We commonly get asked at Centre for Surgery if plastic surgery has an age limit. As a leading provider of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments in London, we take great care to make sure patients are likely to achieve the best possible results. Although there are several factors to take into account when considering the upper age limit for cosmetic surgery, we would say, in most cases, there is no specific age limit for virtually all cosmetic surgery procedures.
Many younger patients often ask us if there is a minimum age they must be to have cosmetic surgery. At most plastic surgery clinics in the UK, patients will need to be at 18 years of age to have a consultation or procedure, and Centre for Surgery follows this guidance in full. In some cases, we may recommend you be at least 21 years of age to allow your body to complete growth and development, and this often applies to many types of nose surgery, such as rhinoplasty.
Whilst patients in their 70s and 80s were previously considered too old for cosmetic surgery, many significant advances over the last two decades have made it increasingly accessible. We are much healthier now, compared with, say, 30 years ago, and a person who is 60 years old can often have the energy and vitality of someone 20 years younger. Your chronological age is much less important if you are medically fit and have a healthy lifestyle.
We often have patients who choose to have breast augmentation surgery in the 60s, and they often tell us how pleased they were to have the surgery. Similarly, many older women and men in their 70s are interested in facelift surgery. Nowadays, people want to look and feel much younger. This is why aesthetic plastic surgery can be genuinely life-changing, with people developing a significant boost in self-confidence, even if they choose to have cosmetic surgery later in life.
Here are some key points you may wish to consider before choosing to have cosmetic surgery in London.
Older patients should be medically fit and in good health
Being in an older age group does not necessarily mean you will not qualify for cosmetic surgery. However, if you have serious medical conditions, this may mean you are not suitable for surgery. Here at Centre for Surgery, we emphasise patient safety above all else, and our clinical team will always emphasise this during consultations and procedures. You should be in overall good health to have plastic surgery. At the consultation, your Surgeon will take a detailed medical history, including any previous operations you may have had. You will also be asked about any medications you are currently taking. Patients over the age of 50 may be asked to undergo extra blood testing and an ECG to make sure there are no underlying heart conditions that have gone previously undetected.
Your specialist plastic surgeon will also want to know about your lifestyle. This is an essential determinant of suitability for surgery. Patients who smoke heavily or consume excessive quantities of alcohol have an increased risk of complications during and after surgery. People with a body mass index over 30 may not be suitable for surgery.
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks to be aware of. Patients who are medically fit and have a healthy lifestyle will have a lower risk of surgical complications, and their recovery will be smoother. Most cosmetic surgery procedures at our Baker Street clinic are performed under general anaesthetic. If you smoke or drink alcohol, you may be asked to stop in advance of surgery. You may also be asked to stop certain medications to minimise the risk of complications during anaesthesia.
Our admission criteria involve adhering to the internationally recognised ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) scoring criteria. The ASA classification is a validated measure of a person’s medical fitness for surgery. At Centre for Surgery, we only perform surgery on patients with an ASA score of one or two. If you have an ASA score of three or four, you will not be suitable for plastic surgery at the Centre for Surgery.
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The importance of realistic expectations
Although there is no defined age limit for cosmetic surgery, the results achievable with certain procedures will be impacted by the age you choose to have surgery. This is well demonstrated with facelift surgery. Although your surgeon may deem you a suitable candidate for a facelift, you may not achieve as dramatic results as if you had the procedure in your late 40s or early 50s. Facelift surgery, particularly a deep plane facelift, is one of the most effective facial rejuvenation procedures for reversing many of the signs of facial ageing. With modern surgical techniques, people can achieve long-lasting, beautiful and natural results as long as they have a sufficient amount of residual skin elasticity.
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This does not necessarily mean you cannot achieve amazing results with a facelift in your 70s. An experienced plastic surgeon will help you achieve a refreshed and youthful look by improving skin tightness and addressing loss of volume. However, a facelift cannot prevent further signs of ageing. This is why it is important to have realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve to give you a greater likelihood of being pleased with your final results.
In our experience, patients who are considering facelift surgery in their 70s and 80s are not hoping to look 30 years younger. They are often focused on improving certain areas of the face that they are unhappy about and would like to achieve subtle yet natural, looking enhancements to make them look like the best version of themselves. They are not fixated on eradicating every line or wrinkle or hoping to improve skin quality. Realistic outcomes of surgery include those looking to achieve a refreshed, vibrant and natural look to make them feel amazing about themselves.
If you are an older person and are exploring your cosmetic surgery options, make sure to carry out plenty of research to learn about the pros and cons of plastic surgery. This will help you to form realistic expectations about what kind of result can be achieved. At your in-person consultation at Centre for Surgery, you can view a wide selection of before and after photos to give you an idea of how you could look after surgery.
Non-surgical options may be more suitable
Many people may not be aware that there are several highly effective non-surgical options which may eliminate the need for an invasive surgical procedure with all its potential risks. If you are determined to be medically unfit for surgery or are not keen on the idea of a surgical procedure, there is a wide range of non-surgical options available at our Baker Street clinic. Our most popular nonsurgical treatments include anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, thread lift, Fotona4D, Morpheus8, FaceTite and BodyTite. Virtually all non-surgical treatments have little or no downtime. Patients can have treatment on their lunch break, which often lasts no more than one hour, and be back to normal activities immediately.
At Centre for Surgery, there is no upper age limit for any of our nonsurgical treatments. As an example, we recently had a patient who was keen to explore the option of wrinkle-relaxing injections. Although she was concerned, she may not be suitable as she was 85. It’s never too late to have non-surgical cosmetic treatment, and she was extremely pleased with the outcome of her treatment to enhance her facial features.
Cosmetic surgery in London at Centre for Surgery
If you have been considering cosmetic surgery and you think you may be too old, always remember that you may be suitable as long as you are in a good state of health and have realistic expectations. Call us today on 020 7993 4849 or complete the contact form below, and one of our expert patient coordinators will act as your personal point of contact throughout your patient journey with us at Centre for Surgery. Our state-of-the-art plastic surgery clinic in London is considered one of the most advanced facilities in the UK and is home to some of the best cosmetic surgeons in London.
