INFORMATION PLASTIC SURGEONS WON'T TELL YOU: NUMBER 7

7. “Sure, I can turn back the clock, but it just starts again.”

Just because you shelled out $10,000 for a face-lift doesn’t mean you’re set for life. Even the most skillful work will need some attention a decade or so down the line. Some jobs may require supplemental fillers (compounds that are injected under wrinkle lines into the skin) or minor surgery to tighten up a few sags, while others could call for a repeat of the same procedure. A face-lift can be expected to last about eight to 10 years, says Nahai, the Atlanta surgeon and editor. Exact results will depend on the condition of the patient’s skin; how well the patient cares for the skin, such as by keeping out of the sun and maintaining a stable, healthy weight; and the surgeon’s skill. Any work done on the lower face will age more quickly than on the upper face since the lower is fleshier and has less bone for sagging skin to hang onto: “The jowls are the first to come back,” Nahai says.