Facelift Information

Qualifications

In general, good candidates for facelifts are:

  • Healthy and do not have medical conditions that impair healing

  • Nonsmokers

  • Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

Preparation

In preparing for a facelift, you may be asked to:

  • Get lab testing or a medical evaluation

  • Take certain medications or adjust your current medications

  • Apply certain products to the facial skin preoperatively

  • Stop smoking

  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements because they can increase bleeding and bruising

  • Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you the first night following surgery

A facelift may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.

Recovery

A facelift is very satisfying to most patients. It achieves a more youthful appearance. Pain and discomfort after surgery are minimal. Once the dressings are removed after approximately 3 to 5 days, the patient can resume social activities using makeup to cover bruising and hair over the ears to hide the sutures.

Although infrequent, the risks and complications of facelift surgery include:

  • Bleeding, hematoma (localized bleeding outside of blood vessels), and bruising

  • Infection

  • Neurological dysfunction (loss of muscle function or sensation), which is usually temporary

  • Widened or thickened scar

  • Loss of hair around the incision site

  • Asymmetry (unevenness between two sides)

  • Skin necrosis (loss of skin)

Unlikely Complications