Facelift is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures Dr. Charles S. Lee offers at Enhance® Medical Center. Despite its popularity, you may have questions about facelift surgery and what to expect. Here, Dr. Lee outlines what you should know before having facelift.
Timing Facelift Surgery
There is no specific “best age” at which to undergo facelift surgery. Everyone ages at their own pace, based on genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. The optimal time to consider facelift is when you are bothered by moderate to severe signs of aging, including the following:
- Jowls
- Deepening creases and folds around the nose and mouth
- Fallen or displaced facial fat
- Excess fat under the chin
- Loose skin and muscle banding on the neck
Nothing can improve these signs of aging and create a crisp, elegant lower face and neck quite like facelift.
Maintain Realistic Expectations
It’s critical to understand what is possible with facelift so you can maintain reasonable expectations throughout your experience. During your initial consultation, Dr. Lee will review real before and after photos so you can get a sense of what to expect. The two of you will discuss your particular areas of concern and how you want to look after surgery.
As you think about what you hope to achieve, know that facelift can help turn back the clock by several years, but it will not make you look like a completely different person.
Plan for Surgery and Recovery
Like any surgical operation, facelift requires some planning to go smoothly. You should expect to take at least one to two weeks off from work to have surgery and recover. Arrange for a loved one to stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
You should receive a packet of pre-operative instructions that may ask you to have lab testing or a medical evaluation prior to surgery; there will also be a list of medications to stop taking in the weeks leading up to surgery to avoid excessive bruising and bleeding. Be sure to ask your surgeon if you have any questions about these instructions.
Prolong Your Results
Although you will probably look and feel good enough to resume work and socialize approximately two weeks after surgery, it can take two to three months for the post-operative side effects to subside and for you to feel “normal” again.
Once your results have settled, you can prolong them by following your surgeon’s instructions and living a healthy lifestyle. Eat nutritious, balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. Protect your skin from the sun and use quality skin care products.
Facelift doesn’t pause the aging process, but it can help you “age gracefully” for years to come.
Book a Facelift Consultation with Dr. Lee
If you would like to discuss your facelift options with Dr. Lee, please call (310) 271-5954 or email Enhance® Medical Center today.
