Face Lift Recovery

Am I Ready For A Face Lift?

There are many considerations when choosing a facial rejuvenation procedure. What are some of the factors you need to consider to determine if a face lift is right for you?

Age Appropriate Considerations

To start with, if you're between about your late-30s through the mid 70's, you are a candidate for a face Lift, but that's not a fast and hard rule. If you’re on the younger end of the age spectrum, a natural face lift may help you stave off many years, or we may advise you that alternatives such as injectables and fillers will do the job for the time being.

Early Bird Gets The Worm

In Hollywood, the movie stars are beginning with minor touchups very early, as early as 30 years old, in order to slightly modify their looks. Do you recognize who this is below?

A natural face lift corrects aging signs in the mid-face area, the jowls, and your neck, provided that your neck muscles are not too loose. In the case of the brow area, falling eyelids, and too lax neck skin (aside from jowls), these "add-on" procedures can be done simultaneously with the a natural face upon request. Everyone ages differently, however, so there are no hard and fast rules. – That's what our surgeons are for, to make decisions on an individual basis.

When you come in for a consultation, it's preferable not to have any makeup on because the doctor will have a better idea of what is right for you, and  furthermore,  your before pictures will be more authentic. The skin texture is also an important consideration before having a face lift, as well as all the small wrinkles that may be camoflaged with makeup. In particular, the nasolabial fold needs to be exposed so the doctor can determine how much it will move, and be able to visualize what the new skin looks like that will take its place (this is only possible if enough skin is available to move midway between vertical and horizontal.

Improved Skin Quality Due to Stem Cells

Assuming you do have a face lift, when the after pictures are taken, you will be amazed at your new skin quality. This is due to the regenerative stem cells that are activated below the skin surface after you have a face life. This skin will look like the skin you had when you were much younger. Below is an example of a woman who was 48 when she had her face lift and the after picture is 3 months after the operation. Both were taken without make up.

Aging Naturally

Also please take into consideration when choosing a facial procedure whether it will help you age gracefully. Too many facial procedures eliminate excess skin without compensating for a loss of facial volume, resulting in a windblown look. As we age, facial skin loses elasticity while the volume in our cheeks tends to fall. – You can't correct one condition without the other, while still looking natural. Anatural face lift addresses both situations for a balanced,  appearance.

Downtime vs. No Time

The amount of downtime involved in a procedure is also a consideration. The natural face lift has minimal downtime; after one week, with camouflage makeup, you can walk around a mall and no one will look at you twice. By the way, all these lunchtime procedures that promise you will be back in action that afternoon are all being very disingenuous. ALL surgery rquires recuperation time, partcularly surgery that moves undelying tissues (muscles). And if the surgery does not do that, don't waste your money because stretching facial skin makes you look stretched, not refreshed.

Here's a typical recuperation schedule in days following surgery:

Day 1 You will want to rest, lying down with your face held high, and you should have a care-giver during the first night.

Day 2 Your face will be sore but not painful, bruising will appear if it hasn't already, and you will want to rest watching TV or reading a book in bed.

1 Day After Surgery          2 days After Surgery

Day 3 You will want to walk around, you might feel a little depressed from not being able to go out in public, your bruising will be worse, most if not all the pain and soreness will have subsided but you face and stitches might itch.

Day 4-5 This will be the turning point. You will feel better and you will want to start going out but your bruising will begin to turn yellow (instead of red and blue), so you will need makeup, sunglasses, and hair covering your ears if possible.

5 Days After Surgery

Day 6-7  You will want to get out, your stiches will probably have been removed and where they were you will itch, your bruising will be less and you will begin to see what the final will look like.

Day 14  You might still have to wear makeup but other than that, you will have your new face which will be glowing.

Day 30 Where your stiches were will still be pink but it will be fading day by day. No more make up required except what you regularly use.

30 days After Surgery