Unveiling the anti-aging trend of 2026 : Dr. Anuchit Adirojananont, a specialist in plastic surgery (license number 45390), reveals the Artlift deep layer facelift technique on the Tuck Talk program. This procedure addresses the need to lock in firm skin for a natural look. He also discusses three risks to be aware of before undergoing facelift surgery, clarifies the issue of scar tissue formation, and explains whether performing a maintenance facelift at a younger age can truly help maintain skin condition and slow down the aging process.
Why do some people look young despite their age, while others look older from a young age? How much of a role does genetics play?
Dr. Anuchit: Genetics is one factor that determines how young or old you are, but environmental factors are equally important. It seems like Tak takes good care of herself. If we delve deeper, we’ll learn about the Six Pillars: diet, sleep, exercise, stress, and toxins. Stress, pollution, dust, sun exposure, and even relationships can all contribute to premature aging. In reality, factors that significantly slow down aging include avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreen. I want to emphasize that many people misunderstand sunscreen application. Many say, “I just apply a little and I’m good to go out,” but this still accelerates aging. According to recommendations, for the face, you should apply sunscreen starting from your fingertips, about two finger lengths, and spread it evenly. The amount needed is more than you think. And importantly, choose the right sunscreen. I want to add that some people wonder what SPF value is best. An SPF of 30 or higher is considered sufficient. Because even with SPF 30, 50, or 100 percent, the difference in protection is quite small. SPF 30 will provide around 96.7% protection, while SPF 50 will provide around 98%. Importantly, you must choose the right PA rating. For our hot climate, choose a PA 3 to 4 plus (PA+++ or PA++++). PA refers to protection against UVA rays. Simply put, the “A” in UVA stands for Aging, which helps prevent skin aging because UVA rays penetrate deep into the collagen layers of the skin. Sunscreen use is crucial. Another important factor is consuming foods that provide antioxidants.
Do antioxidants really affect facial aging, and what should we consume?
Dr. Anuchit: Research shows that there are many significant factors affecting facial aging, but sun exposure and diet are definitely the most important. Regarding diet, a study following over 700 Australians for 15 years, focusing on those over 45, found that those who consumed antioxidant-rich foods had 10-15% fewer wrinkles than those who didn’t. Many people ask what’s the best food to eat. Previously, they measured the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORA) to determine how much antioxidants a food contained. These are mostly found in herbs and spices that aren’t commonly consumed, like turmeric (curcumin), which is very popular in dietary supplements. Other sources of antioxidants include berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries), fruits and vegetables (plums, grapes), artichoke, and leafy greens (kale, spinach). Even beverages like chocolate (flavanols) and green tea (epigallocatechin gallate) contain antioxidants.
Why do some people look older than their age even though they have no wrinkles?
Dr. Anuchit : There are two perspectives: childhood and adulthood. If someone looks older than they are as a child, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually old. They might have a mature facial structure, perhaps with prominent cheekbones, a sharp chin, and a defined jawline, making them appear more mature. However, in terms of perception, this group tends to age more slowly. Imagine someone who looked older at age 10, but at age 40, they might appear more dignified. The perception will be different. Conversely, those with a “baby face”—with more body fat—will experience rapid changes in their appearance over time. People will perceive this change as significant because there’s a relatively wide gap between a youthful and an mature appearance.
How do we measure age or youthfulness on a face? How many main axes are there?
Dr. Anuchit: There are four main areas that have been studied: 1. Wrinkles, both the quantity and depth of which significantly affect how old you look. 2. Skin quality. Excessive pigmentation and uneven skin tone can be interpreted as making you appear older. 3. Volume. Facial volume refers to fat volume; for example, deep-set eyes, sunken temples, and hollow cheeks can make you look older. Finally, laxity. Sagging skin, such as drooping cheeks, is also perceived as older. In addition, some research has found another factor: the forehead and hairline. A wide forehead or gray hair is often interpreted as indicating age. Research often uses these factors to estimate the age of a person based on photos. These are the four main areas and the supplementary factors for the general public.
For Thai people who grew up abroad, are their facial features and features likely to change depending on where they live?
Dr. Anuchit: Yes, genetics definitely plays a role. It’s like a blueprint that can’t be changed, but the environment during childhood dictates how that blueprint is formed, determining whether one can develop to their full potential. Research shows that diet plays a part. For example, some countries consume diets high in fat and carbohydrates, resulting in fuller-looking faces. Conversely, consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to glycation, where sugar binds to proteins, causing collagen in the face to lose elasticity. Furthermore, something people don’t know is the effect of chewing and food texture. A clear example is eating sticky rice. People who eat sticky rice show that the functional loading or chewing force affects the facial bone structure. Those who chew less tend to have smaller jaws and more tightly packed teeth, while those who chew more tend to have wider jaws and faces.
Between men and women, who tends to experience facial changes faster, and what are the statistics?
