Patients who are well-prepared for facelift cosmetic surgery will be better placed to accomplish safer and more desirable results. Such patients will also feel healthier and more relaxed before, during, and following the surgery.
The facelift surgery preparation initiates immediately after the surgeon establishes the patient as a candidate for facelift surgery during the consultation process. Board certified plastic surgeon Roger Tsai, MD provides facelift to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA , and surrounding locations.
Surgical Planning
After the surgeon deems the patient to be suitable for a facelift, they will develop a customized surgical plan to determine:
- Type of anesthesia or sedation
- Type of facelift surgery technique
- Location and size of the incisions
- Incision closure procedure
- Choice of surgical venue
- The patient’s requirements for an overnight stay at the facility
- The need to combine liposuction of the face or neck or other procedures such as brow lift with a facelift
- The recovery plan
The surgeon will also address aspects such as surgery costs, pre, and post-operative expenses, and insurance and financing options before the surgery.
Blood Thinners and Tobacco
The surgeon will instruct the patient to avoid the use of tobacco in any form for a specified duration pre and post facelift plastic surgery.
In case the patient has been using blood thinners such as aspirin and NSAIDs, or specific herbal supplements and vitamin E, they may need to stop taking these for a specified period.
The surgeon may also alter the schedule of certain prescription medications in consultation with the prescribing doctor.
Practical Arrangements
Working professionals will need to apply for leave from their workplace for around one to two weeks. Non-working patients will also need to remain at home for a minimum of one week and push their social engagements to a later date.
Furthermore, the patient should enlist a responsible person to drive them home following the facelift. They may also need to arrange for aftercare for the initial few days of recovery.
The patient should undertake any urgent household or work-related tasks beforehand to enjoy a relaxed and stress-free recovery period. It is a prudent idea for the patient to prepare a recovery kit at home in advance, including items such as:
- Prescription medications as well as antibiotics
- OTC pain meds
- Bandages
- Extra pillows to keep the head elevated
- Front-open, loose-fitting clothing
- Preferred music CDs or movie DVDs
The Day Prior to the Surgery
The patient should wash their hair properly to minimize the risk of infection on the day prior to the facelift. They should not consume alcohol for a minimum of 48 hours before the procedure. In addition, the patient should take sufficient rest and get a good night’s rest on the night before the facelift surgery.
The Surgery Day
In case the patient is diabetic, they should have their vital parameters assessed on the morning of the procedure. The surgeon may start the patient on antibiotics before the surgery.
The patient and their attendant should budget the entire day for the procedure. The surgery itself may take one to two hours. However, the patient will require additional hours of monitoring in the recovery area.
Dedicated cosmetic surgeon Roger Tsai, MD receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other cities and towns in this part of The Golden State for a facelift.
For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.