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While the resurgence of facelifts is seldom discussed in the media, there’s no question that this procedure is making a comeback and not for the reasons you might think. While facelift surgery had fallen out of the top five most popular procedures for a number of years, in 2016 it re-entered the list at #5, and here’s why:

4 Reasons Why Facelifts are Trending

1. We’re taking more selfies than ever before.

Camera lenses are often less than kind to us; in harsh lighting, they tend to highlight every wrinkle, hollow, and blemish. In the age of Instagram and other social media platforms, this effect is driving many people—even people in their 40s—to consider having a facelift. Likewise, the widespread use of image editing software has led more people to consider modifying their faces. As Dr. Debra Johnson, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said in a statement to Harper’s Bazaar, “Patients are captivated by instant improvements to the face. It’s evident in the popularity of apps and filters that change how we can shape and shade our faces.” In short, if you’ve ever applied a filter or edit and thought, “I wish my face looked like this all the time,” you’re not alone.

2. Guys want to look younger, too—and that’s finally considered acceptable.

There’s no denying the fact that we’ve made great strides toward better gender equality over the last decade. As a result of this, men are increasingly opening up about their wish to look younger and more attractive. They’re also discovering that many plastic surgery procedures look just as good—or better—when performed on male patients.

Because the idea of male plastic surgery is no longer stigmatized as being somehow less than masculine, guys are seeking facelift surgery in greater numbers than ever before, and with excellent results. Facelift surgery flatters male features, creating a stronger and more defined jawline, more distinct chin, and lifted mid-face region. In 2016 alone, more than 12,000 American men experienced these benefits first hand.

3. Facelift methods have improved in recent years.

Facelifts fell out of favor for a while owing to a couple factors: One, they used to take many months to recover from, making them only really suitable for retired or independently wealthy individuals. Older facelift methods also tended to produce a rather obvious “windswept” look, at least until the face had been given about a year to “settle.” While the results of traditional facelift surgery were still preferable to exhibiting extensive signs of aging, people tended to know when someone had undergone this procedure. Fortunately, those days are behind us.

Today, surgeons use much more advanced surgical techniques (such as the short scar and deep plane facelift methods) that reposition facial tissue rather than just stretching the skin. Modern facelifts are therefore typically invisible; unless you let it be known that you’ve had the procedure,  no one will  be able to guess that you’ve had work done. Instead, they’ll just think you’re ten or even fifteen years younger than you are.

Modern facelift methods have significantly cut down on healing time and the risk of complications, too. Facelifts no longer cause noticeable scarring, and many patients can get back to work within a matter of weeks. Indeed, the recovery period for a short scar facelift is typically about one week.

4. There are now more options for younger patients.

People under the age of 50 usually don’t have a significant amount of loose skin below the chin area. They also don’t often suffer from drooping eyelids. As a result, younger patients don’t always require a full facelift (a procedure that often includes a neck lift and brow lift in addition to revisions to the mid-face area). In recent years, a number of minimally invasive variations on facelift surgery, notably the short scar and “mini” facelift, have become more common, giving younger patients more options. Likewise, the advent of nonsurgical facelift-enhancing therapies like Botox and Juvederm have made mini facelifts more appealing. Patients can combine a mini facelift with these therapies to produce excellent anti-aging results with the least possible amount of surgery.

At the same time, advances in medical technology have made all forms of surgery (both medical and cosmetic) safer than they were decades ago. Post-surgical infections and other complications are less common now than ever before. Finally, the shorter recovery times associated with modern facelift methods have made this surgery more accessible to people who are still working or looking after young children.

In summation, if you’re considering getting a facelift, you’re in good company. Whether you’re male or female, relatively young or old, facelift surgery can help you achieve a more alert, attractive appearance, and all without the risks or inconveniences that were once associated with this procedure.