Dr. Anuchit: Aging varies between men and women depending on age. Men generally have a genetic advantage, possessing thicker facial muscles and skin (approximately 20-25% thicker) with better collagen. However, men age more slowly, with two noticeable points of change in their late 30s to early 40s. Men’s muscles begin to develop and thicken; for example, when I frown, I start to see wrinkles – these are called dynamic wrinkles, caused by facial muscle movement. Permanent wrinkles (static wrinkles) don’t appear in men yet; dynamic wrinkles develop first. Between the ages of 55 and 65, men experience rapid aging, like falling off a cliff, because this is when they begin to accumulate photoaging from sun exposure and declining skin quality.
How advanced is current facelift surgery technology?
Dr. Anuchit: I have to say, the trend for facelift surgery is really strong right now. You don’t even need to go abroad; the technology has advanced significantly in the last 1-2 years. First, there’s Endoscopic Facelift, which is a traditional facelift but with hidden scars. The incisions are small and almost invisible. It’s suitable for people who don’t have severe skin sagging. Even if someone like me wants a facelift, it’s possible, but we have to be careful about skin sagging. The lift shouldn’t be too drastic. Imagine lifting a lot from the bottom, but the top will sag. Excess skin can develop. However, if the collagen is still good, with only slight nasolabial folds or sagging cheeks but still firm skin, then an endoscopic facelift is a good option. Another trend is neck tightening. This is a relatively new trend, and even abroad, it’s quite rare. For example, some of my patients in their 30s have excess fat or a large neck. We need to analyze and assess whether it’s superficial or deep fat. Many things we don’t know beforehand, so we don’t remove the fat or offer fat-reducing injections, which can’t completely eliminate it. These people often need corrective surgery. This is more suitable for those who are assessed as having only superficial fat. We then analyze whether the problem lies in the superficial fat layer, extending down to deep fat and deep muscle. Or it could be the salivary glands. Humans have three pairs of salivary glands: one in front of the ears, one under the tongue, and one in the jaw. The jawbone itself can make the face look less defined. Sometimes we don’t notice a bulge in the neck, but if we don’t remove it and just pull it taut, it’s like someone hiding under a blanket is revealed, creating a prominent bulge. Some people can see this bulge from a distance, but they never noticed or knew it was actually a salivary gland. And as we age, it tends to sag. For this procedure, I call it the V Next Lift program because normally, if you’re overweight, the neck looks like a C-curve from the side. But we want to create a V-shape at an angle of about 100 degrees, and create a shadow under the jaw. We do it layer by layer in one go. If someone has a lot of fat or baby fat, especially in younger people, if they were to undergo liposuction, we might use instruments to check for deep fat layers. These are usually found in larger individuals, so we would remove those masses, further reshaping the neck. Some people have salivary glands, so we would remove a portion of them, which doesn’t affect saliva production, resulting in a smoother appearance. It’s a challenging procedure requiring skill and experience. Because major blood vessels and arteries are involved, these are considered dangerous areas for procedures; therefore, the doctor’s experience is crucial.
How does the Artlift, or Extended Deep Plane Facelift, differ from a standard Deep Plane Facelift?
Dr. Anuchit: A trick I often tell everyone is to avoid constantly looking down at your phone, as it causes neck sagging. Another technology that’s trending is deep planar facelift surgery, or the Artlift technique. This is a full facelift that doesn’t just lift the deep layers. Normally, this is called a Deep Plane Facelift, but our Artlift is an Extended Deep Plane Facelift, meaning it lifts deeper than usual. This is because we’ve found that some people have deeper nasolabial folds and marionette lines than average. If we just lift the face the traditional way and not go very far, it won’t correct these lines. Of course, lifting far comes with the risk of nerve damage. When we lift, we start from in front of the ears. The closer we get to the nasolabial folds, the more effective the procedure will be, according to the principles of physics. However, the trade-off is the damage to the facial nerves that control the muscles. These nerves originate in front of the ears and, as they move towards the nasolabial folds, they become shallower. Therefore, those undergoing this procedure must be careful, and the surgeon must be highly experienced to avoid damaging the nerves. This requires a surgeon with expertise and experience in facial surgery to understand and recognize nerve locations. This is a facial attachment ligament that we need to cut, which is also white. In the diagram, it might be yellow for the nerve and white for the facial attachment ligament, but in reality, the white represents relatively easy cases, not including the fluid that can compress the nerves and cause further complications.
Is the trend of maintenance facelifts and facelift surgery at a young age a good one?
