How quickly we age is dependant on our genes. High cheekbones will hold the skin for longer because there is less fat on the face and if our parents look youthful in old age then so will we. if we are fit, eat healthily and have low levels of stress, our skin will benefit. If we smoke and drink to excess, spend too long in the sun and have a poor diet, our skin will suffer. Facial twitching or frowning and loss of teeth can also affect the look of our skin in the long term.

The best age for this is women aged 40-60 because the skin and face will have aged less and be more elastic. Face- lift surgery is becoming more popular in younger women who have aged prematurely rather than those in the 70-80 age group, as many surgeons prefer to postpone the signs of ageing rather than try to turn back the clock.

It is important to find a surgeon who you feel you can trust as any surgery is a frightening experience and there is always the risk of complications. When you meet your surgeon it is essential to be clear about what changes you want done to your face.

Your surgeon will make a careful examination of your face and take a proper medical history. He will take some photographs and ask you to come back a week later once he has the photos. It is a good idea to take a photo of yourself when you were younger to give him some idea of what you used to look like.

There are many different operations possible so you and your surgeon will work out what type you need. You may want a more defined chin, or silicone implants in your cheekbones, these are put on top of the bone or maybe a chemical peel. Other procedures are extra eye-lid surgery, ear-lope shortening or lip enhancement.

Nothing is guaranteed with a face-lift, for instance a face-lift cannot remove superficial wrinkles such as crows feet or the tiny lines around the mouth but can be very successful on sun damaged skin.

There are six different versions of the face-lift , or rhytidectomy, and it is important that you do not get the most common type that is in fashion at the time but the one that is right for you. I have listed the six types with a brief explanation.

The Mini Lift: A basic operation, a kind of skin tuck that is quick to do and has little long term effect.

The SMAS face-lift: The superficial musculo-aponeurotic system. Deeper cuts are made and the outcome is a more youthful appearance.

The extended SMAS lift (or deep plane): This operation improves the middle of the face while reducing jowls and tightening the neck.

The compatible face lift: A much bigger operation combining a brow lift and lower eyelid surgery. This operation is suitable for the older person but the recovery period is up to six months and there is a high risk of damage to the facial nerves.

The mask lift (or subperiosteal face-lift): This procedure can change the way you look as the cut is made from inside the mouth to an incision across the top of the head and can actually change the shape of the face.

The endescopic face lift: Because of the development of endescopic, keyhole surgery, the mask lift operation can now be done without cutting the inside of the mouth. Instead five very small incisions are made in the scalp and via the lower eyelids. This is less traumatic and the incisions only leave tiny scars.

There is a lot you can do while preparing for a face-lift. If you are over-weight, try to lose some but avoid the yo-yo weight loss verses weight gain as this can affect the skin. Smoking impairs the circulation and the body loses vitamin C, so stop smoking and take extra vitamin C. It is wise, to remember, that alcohol worsens bruising and aspirin clots the blood so avoid both for two weeks before the operation and three weeks after.

Most people are back to work three weeks after surgery but strenuous activity and exposure to sun must be avoided. The skin must be kept well moisturised.

For most people a face-lift will be a once only event and it needs to be right.