If you have decided to get a facelift, you must know that the periods before, during and after your surgery are critical. Therefore, you must clearly know what to expect to prepare adequately.
In this article, we’ll review the three critical stages of a facelift and provide a detailed overview of what to expect.
What to Expect During the Pre-Facelift Stage
The pre-facelift stage is divided into two categories: consultation with the doctor and preparation.
Consultation
You and your doctor will discuss the surgery during the consultation phase. This consultation should take anything between 15 minutes and 30 minutes and should cover the following topics:
- Your wants, needs and expectations for the surgery
- Your fears or misgivings regarding the procedure, if there are any
- Your medical history, including any medical conditions, previous surgeries, and current medication
- The best facelift option for you
- The type of anaesthesia that’s best for you
Your doctor will also examine your overall physical, psychological and emotional health to determine the probable outcomes of the surgery and any risks you are prone to.
Preparation
Preparing for a facelift follows the same process as preparing for any other surgery. This phase usually starts about two weeks before the surgery and ends on the day of the surgery. Your doctor may ask you to:
- Get a blood test done
- Stop smoking
- Quit some medications or herbal supplements
- Start taking some medications
- Avoid consuming certain foods
- Apply certain products to your face
If your goal is restoring a more youthful face shape, you must strictly adhere to whatever instructions you’re given during this phase.
Surgery Stage
Each facelift type has its own technique. Therefore, the procedure you undergo will depend on your facelift type. Generally, however, here are the steps of facelift surgery:
Anaesthesia
When you go in for the facelift surgery, your doctor will first administer anaesthesia to put you to sleep. There are different options for anaesthesia, and your doctor will recommend the best one for you.
Incision
Incisions will be made on your face in any of the following areas, depending on the type of facelift you’re going for:
- In the hairline near your temples
- In front of and behind the ear, and may extend into the hairline
- Under your chin
- In your mouth
The length of these incisions will also vary depending on the type of facelift you’re going for.
Lifting
This is the main part of the procedure, where most of the work gets done. All or some of the following may be done to you, depending on the kind of facelift you go for:
- Pulling up and tightening of facial muscles and underlying tissues
- Trimming of excess facial skin
- Removal of fat
Closing the Incisions
Finally, your surgeon will close the incisions using removable stitches, staples, and dissolvable stitches or skin glue.
Post-Facelift Stage
Right after your surgery, you’ll be taken from the theatre into a room where you’ll be observed until you wake up. Your head may be wrapped around in bandages, and you may have some tubes in place to drain excess blood and fluid from the face.
Once you’re stable -which is usually on the same day- you’ll be allowed to leave in the company of someone. However, before leaving, your doctor will give you instructions regarding the following:
- How to care for the incision sites
- How to drain fluid and measure how much fluid comes out
- How to use the pain medication prescribed for you
- When to come for a follow-up appointment
- What to eat/ what to avoid eating
- How much rest to take
- Activities you can engage in
The following are post-surgery symptoms you are likely to experience within the first and second weeks after your surgery:
Swelling
You’re very likely to experience some swelling, which will get worse around the second day, especially when you first wake in the morning. This swelling is usually nothing to worry about, and to make it better, you can elevate your bed and avoid turning/bending your head.
Pain
You may experience pain, discomfort, and heaviness in your face post-surgery. To improve it, use the pain medications prescribed in the right dosage.
Bleeding
You may also experience some bleeding, which can drain through the tubes. In severe cases, reach out to your doctor immediately.
Conclusion
Like any surgical procedure, facelifts require adequate preparation and after-care to ensure full recovery without any complications. If you’ve decided to undergo a facelift, follow the instructions above and any others that your doctor may give you.
