgery is not simply a “standard facelift” performed on a man; it requires a tailored surgical approach:

• Beard & Hair Patterns: Incision placement is critical. A skilled surgeon must plan incisions to ensure beard hair is not displaced onto or behind the ear. Preserving the sideburn and natural hairline is essential to avoid an “operated” look.
• Heavier Skin & Muscle: Male skin is thicker and more vascular. Because the tissue is heavier, “skin-only” lifts fail almost immediately. A robust Deep Plane or SMAS suspension is mandatory to support the weight of the male face for a durable result.
• Jawline Definition: For many men, the neck and jawline are the primary focus rather than the cheeks. Addressing a strong, defined jawline is often the key goal.

Complementary Procedures

Because a weak chin or heavy neck can compromise the result, many male patients combine a facelift with a Deep Neck Lift (to remove deep fat under the muscle) or a Chin Implant. These additions help balance facial proportions and create a stronger, more masculine profile.

Myth 5: Recovery Takes Months and Is Extremely Painful

Managing Expectations About Recovery: This myth contains elements of both truth and exaggeration, which makes it worth addressing carefully.

Facelift recovery is a significant undertaking. Anyone suggesting otherwise is being misleading. However, the reality is more nuanced than simply stating recovery “takes months” or is “painful.”

What Recovery Actually Involves

The initial week following surgery involves the most significant restrictions. Patients experience swelling, bruising, and tightness. Drains may be in place for the first day or two. Discomfort is typically managed with prescribed medications, and most patients describe the sensation as tightness and pressure rather than sharp pain.

By weeks two to three, most patients feel comfortable returning to office-based work, though visible bruising and swelling persist. Social activities typically resume around weeks three to four, though this varies.

The “months” aspect relates to final results rather than functional recovery. While patients are active and functional within a few weeks, subtle swelling continues to resolve over three to six months. The tissues continue to settle and soften during this period.

Factors Affecting Individual Recovery

Recovery experiences vary considerably based on:

• Extent of surgery performed
• Individual healing characteristics
• Age and overall health status
• Whether additional procedures are performed simultaneously
• Compliance with post-operative instructions
• Individual pain tolerance

Dr Turner provides detailed recovery timelines during consultation and adjusts these based on individual circumstances. Some patients recover more quickly than expected; others take longer. Planning for realistic recovery rather than best-case scenarios helps avoid frustration.

Making an Informed Decision

Understanding accurate information about facelift surgery is the foundation for making good decisions. Whether you ultimately decide to pursue surgery, explore non-surgical options, or simply monitor changes over time, that decision should be based on facts rather than myths.

If you’re considering facial surgery, seek consultation with a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon, ask questions about the techniques recommended for your situation, review before-and-after photographs, and take adequate time to make your decision without pressure.

Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) with practices in Sydney and Brisbane. To discuss whether facelift surgery may be appropriate for your individual circumstances, contact our practice to arrange a consultation.

Book a Consultation in Sydney or Brisbane

If you are considering lower facelift surgery, Dr Scott J Turner offers comprehensive assessments at his Sydney and Brisbane clinics. As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon specialising in facial aesthetic surgery, Dr Turner can evaluate your individual concerns and recommend the most appropriate surgical approach.

To arrange your consultation, please contact us or telephone 1300 437 758.