Millions of men and women have chosen to get a facelift in order to achieve a more youthful, refreshed look. It’s said that a facelift can take 10 years off your face. While actual results vary by patient, this can certainly be true. There are many reasons you may want to have a facelift.
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You have loose skin or excess skin on your face
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You have sagging cheeks
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You have the appearance of “jowls” around your jaw
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You have deepening creases between your lower eyelids and around your lower lip and chin
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You have lost definition of your jawline and cheekbones
A facelift can lend a more refined, angular appearance to the face by removing excess tissue that can obscure your jawline and cheekbones. It is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures to help combat some of the most common signs of aging.
If you’re thinking about getting a facelift, there are a lot of things you need to know before you jump in. Let this be your guide to getting beautiful, natural-looking facelift results—and keeping them looking great for years to come.
1. Choose the Right Cosmetic Surgeon
One of the biggest factors in getting gorgeous facelift results is choosing the right cosmetic surgeon. There are many to choose from, so take the time to carefully decide who you’ll trust to do your facelift.
- Board certification: Insist on having your facelift done by a cosmetic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Board certified cosmetic surgeons commit themselves to more years of education and to stricter standards of safety and quality of care. A board certified plastic surgeon has a more in-depth knowledge of both anatomy and aesthetics.
- Experience: Experience is important, especially when you’re looking for someone to do your facelift. Choose a cosmetic surgeon who has been doing facelifts for a considerable amount of time. Also, make sure you go with a cosmetic surgeon who does facial plastic surgery on a regular basis.
- Rapport: The relationship between you and your cosmetic surgeon is an incredibly important one. You should be able to speak freely with this person, and you need to feel comfortable working with them. If you feel as if your concerns aren’t addressed seriously or you aren’t confident in a cosmetic surgeon’s abilities, find someone else.
2. Don’t Rush Your Decision about Getting a Facelift
One way to end up with less than stellar results in many areas of life is to do something hastily. First off, make sure you’re certain that getting a facelift is what you want to do. Having any kind of cosmetic surgery is a major commitment, and the decision to go forward with it shouldn’t be made without careful consideration. Ask yourself if you will be able to take enough time off to recuperate after having a facelift. Take an honest look at your reasons for wanting a facelift, too. As long as they are healthy ones, like those listed in the first part of this guide, you’re probably a good candidate.
Be careful about wanting cosmetic surgery for other reasons. If you get a facelift to please someone else or to fix some underlying issue, you’ll likely be unhappy with even the most excellent results. Once you’ve taken some time to be confident in your decision to go forward with a facelift, you’ve got some homework to do.
3. Do Lots of Research
You would probably do a fair amount of research if you were shopping for a car or even a new vacuum. You should certainly give at least as much time and effort toward learning about facelifts before having one. This includes really looking into cosmetic surgeons to find out which one is the best fit for you.
The internet can (obviously) be a valuable resource as you look for cosmetic surgeons and educate yourself about all things facelift. You can use sites like RealSelf.com to look up ratings and testimonials as you narrow down your cosmetic surgeon search. Be wary as you research, though, and make sure you’re getting information from credible resources such as the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery website.
4. Keep Your Expectations in Check
Having realistic expectations is part of what makes you a good candidate for a facelift. You should understand what kind of things can be achieved by having a facelift, such as looking younger or feeling better about your facial appearance.
If you are unrealistic about what is possible to achieve, you may not be a good candidate for plastic surgery. For instance, it’s critical that you know plastic surgery cannot fix a genuine self-esteem problem or improve a bad relationship. If you go in with healthy expectations, you’re far more likely to love recognize and appreciate great results.
5. Ace Your Recovery
A smooth recovery is necessary if you want to enjoy beautiful results. Your cosmetic surgeon will give you paperwork explaining things like activity restrictions and your recovery timeline. To say that following these post-operative instructions is important would be an understatement.
- Take your medications on time and in the proper doses. If you need to, recruit someone to help you manage your meds.
