Face Lift Risks and Safety

Q. Are all surgeons Board Certified Plastic Surgeons ?

A. “Yes,” we only accept the most highly qualified Board Certified surgeons within our network and they must be qualified within the Plastic Surgery sub-specialty. Be wary of physicians who are Board Certified but in another specialty. You don’t want to trust your facial beauty to a doctor who might spend  half the day in an HMO prescribing pills and the other half moonlighting in cosmetic surgery. Due to the cost pressure brought about by the government and insurance companies  on doctors, it's not uncommon to find MDs without the necessary surgical skills, experience, or surgical certifications performing surgery. The Plastic Surgery board certification requires years of extra training to fine tune very intricate procedures and skills. Demand it for your safety.

Q. How much younger will I look?

A. Our physicians will give you realistic expectations as to how a natural face lift can help you age gracefully. -- Turning back the clock is one thing; turning it back too far produces unnatural results. In general, look at the pictures of before and after on this site and you will get an idea of the magnitude of change to expect.

Q. How long will my recovery be?

A. Please go to the section called "Is It For Me?" for this answer.

Q. Am I a candidate for a Face Lift?

A. Generally, anyone from about their late-30s to mid seventies who is displaying the typical signs of facial aging is a good candidate for the Naturel Lift. Some of those aging signs include:

• Neck jowls (sagging in the lower face around the neck area) but not too pronounced
• Loss of fullness in the cheeks
• Skin drooping below the eyes
• Nasal-labial folds (lines running from the nose to the corners of the mouth)

What a Ntural Face Lift does not correct is aging signs in the brow area, the eyelids, and lax neck skin (aside from jowls), but these can be “add-on” procedures completed simultaneously with the lower face upon request.

Q. How safe is the procedure?

A. This procedure, in the hands of an experienced board certified plastic surgeon operating in an accredited facility is a very routine procedure. The most common problems are infection (usually preventable with antibiotics following the procedure), hematomas (small bleeding under the skin) and nerve damage (very, very rare). The surgeon you select will provide you a full list of all the possible complications that extends beyound the ones listed here.

Q. Are there other alternatives I might consider for facial rejuvenation?

A. Absolutely. There are many “beginning” solutions for those that have minimal signs of aging. Our goal at www.FaceLiftMDs.com is to recommend a great plastic surgeon who will suggest the  right solution for you at this point in time.

14 Questions To Ask During Your Consultation

1.     Are you board certified in Plastic Surgery?

2.     Are you a member of ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) and if not, why not? (The reason we ask this question is because if they are members, we are double certain that they are board certified in Plastic Surgery, that they have kept up with their continued education requirements, that they operate in an approved facility, and that they are recognized by their peers as being honest and capable. If they are members you will see this sign on their web site or letterhead

3.     How many years were you trained specifically in plastic surgery, and since this training, how many of these procedures have you done?

4.     Can you perform this procedure in a hospital and if so, in which hospital do you have privileges?  (This is important in case of an emergency where you have to be taken to a hospital.)

5.     Is this facility accredited by either AAAASF, a state or nationally recognized accreditation agency, or certified by Medicare? Over the last year, how many infections have you had in this facility (infections must be reported and documented to the accrediting agency)?

6.     Which procedure would you recommend and why? Which surgical technique would you select and why?

7.     What are all the things I need to do to get the best results possible?

8.     Where will my operation take place and how many people will assist you ? (minimum requirements are 2 people assisting, a scrub tech and a circulating nurse).

9.     What will be the length and severity of my recovery and will I need anyone to help me during this time and for how long?

10.     Please explain the risks of this procedure and the possible complications that could require more expenses for me or that could impair my health ?

11.     Should there be a complication, what happens? Who handles it, who pays for it?

12.     What should I expect  to look like in one month, 3 months, 6 months, and one year?

13.     If I were dissatisfied with the results, what are my options?

14.     Can you show me some before and after pictures that are representative of my current situation with results that are realistic expectations that I should have? (Do you see any noticeable changes in the pictures below? There are very slight changes, but would they be enough for you?)