Dr. Anuchit: We need to talk about the trend for 2026, which is the Maintenance Facelift. This refers to surgical facelift to maintain the skin’s condition. Currently, people are getting facelifts earlier than their actual age. You’ll notice that my youngest patient is 28 years old. Actually, I believe that having a facelift at a young age helps maintain skin condition better compared to those who don’t. If we were to have twins get facelifts, I’m confident that the one who gets it done will look younger. Besides the tightening effect, it also improves skin quality, and they’ll take much better care of themselves afterward. From what I’ve observed, they check in the mirror every day and maintain their skin daily compared to the other person, because if they didn’t do it, they would just let it go. However, many people on social media are making videos saying that getting a facelift too early is bad and will create scar tissue. But scar tissue isn’t as scary as people think. The scar tissue from a facelift is considered “good” scar tissue, unlike that from liquid injections or fillers, where inflammation can occur – that’s the bad scar tissue. But doctors who have performed many procedures know that it’s not very difficult to fix. For example, I have many cases where I’ve corrected previous facelifts. Some people have had facelifts 1-2 times already. The most I’ve performed is the 4th time. They had only recently come to see me, and had already had 3 previous facelifts, yet still experienced problems with their daily lives. This is especially true for those around 70-80 years old. The difficulty lies in the anatomy; the SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) muscle is often distorted and very thin. Therefore, if our eyesight isn’t precise enough, we could easily tear the SMAS muscle. Once the SMAS is torn, suturing it is ineffective. However, facelifts are actually possible in younger people. If it helps maintain the skin for another 10-15 or 20 years, you can have another facelift later, and you’ll see that your face will age more slowly compared to someone who hasn’t had the procedure.
What are the most feared and serious risks of a facelift surgery that doctors worry about?
Dr. Anuchit: Even though I’ve performed various cases, I still have fears. There are three main fears. First, there’s the facial nerve. I believe every plastic surgeon can solve this problem because of what we’ve learned: nerve repair. In some cases, if a nerve is severed, we can restore it. This might involve transplanting muscle from the leg to reconnect the blood vessels and nerve, allowing the face to return to its original state. This is advanced in cosmetic surgery, so it’s not inherently terrifying. However, fear makes us more cautious because of the potential for permanent damage from nerve surgery. I believe almost every doctor fears this. Another concern is post-operative hematoma. This is the most common complication, according to research and seen by doctors worldwide. Nerve hematomas are less than 1% of cases, but hematomas that involve clots are more common, at around 5%, which is significant. Imagine, out of 100 people, 5 might experience this, requiring further surgery in the operating room, which is dangerous. Older patients often have underlying conditions like high blood pressure. However, underlying conditions aren’t a contraindication to surgery. High blood pressure, for example, is like a water pipe with high pressure. After surgery, even if the bleeding is stopped, if we cut tissue or blood vessels, the pipe is separated. If the pressure is high after surgery, or if it’s the same pressure as before, there’s a chance of further bleeding and hematoma. This needs to be prepared for before surgery. We need a team to inform patients about when to stop taking vitamins, what underlying conditions might increase the risk of bleeding, and to check blood tests for those. Blood clotting levels and platelet counts affect the likelihood of bleeding. At the hospital where I work, we have specific criteria; if the levels are too low or too high, the patient is not accepted.
Here’s a list of what plastic surgeons fear most: What types of skin cases are difficult to treat and risk complications?
Dr. Anuchit: Skin necrosis. This means the skin changes from flesh color to black. It’s frequently seen on social media, especially in private groups abroad that showcase it. Skin necrosis appears as patchy blackening, mostly around the edges. When you cut something, blood vessels supply the affected area; if that area is cut, it’s like frostbite – the finger dies. When you climb a mountain, the skin dies from the tip, turning dark to a black color. This is caused by factors like smoking (which increases the risk by about 10 to 16 times), blood vessel constriction, and certain medications that hinder wound healing. The scary thing is that treatment takes a long time; wound healing can take months.
What is something a patient asks a doctor to do, but the doctor doesn’t want to do?
Dr. Anuchit: Patients often ask for the tightest possible face lift. Some even request a procedure that makes them look unnatural, a complete facial transformation, or even visible scars to show they’ve had surgery. However, the reality is that pulling the skin as tight as possible is risky. The tighter the skin, the higher the chance of skin necrosis. A drastically tight lift can create a mask-like appearance; some creases are needed to maintain a human look. Another common request is for a complete facelift, endoscopic brow lift, upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, lateral neck lift, front neck lift, or fat grafting. These are the typical procedures. They might also request add-ons like open rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, or abdominoplasty. These patients, mostly Thais living abroad, often have very limited time and want everything done at once. However, I advise them to consider their age and the surgery time – it shouldn’t exceed 6-8 hours. While these procedures are relatively quick, performing open rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, or abdominoplasty simultaneously is not recommended due to safety and recovery risks. These are procedures patients often request, but I personally avoid performing them.
Three important questions to check before deciding on a facelift?
Dr. Anuchit: The first question I’d like you to ask is, “Does that doctor truly have the skills and experience in this specific field?” Most doctors who perform facelifts now, I’d recommend two branches: doctors who specialize in Plastic Surgery and doctors who specialize in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. These are ENT doctors who have specialized in facial surgery and possess the same knowledge and expertise as plastic surgeons. You should ask about the number of cases they’ve performed. The second question is about technique. What technique will they use on your case? I believe a doctor who knows which technique is best for you is better than one who only knows what they’re capable of. You should ask about the procedure itself. For example, will a facelift be combined with fat grafting? Is it a deep tissue facelift? And should there be video recordings of the operating room procedure for transparency? The third question is, have they had similar cases in their work? Ask to see examples of complications. They should disclose all potential complications to the patient. Don’t be afraid to tell them; not disclosing could lead to problems later.
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