- Stock up on medical supplies, healthy snacks and whatever else you’ll need ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re trying to recuperate.
- Rest, relax and don’t do more than you’re supposed to. If you ignore the instructions regarding activities you should stay away from, you’re risking your recovery. You could end up with a longer recuperation period, potentially injure yourself and negatively affect your results.
It’s tough to be patient as you wait to recuperate from facelift surgery, but the results will be worth the wait.
6. Wear Sunscreen
The sun is not doing you any favors, especially if you’re trying to look younger. UV damage causes collagen and elastin in your skin to break down, leading to lines and wrinkles that make you look older. Wear sunscreen any time you go outside, even if the weather is cloudy. If you’ve been less than disciplined about sunscreen use in the past, it’s never too late to start practicing good sun protection habits. Not only does sun damage cause premature aging, it can also cause major health problems.
7. Eat a Healthy Diet & Exercise Regularly
Your skin will look better, you’ll feel better and you’ll be helping to avoid weight gain that can affect your facelift results. Eating a healthy diet before your facelift can make you a better surgical candidate and can also aid in your recovery. Plus, sticking to good dietary choices after your facelift will only help you to maintain your results. Eat foods that will nourish and beautify your skin.
Of course, healthy eating has plenty of benefits that go beyond your great-looking facelift results. Aim for a diet that is low in sodium, sugar and artificial ingredients. Eat things that are high in nutrients, and watch out for empty calories.
You might not think exercise is a factor in getting beautiful facelift results, but it’s actually a big part of maintaining them. You’ll be healthier and look better in general if you make exercising a habit. Physical activity not only helps you to keep off excess weight, it’s important for cardiovascular health even your mental well-being.
8. Nix Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices
To prepare your body for a facelift, you should take good care of yourself and refrain from unhealthy activities. It’s also important to keep making smart choices for your health in order to maintain your results over the long-term. Ditch the things that deplete your body and age you faster. Get plenty of sleep every night and stay well-hydrated. Quit or cut down on alcohol consumption, too, and you’ll enjoy plenty of beauty and health benefits.
9. Adopt a Serious Skincare Regimen
Having a healthy skincare regimen is important at any age, but never more so than when we get older. Taking proper daily care of your skin can help slow down the effects of aging. Here are the steps that should be included in your regular facial skincare routine.
- Cleanse: There’s an old adage about washing off your makeup at night to keep your skin looking beautiful. This is actually sage advice. You should make time to wash your face each night before bed. Remove any makeup and get rid of dirt, grime and environmental pollutants that could be clogging your pores and making your skin look unhealthy. Remember to use a gentle cleanser that won’t dry out or irritate your skin.
- Exfoliate: Regular exfoliation will help you to slough off the top layer of dead skin cells that can sit on the surface of your face, making your skin look rough or dull. Remember not to overdo it, though. Exfoliating too vigorously or too often can actually exacerbate existing issues.
- Moisturize:Using a good moisturizer should always be a part of your skin care routine. Weather and other environmental factors — and even the hot water from your morning shower – can leave your skin looking and feeling dried out. Keep your skin softer and smoother by using a daily moisturizer that is made for your particular skin type.
Taking good care of your skin after your facelift will help you maintain a refreshed, youthful look for longer.
10. Treat Your Facelift Like an Investment
Cosmetic surgery is an investment in yourself. You’re choosing to spend money, effort and time to improve yourself. Take ownership of your decision, and work to protect your investment. If you had spent money on a new electronic device or even an expensive outfit, you’d take care to keep it in good shape. Consider the investment you’ve made in yourself and make choices that support the long-term maintenance of your results. When you think of it this way, it may be much easier to justify having regular facial treatments and using high-end skin products.
Author: Dr. Joseph Castellano
Dr. Joseph Castellano is a native Floridian who grew up in the Tampa Bay area. After medical school and residency, Dr. Castellano returned home and has opened a practice in Tampa, Florida focusing on breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction, facelift, and eyelid rejuvenation. He is a member of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, American College of Surgeons, and American Medical Association
