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What to Know Before Getting a Facelift

Posted in Facelift

Have you recently spent time in front of your mirror, considering ways to improve your appearance? When the natural aging process creates loose skin on your cheeks, jawline, and neck, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will provide valuable information on turning back the clock.

A facelift can help minimize or erase many of the hallmarks of getting older. But perhaps you have seen examples of what can happen when a facelift goes wrong, making you hesitant to commit to surgery. This article highlights critical factors you should consider to fully understand if this procedure is right for you.

Can Facial Exercises Make You Look Younger?

Lately, you may have seen beauty blog posts about “face yoga” and other trends that aim to target, tone, and tighten facial muscles, like the benefits your body can achieve at the gym. Unfortunately, the two types of exercises are not the same.

Repetitive facial movements can worsen wrinkles, lines, and loose skin, and no workout routine can reverse these consequences. If your cosmetic concerns include significant skin laxity and deeply etched wrinkles around your mouth, chin, jaw, and neck, a facelift is the best long-term option for reversing them.

How Long Will Facelift Benefits Last?

While no procedure can stop the natural aging process, a facelift can take years off your appearance, and as a result, you will always look younger than peers who have not gotten this transformative surgery.

Though everyone ages differently due to genetics and lifestyle factors, the benefits of most facelifts typically last for several years before some form of touch-up is necessary. Proper care to extend your results includes protecting your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen, eating a healthy diet, and consulting with a skin care professional about skin care treatments to employ in an anti-aging regimen.

How to Know If It’s the Right Time for a Facelift

If deep lines and creases are adversely affecting your confidence, or if non-surgical injectable neuromodulators or dermal fillers aren’t cutting it anymore, a facelift may be your most effective solution.

There isn’t an ideal age range for getting a facelift. Most people in good overall mental and physical health are good candidates for this operation. When you look older than you feel, and you’re dealing with issues like a turkey neck, jowls, or a double chin, nothing short of a facelift will deliver a long-term correction.

What’s a Facelift Recovery Like?

For a few days following your facelift, plan to take it easy. Arrange to have someone stay with you to help you around the house. The average recovery period is about 10 days, with sutures removed after the first week. Most patients return to work and their everyday activities at around the two-week mark.

Make sure you’re eating right and hydrating to speed up your recovery process. In addition, consuming nourishing foods, getting plenty of sleep and rest, and following your surgeon’s post-surgery instructions will ensure a successful recovery.

How Should I Choose My Facelift Surgeon? 

If you believe a facelift is right for you, choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is your first step. When narrowing down your search, look for board certification and extensive experience performing plastic surgeries like facelift and eyelid surgery. Men and women living in Sugar Land, Pearland, and The Woodlands can schedule a consultation with Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Livingston, by filling out our online contact form. You may also call (281) 501-1812 to learn more about our practice.