How Do You Prepare Before Having a Facelift?

 

Young faces tend to be more naturally oval or heart-shaped, with thicker skin and more fat on the cheekbones. Many adults, however, get a more deflated facial appearance later in life as the skin looses elasticity and becomes redundant. In addition to aging, excessive exercise can also give you a more drawn, prematurely aged appearance that has been nicknamed “gym face.” If you’ve ever wanted to turn back the clock on your face and get rid of areas of sagging skin, you might want to consider face lift surgery. The Philadelphia area’s Dr. Timothy M. Greco explains that although injectables will improve the look of wrinkles and minor sagging around the lower part of the face, there’s no replacement for surgery when it comes to correcting more advanced stages of sagging and jowls.

You won’t be able to change your entire facial structure with plastic surgery—nor would the majority of patients want to do so—but the procedure does allow you to alter your facial shape in subtle ways to emphasize your most attractive features or create better symmetry and balance.

Plastic surgery isn’t something to take lightly. It’s crucial to do your research and know what you’re getting into. These are some steps that Dr. Greco recommends patients take to ensure that they’re physically and mentally prepared for a facelift:

Make Sure You’re Healthy Enough

Even the best surgery is traumatic for the body. Sometimes, patients who have serious or chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity may be deemed too risky for a procedure. Patients who are relatively fit when they go in for surgery tend to have a faster recovery with a lower chance of complications.

Surgeons evaluate patients on a case-by-case basis to determine whether surgery is suitable for them, so it’s important to have a consultation with a plastic surgeon before your operation, discuss your medical history with them, and get any lab tests or other evaluations done to make sure you’re safely undergo surgery.

You may need to get yourself ready several weeks before the day of the operation by adjusting your diet and lifestyle. It can be beneficial to increase your intake of protein and other healthy foods, take additional vitamins, get enough sleep, reduce stress, cut down on alcohol, and avoid smoking at least a few weeks before and after, as the chemicals from tobacco smoke, such as nicotine, delay healing.

Adjust Your Medications

Before any kind of surgery, you may want to stop taking certain blood thinners, anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal supplements, and other medications that increase the risk of bruising or bleeding. Your surgeon will give you instructions on this beforehand and review the medications you’re currently taking. Any potential change to a prescription medication taken for health reasons should be discussed with a primary care physician.

Get Your Home Prepared

After having surgery, patients’ energy levels are usually low—especially for the first few days—and they may feel tired and weak. Surgeons advise against engaging in any vigorous exercise for two weeks since that raises the blood pressure while you’re recovering. You’ll spend most of your time resting or sleeping. It’s helpful to get any errands done before your surgery, prepare your home, and get everything organized so you can relax peacefully rather than having to scramble to get things done after the procedure. Arrange for someone to help you with basic daily tasks, put aside some simple meals, and set up a recovery area with extra pillows if you need them. Make sure that you have easy access to everything you’ll need.

Start Mentally Preparing Yourself

Surgery isn’t just stressful on the body. It can also lead to some emotional mood swings before and after the procedure. Have a clear idea of your goals, maintain realistic expectations, and communicate with your surgeon if there’s anything that’s worrying you. Having a support group of close friends or family members to talk to helps to reduce anxiety.

Want to restore your facial contours? Start planning your facelift with help from Dr. Timothy Greco and his team. To discover more about the benefits of facial plastic surgery and minimally invasive procedures, call (610) 664-8830, or fill out an online form to request a free consultation.