Do you look in the mirror and wish you could turn back the clock? A facelift could be the key to gaining a more youthful appearance. However, you should not rush out and schedule surgery right away. First, take some time to consider these five questions to ask yourself before a facelift.
1. What Is Your Motivation?
On the surface, your motivation is likely to look a little younger and improve your self-image. But oftentimes, clients have a deeper motivation than that. It is important that you examine your motivation before signing up for surgery.
The facelift procedure is purely physical and designed to help the outside match how you feel as a person. If the old, tired-looking individual in the mirror doesn’t match the youthful, energetic person you know you are, a facelift could be the solution. If there is an expectation that a facelift will radically change your life or address deeper self-image issues, understand that surgery alone will not produce this transformation.
2. What Are Your Expectations?
In many cases, multiple procedures may be needed to get the desired results.
Electing to have a facelift is a big decision, and knowing what to expect beforehand can help you avoid disappointment later on. Some clients seek facelift procedures with the hope of looking just a bit more refreshed while others hope to shave a decade off their look.
Others may have an expectation in mind that a facelift alone simply cannot meet. A facelift procedure can remove excess skin, tighten tissues and muscles and reposition the skin, but it relies on your underlying bone and cartilage to shape the results.
Talk to your plastic surgeon about realistic expectations for your results and be prepared for that outcome.
3. Are You Emotionally Prepared for Surgery and Recovery?
Surgery and the recovery period both pass easily for the majority of men and women. However, if someone is in a vulnerable emotional state, this can be a great deal more difficult.
If you are turning to facelift surgery as a way to deal with a recent emotional trauma or looking to revamp your life after a notable loss like divorce, it is possible that underlying depression could be made worse. While you do not need to permanently put off getting the surgery you want, it is important that you feel emotionally stable going into it.
4. Do You Have the Support System You Need?
This is a vital question to ask yourself before a facelift, but an easy one to forget to consider. We often think of plastic surgery as a private matter, but you will need assistance during the recovery period. This can include friends, family and paid healthcare assistants. Aspects of the facelift recovery period can include bandages, surgical drains, medications and more. While this passes quickly, you cannot go it alone.
5. Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Some people are better facelift candidates than others. Ideally, a candidate will be a non-smoker in generally good health who wants to look a little younger and isn’t expecting unrealistic results. Those who have high cheekbones, a solid jawline and a strong chin tend to see the most significant improvement.
Of course, the questions to ask yourself before a facelift are only part of the equation. To fully understand the procedure and make the right choice, you must discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Dr. David Dellinger at Elysian Plastic Surgery in Austin is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who maintains a practice focus on body contouring surgery, breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation.
