At What Age Is It Good to Start Lifting?

Human Dermatology Clinic, Seoul National University Branch

“Isn’t lifting something you get after you’ve gotten older?”

This is a question I hear very often during consultations. In the past, many people thought lifting procedures were mainly for middle-aged and older adults, but recently, more and more people in their 20s and 30s are becoming interested as well.

That’s because there is a growing awareness that skin aging is not simply a matter of age, but can vary depending on lifestyle habits, skin type, sun exposure, and the speed at which elasticity declines. So, at what age is it really good to start lifting? Today, I’ll explain that part.

Lifting does not necessarily have to be decided by age

In fact, for lifting procedures, current skin condition is more important than “starting from what age.” Even among people in their 30s, some maintain skin elasticity well, while others may show sagging along the jawline or nasolabial lines more quickly.

In particular, skin that is thin or has little facial fat may show a decline in elasticity a little earlier. On the other hand, when the skin is thicker and has good elasticity, changes may appear later than the actual age would suggest. So rather than deciding on a procedure based only on age, it is important to check when changes in the skin begin.

Why people in their 20s and 30s also get lifting procedures

Recently, many people in their 20s and 30s are also seeking lifting procedures. However, at this stage, the purpose is often closer to prevention and maintaining elasticity rather than “strong improvement of sagging.”

For example, when the jawline starts to become less defined or when they feel that their skin elasticity is not what it used to be, many people approach it as a light form of care. This is because managing the skin at the point when changes begin, rather than after aging has progressed significantly, can help maintain a more natural and stable level of elasticity.

Starting as early as possible is not always the answer

However, repeating lifting procedures too aggressively from too early a stage is not necessarily a good thing. If too much energy-based treatment is applied compared with the current condition of the skin, the face may appear to lose volume, or the skin may feel more sensitive.

That is why what matters is the process of accurately determining, “Is this really the stage my skin needs right now?” Depending on whether the cause is loss of skin elasticity, whether the bigger issue is volume loss, or whether it is simply dryness and a decline in overall condition, the approach can differ.

Lifting procedures are less about deciding care based simply on age and more like personalized care that varies depending on the current condition of the skin and the degree of aging progression. For some people, elasticity management may be needed from the late 20s, while for others, elasticity may remain relatively well preserved even after their 40s.

Most importantly, rather than following procedures as a trend, it is about understanding your own skin accurately and approaching it with the right method at the right time. Through 충분한 consultation with a board-certified dermatologist and skin analysis, finding a care direction suited to your current skin can lead to the most natural and satisfying results.