They’re repeat customers.
More and more New Yorkers are opting for follow-up facelifts to maintain a youthful appearance several years after first going under the knife.
“I am seeing a lot of patients in their late 50s and early 60s coming in for second facelifts,” Upper East Side facial plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Alemi told The Post. “I would say this is up 30% since a year ago.’’
Famed New York hairdresser Paul Labrecque, 64, is scheduled for the procedure in August.
He had a neck and lower facelift 13 years ago, at age 51, and was extremely happy with the results. But gravity has taken its toll and, after not recognizing himself in photographs from a charity event, he made an appointment with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Davidson in Palm Beach, where he also has a salon.
“I am in a young person’s profession and I want to look current and not tired,” Labrecque told The Post, adding. “Some of my clients are now doing three [facelifts], but I think by the time I’m in my ‘70s, I won’t worry about it.”
One major driver of the trend is the fact that people are increasingly getting facelifts at younger ages than before, and, a decade or so later, wanting to keep up the youthful look. The popularity of Ozempic and similar medications is also a factor, as the dramatic weight loss they bring about can lead to loose skin and a face that appears deflated. Also, the surgeries themselves have gotten better.
“I see more people coming in at 40 to 45 for primary lifts, rather than at 50 to 55, and those that already had them done are no longer waiting 15 or 20 years [to get another], because they are aware of newer techniques, and they want to jump on them,’’ noted Dr. Robert Schwarcz, an Upper East Side oculoplastic surgeon.
Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon with many New York patients, said his second-facelift patients aren’t expecting to appear as they did the first time around. “They don’t want to look like they are in their 20s; just healthy and good,’’ he observed. “They want to look like they are in their 30s or 40s into their 60s and 70s.’’
Linda Simmons, a 78-year old attorney, recently came to him for a refresher — 17 years after having him do her initial facelift.
“I was thrilled the first time around and I decided, like with a computer system, it was time for an upgrade,” she said. “This is is part of self care.’’
Recovery was easy, thanks to innovations like hyperbaric oxygen therapy before and after to increase the rate of healing, as well as smart laser on her face and neck.
“I had no pain, and within six or seven days, the bruising was resolving,’’ she said.
She’s so happy, she’s not ruling out coming back for a third.
“I would do it again in a minute and I will do it when I am ready,” she told The Post. “I am just so pleased with how it restored me and my confidence. ’’
Denise T., 61, has been also thrilled with her second facelift and can see having a third down the line.
The Palm Beach resident had her first facelift at age 42 with Park Avenue plastic surgeon Dr. Sherell Aston and a second lift with Aston at age 54.
“I actually look better now than when I started in my 40s, because he strengthened my jawline and gave my face more symmetry,” said Denise, who works in advertising. “I hope I live long enough to get a third with him.’’
Aston said Denise would hardly be an outlier if she opted for a third.
“I now have a significant number of patients who I have done three facelifts on,’’ the doctor said. “Today people are skiing and golfing into their seventies and they want to look as good as they feel. Surgery can also be done more safely; we use the same anesthesia as they do for a colonoscopy.’’
The second or third time around can be less frightening, because patients know the ropes. Paula D., 70, who lives in Great Neck and works in real estate, just had a second facelift with Dr. Lyle Leipziger, Chief of Plastic Surgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center — 13 years after he did her first.
“I knew the process, and everything has gotten better,’’ she said. “I didn’t have any pain and only used Tylenol. I am five weeks out and everyone is telling me how great I look.’’
Azizzadeh notes that repeat facelifts are slightly more complicated, and some doctors may charge more than they would for an initial. (The general cost of facelifts varies widely, with prices ranging from $25,000 to $150,000.)
“It’s no longer virgin anatomy, so the surgeon needs to have a high level of anatomic and facial nerve expertise,’’ Azizzadeh said.
Alemi said he could see some people going beyond a third facelift.
“Life expectancy is going up,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of people seeking a fourth one yet, but I don’t know if we can say four is too many.’’
Read the full article here
