It is impossible to answer this or generalise, as each individual has different skin quality and texture. A plastic surgeon relies on the quality of your tissues afterwards to help maintain the results of your facelift. If a patient’s skin has lost a lot of the elasticity within the skin then the facelift will not last as long as someone with better elasticity. Think of it in terms of a rubber band. If a rubber band has been left in the sun, it dries out and becomes more brittle and less elastic. Pulling on this excessively, will result in the band snapping. Obviously a fresher rubber band has the ability to stretch and hold much better than one weathered over time. Another way to look at the lasting effects of a facelift is to imagine you have an identical twin. Say you have a facelift and your twin sister or brother does not. In ten years from the cosmetic surgery, although you both will have aged, you will still look better than your unoperated twin will! So in that sense, the effects from the benefits of the surgery will be permanent. Occasionally some patients start to panic 4-5 months after surgery because they notice some degree of laxity or loosening appearing in their face and neck, and feel that their face is starting to drop all over again and will become like before. This loosening is normal in the first few months after the initial surgery. This is just the natural settling process that occurs and contrasts with the initial tightening and swelling from the first few days after cosmetic surgery. However, don’t panic. This process does mean that your face will completely drop again. It is just your facial muscles and skin adjusting to the new contours of the facelift. Of course one must remember that we cannot stop the clock altogether and therefore your face will continue to age with time. Many patients never have a second lift, while others may desire further surgery seven to 15 years later.