Facelift Candidacy - Physical Age Trumps Chronological Age

WASHINGTON, DC, March 01, 2013 (Press-News.org) Have you ever thought about how old you really are? Dr. Houtan Chaboki considers it when he consults with people interested in procedures such as facelift in Maryland and Washington, DC. Dr. Chaboki is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Washington, DC. He says that a person's candidacy for facelift and other facial procedures is based on a number of factors. One of those is age, but determining age goes beyond a person's date of birth, according to Dr. Chaboki.

"A person's chronological age is definitely taken into consideration," says Dr. Chaboki, who specializes in facial plastic surgery procedures such as facelift, brow lift and eyelid surgery for Maryland and Washington, DC, patients. "But there is also a person's physical age or health age to consider."

Chronological age is based on a person's birthday. For example, 50 would be the chronological age of someone who was born in 1963. But that person's physical age is based on her health and lifestyle. The popular website RealAge.com provides an example of how someone's physical age can differ from what her driver's license says.

"Many environmental and genetic contributors affect a person's physical, or health, age," says Dr. Chaboki. "For example, a 40-year-old woman who smokes, doesn't exercise, eats poorly and likes to tan will likely not look 40. She may look 50 or 60. If her health is poor, she may be too high risk for surgery."

If a person takes good care of her health, not only will she be healthier and a better candidate for surgery, but she may not need cosmetic surgery until later in life. The opposite of Dr. Chaboki's example might be a woman who is 50, does not smoke, exercises regularly, eats well and protects her skin. Even though her genes may predispose her to certain undesirable skin conditions, the healthy lifestyle can counter genetics. Furthermore, the woman may have the appearance and physical health of a 40-year-old or younger.

Individuals who live healthy lifestyles or are genetically fortunate, or both, may not need a full facelift. In that case, they may be great candidates for a non-surgical facelift or a limited incision ("short scar") facelift, says Dr. Chaboki.

All of these factors underscore the importance of a thorough consultation with an appropriately qualified board-certified surgeon. An experienced doctor can evaluate a person's eligibility for a surgical procedure, including the patient's health and what procedure would achieve the desired results.

Dr. Houtan Chaboki is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Serving Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia, he specializes in cosmetic facial surgery, reconstructive facial surgery and medical spa treatments. Dr. Chaboki earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a residency in otolaryngology and a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Chaboki is an assistant professor of surgery in the George Washington Medical Faculty Associates Department of Surgery and continues to teach facial plastic surgery techniques. As a member of FACE TO FACE: The National Domestic Violence Project, he provides free cosmetic surgery for victims of domestic violence.

Website: www.potomacplasticsurgery.com