Key points
- A facelift does not stop aging itself, so how well the results hold up depends not only on the surgical method but also on each person's rate of aging and facial structure.
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 21 studies with 2896 patients concluded that both the deep-plane facelift and the SMAS facelift showed solid, long-lasting results and high patient satisfaction [1].
- However, which method lasts longer is still debated, and the research summaries reviewed for this article contained no data giving the number of years the results last [1].
- A literature review found that data on how much correction a thread lift achieves and how long its results last are still unclear, so it is too early to accept it as an alternative to a facelift [4].
Why it is hard to put a number on how long results last
A facelift is surgery that moves sagging tissue back into place, but the skin, fat, and bone continue to age after surgery. So the change seen right after surgery does not stay fixed; natural aging is added on top of it over time.
How long results last can also be defined differently from study to study. One study might look at the time until sagging returns, while another might look at how much younger a person looks compared with not having had surgery. The research summaries reviewed for this article contained no data giving the number of years facelift results last.
Long-term results confirmed in research
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis searched controlled trials and cohort studies from 2000 to 2024 and included 21 studies with 2896 patients [1]. This study included long-term satisfaction beyond 1 year as a secondary outcome [1].
Patient satisfaction was 94.4% for the deep-plane facelift and 87.8% for the SMAS facelift, and the overall complication rate was 17.2% for the deep-plane facelift and 10.3% for the SMAS facelift [1]. The authors concluded that both methods showed solid, long-lasting results, but stated that which method lasts longer is still debated [1]. When interpreting these results, it should also be kept in mind that this was a single-arm meta-analysis that pooled the results of each method separately [1].
For the forehead, a 2022 review of the endoscopic forehead lift presented its effects with long-term follow-up photographs, but these are case photographs, and the research summary does not give the length of time in numbers [3].
Factors that affect how well results hold up
A review of lower face and neck lifts named anatomical conditions such as platysma bands, a fuller, heavier facial build (endomorphic facial habitus), and an underdeveloped midface (midface hypoplasia) as difficult challenges in facelift surgery [2]. The same review also presented several technical modifications that contribute to more consistent success and longer-lasting results [2].
It also covered consultations that convey realistic expectations about the limits of what a facelift alone can achieve, and the limits with and without additional procedures [2]. Lifestyle factors such as skin condition, changes in weight, smoking, and sun exposure can also affect the rate of aging.
How is it different from a thread lift?
Thread lifts attract a lot of interest because of their short recovery and low risk of complications, but a 2017 literature review summarized that the early results of facial lifting with barbed threads are still inconclusive [4]. It stated that data on the maximum correction achieved, how long the results last, and the effects of threads remaining in place over the long term are still unclear [4].
The same review concluded that the thread lift should not yet be accepted as an alternative to a facelift [4]. A 2024 review discussed the effects and durability of dissolvable and nondissolvable threads, and stressed that when choosing threads, several factors besides durability should be evaluated together [5].
When other procedures are combined
Some people consider procedures on areas such as around the mouth together with a facelift. A 2023 systematic review of lip rejuvenation analyzed 37 studies and reported that treating the lips alone gave short-lived results and lower satisfaction, requiring additional procedures, whereas treating the area around the mouth as well had a synergistic effect [6].
In the same review, hyaluronic acid lip treatment combined with improvement of the area around the mouth showed a 94.3% improvement on a lip volume scale 1 month after retreatment [6]. However, the same review stated that this is a short-term result, and that the procedures have limits depending on the properties of the product used [6].
What to check during your consultation
How long results last differs from person to person, so rather than expecting a specific length of time, it is important to understand the changes possible and their limits given your facial features. The review of lower face and neck lifts also covered how to convey realistic expectations about the limits of a facelift during consultation [2].
- How strong the evidence is for the expected changes and how long they last
- How the anatomy of your face will affect the result
- What a facelift alone can achieve and where additional procedures are needed
- Your options if sagging returns over time
Frequently asked questions
- How many years do facelift results last?
- The research summaries reviewed for this article contained no data giving the number of years results last. A 2025 meta-analysis included long-term satisfaction beyond 1 year in its analysis and concluded that both the deep-plane facelift and the SMAS lift showed long-lasting results [1]. Aging continues after surgery, so how well results hold up varies from person to person.
- Does a deep-plane facelift last longer than a SMAS facelift?
- The 2025 meta-analysis stated that which method lasts longer is still debated [1]. The authors' conclusion was that both methods showed solid, long-lasting results [1]. Anatomical conditions such as platysma bands and an underdeveloped midface are also named as difficult challenges in facelift surgery [2].
- Does a thread lift last as long as a facelift?
- A 2017 literature review summarized that data on how long the results of a barbed thread lift last are still unclear [4]. The same review concluded that the thread lift should not yet be accepted as an alternative to a facelift [4]. The right method for your degree of sagging should be determined through an examination.
References
- Khoury S, Almubarak Z, Khan H, et al. The Deep Plane versus SMAS Facelift: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025.PubMed 40801931DOI
- Truswell WH 4th, Putman HC 3rd, Perkins SW, et al. The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System and Other Considerations in Rejuvenation of the Lower Face and Neck. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2018.PubMed 29636147DOI
- Zins JE, Coombs DM. Endoscopic Brow Lift. Clin Plast Surg. 2022.PubMed 35710151DOI
- Tavares JP, Oliveira CACP, Torres RP, et al. Facial thread lifting with suture suspension. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2017.PubMed 28549872DOI
- Hong GW, Park SY, Yi KH. Revolutionizing thread lifting: Evolution and techniques in facial rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024.PubMed 38679891DOI
- Tabassum N, Chowdary Jasthi V, Al Salem A, et al. Perspectives and challenges in lip rejuvenation: a systematic review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023.PubMed 37843317DOI
This article is an English translation of general health information that DOY JUN Plastic Surgery compiled in Korean from the summaries (abstracts) of papers in international academic journals. Treatment methods and results vary depending on each person's condition, so please consult a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
