Face Lift

How Do You Prepare For Face Lift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)?

Before any surgery is planned, you will have an initial meeting with the surgeon to discuss

  • Your skin type and underlying bone structure
  • Your expectations and goals for the surgery
  • Whether you are a good candidate for surgery
  • What the surgery will involve
  • Where the procedure will take place (outpatient center, doctor’s office or hospital)
  • If an overnight stay in the hospital is required
  • What type of anesthesia will be used
  • What the recovery will be like
  • Any complications you might expect
  • What costs will be involved. Most insurance policies do not cover face lifts.

Ask lots of questions and be sure you fully understand the procedure. Once you have made the decision to have a face lift, your doctor will guide you in preparing for surgery. The doctor usually takes “before” pictures to compare with your appearance after surgery.

You will also want to ask whether any other procedures, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or brow lift surgery should be done at the same time.

Before Your Surgery

In general, plan on

  • Stopping certain medications, such as blood thinners, a week or so before the procedure.
  • Stopping smoking before and after the procedure. Smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin and can interfere with healing.
  • Letting your hair grow if it’s very short. Hair can help conceal scars while they heal.
  • Not eating for several hours before the procedure
  • Having someone drive you home after the procedure
  • Resting for several days after the procedure is done
  • Following your doctor’s advice about when you can resume normal activities

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