If you are going under the knife, you should know whether the results will be permanent or temporary. It’s usually believed that injectables are temporary, whereas any surgical procedure that disrupts the skin barrier, even slightly, is likely to have permanent results. However, that’s not always the case. A number of factors contribute to the longevity of cosmetic surgery results, including:
- Age
- Medical history
- Severity and nature of the problem
- Anatomy
- Lifestyle
- Overall health
- Skin quality (genetics)
- Surgical technique & surgeon’s experience
- Material of the substance placed in the body (implant, filler, fat)
Given these factors (and many others), you can expect cosmetic surgery results to last varying amounts of time between patients. Still, different plastic surgeries have an average shelf life. These have been outlined by the plastic surgeons at Longevita. However, keep in mind that even if the results are permanent, plastic surgery will not stop the process of ageing or oppose gravity. So, eventually, you will notice a change in the results.
For Face
Many of the top surgical and non-surgical procedures target the face. When it comes to non-surgical, most of the procedures give temporary results, save for some types of dermal fillers. However, surgical procedures can last for a very long time, sometimes even a lifetime.
Nose Job
- Longevity: Lifetime
A nose job, also known as a rhinoplasty, is one of the few surgical procedures that gives permanent results. In this surgery, the underlying bone structure and cartilage are altered, which is not reversible.
Facelift
- Longevity: 10 years
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is the gold standard of facial rejuvenation. It can give dramatic results by getting rid of excess skin, tightening the underlying facial muscles and rearranging the fat pads. However, due to the natural process of ageing, its results do not last for more than 10 years.
Neck Lift
- Longevity: 10 years
A neck lift, also called a lower rhytidectomy, targets the sagging skin of the neck. It’s quite like a facelift (even their surgical incisions overlap), and just like it, it only lasts for a decade because of the ageing process.
Eyelid Surgery
- Longevity: 10 years for upper eyelids; lifetime for lower eyelids
In an eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty, the excess skin in the upper and lower eyelids is removed. Additionally, the surgery takes care of loose muscles and displaced fat pads. However, the upper and lower eyelid surgeries are not equal. You’ll quite likely need a follow-up procedure after upper eyelid surgery. A lower eyelid surgery, on the other hand, will last you a lifetime.
Hair Transplant
- Longevity: Lifetime
A hair transplant can be done on the head and the face (beard, eyebrow, eyelash moustache, and sideburn transplant). No matter where it’s done, its results are permanent. That’s because the hair that’s transplanted to the bald areas is resistant to the effects of the hormone that causes hair loss. It’s the same for FUE and FUT techniques for hair transplants.
For Body
Body plastic surgery aims to improve the contour of the body by reshaping it. In most cases, however, the longevity of the results depends on maintaining a stable weight.
Breast Surgery
- Longevity: Lifetime for implants; Reductions and lifts last as long as you maintain a stable weight.
There are variations in how long breast surgery results last due to the differences in surgery and treatment goals.
- Breast Augmentation: You don’t have to get the implants replaced every 10 years or so. However, according to a report by the FDA, some patients end up needing revision surgery because of experiencing complications like implant rupture or capsular contracture. Keep in mind that it’s possible for your implant to last longer.
- Breast Lift: A breast lift will deal with sagging boobs, but weight gain, changes in lifestyle, and the natural ageing process can change the results.
- Breast Reduction: Once the excess skin has been removed, it will not come back, so the results of this procedure are permanent. However, the skin can stretch if you gain weight which can reverse the results of breast reduction.
Liposuction
- Longevity: Lifetime but depends on the lifestyle
In liposuction, the fat is permanently removed from the body; it will not regrow. Therefore, the results of this procedure can last you a lifetime. However, if the calorie intake is not regulated, the remaining fat cells can balloon up and negatively affect the results of the surgery.
Tummy Tuck
- Longevity: Lifetime but depends on the lifestyle
Tummy tucks remove excess skin and fat and restore muscle definition. Despite the fact that loose skin and fat can be permanently removed, lifestyle factors such as weight changes can influence the quality and longevity of the results.
Brazilian Butt Lift
- Longevity: Lifetime
Fat is transferred from one part of the body to the buttocks during the Brazilian Butt Lift. As it is the patient’s own fat, there is no risk of rejection, but some fat is expected to be reabsorbed. 60 to 70% of the fat survives after the transfer, so you’ll end up with permanent results.
Conclusion
A healthy lifestyle can extend the lifespan of some aesthetic procedures; other procedures may require follow-ups or revisions. A board-certified surgeon can help you set realistic expectations and plan for the future emotionally and financially. Therefore, make sure to consult them.
