The Dos and Don’ts Before Getting a Facelift

Facelifts are among the most common cosmetic surgeries among the older demographic who want to take a few years off their skin.

Through your surgeon will be responsible for ensuring the procedure is a success, you ought to prepare yourself adequately for your results to be pleasant.

Here are some of the dos and don’ts before getting a facelift.

Avoid certain medications and herbal supplements

Your surgeon will discourage you from taking blood thinners, analgesics, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory drugs before you get a facelift. It would help if you also steered clear of some herbal medications before your procedure. These medications prolong the healing process and can cause you to start bleeding.

Go in for surgery on an empty stomach

Sometimes, anesthesia can induce feelings of nausea and cause you to vomit. It would be best to avoid eating or drinking anything eight hours before the surgery. Consult your surgeon during your consultation phase for guidelines on the types of food you should avoid. 

Eat clean

Generally speaking, a healthy diet will help you recover faster. Ensure you eat a diet rich in proteins to help muscle reconstruction and speed along your recovery process. Examples of lean proteins you could eat are foods like fish, peas, beans, lean beef, and yogurt.

Avoid excessive salt

Too much salt in your food will cause your body to increase water retention and cause you to have pronounced swelling than usual. Try to reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. A low-salt diet will help you have less pronounced swelling and a seamless result.

Do Your Research

Before going for a facelift, look for accredited facelift surgeons in your city. Google, ask for referrals and gather information about them. For example, if you are in California, you can get a facelift by Dr. Timothy R. Miller, M.D. Once you have identified one, you can contact them and ask them about payment plans and what to expect before and after surgery.

Drink plenty of water

Our bodies are made of 70% water, and we cannot stress enough how important it is to hydrate thoroughly. Water helps increase your blood volume, transporting oxygenated blood and nutrients to vital body organs. Drink the recommended 6-8 glasses of water in the weeks before your surgery.

Elevate your head

Your surgeon will advise you to keep your head in an elevated position for at least three or four days before your surgery. Elevating your head prevents the pooling of blood and promotes wound healing. This also improves the quality of your results.

Steer clear of tobacco and recreational drugs

Tobacco doesn’t mix well with any surgery, leave alone a facelift. Avoid taking any drug because they reduce the oxygen supply to the muscles and slow down the healing process. It might be hard but try to quit smoking at least six weeks before your facelift.

Plan for transportation and aftercare

Ask your loved ones to help pick you up from the facility and drive you home. After your surgery, you will not be able to do strenuous activities or even bend down to pick items from the floor. You will also need lots of help with cooking and childcare as you recover from your facelift surgery.

Bottom Line

Your surgeon knows what is best for you in your unique situation. Therefore, it would be wise to follow the above guidelines to obtain the best results. Failure to prepare adequately will result in bruising or inflammation.