Many people want to defy nature and get themselves a facelift before their age starts to become more evident on their faces. Facelift, technically known as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to restore youthfulness by either removing the excess fatty tissue (which usually happens on the neck or chin lift surgeries) or tightening the underlying tissue through sutures before closing off the outer skin.

For a price ranging from USD7000 to USD15000, a surgery that lasts for 3-4 hours that takes about a year for the scar to fully heal is worth the risk for those who are in their 40s and 50s who want to look young and attractive again.
However, those aren’t the only things one should be concerned about. Just like any other surgery, there are risks involved, some of which may be etched forever on your face.

Consider the ff:
- It’s not a forever lift so going back to have it done the second, third, fourth time around is very likely to happen
- Recovery time – 2 weeks at the minimum
- Skin sensitivity, numbness, and bruising, which could result to hematoma or blood clot
- Smoking cessation as the wound takes longer time to heal, which to some cases may even cause necrosis or the premature death of skin tissue
- Nerve injury
- Negative reactions to anaesthesia or to the other drugs and medications given
- Scars and keloid scars
- Finding a reputable plastic surgeon may be challenging as there seem to have many “qualified” plastic surgeon out there

However, if you are not ready to go under the knife just yet, perhaps these more natural methods of defying gravity are better options
- Light therapy or phototherapy is a non-invasive procedure where multiple wavelengths brush through your skin that stimulate the collagen or the natural skin gel, improve blood circulation, firm up the facial tissue, revitalize old skin, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles
- You can also try other non-invasive procedures such as Thermage skin tightening, laser face lift etc
- Exercise: more movement is equal to more blood circulation to which the skin organs benefit
- Have enough sleep. Skin repairs while sleeping
- Take your vitamins paying more attention to vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties that fight free radicals and skin ageing, Vitamin A that refreshes and rejuvenates skin cells faster; and vitamin C, which is the general vitamins of all but is also found to reduce the skin aging process. Vitamins B and K are also thought to help the skin cells as well.
- Quit your smoking lifestyle – literally. Smoking ages you.
- Smile and laugh – people don’t notice the wrinkles when you exude confidence and happiness!