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Timeline And Preparations For Your Facelift Surgery

Preparing for a facelift procedure can be very daunting, but with a little bit of planning, it can be a smooth process. Your surgeon will provide you with basic instructions, but there are some that your surgeon may not provide you with. These are broken down into a timeline checklist below:

One Month Prior to Your Facelift

The last month leading up to your surgery is the best time to begin preparing for the procedure. Some things that you will need to do four weeks before your procedure include:

• Make sure that you have undergone all pre-surgical lab tests that your surgeon has requested. The sooner you take care of these tests, the better. The last thing you want to do is wait until the last minute and the results not make it to your surgeon in time, resulting in a rescheduling.
• Make sure you are eating healthy and exercising frequently. By maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, you are more likely to have a safer surgery and recover quicker.
• If your surgeon has requested that changes be made to your hair so that he or she can access parts of your face easier, now is a great time to have that done.
• Be careful to not get pregnant. If you become pregnant before your surgery, it will be postponed until you've delivered.

Two Weeks Prior to Your Facelift

As your surgery gets closer, it is a good time to start thinking about preparing for the recovery of your surgery. There are a few things that you can do to help minimize the risk of complications during and after the surgery and to ensure that you are in good health when you undergo the procedure. These steps could include:

• Try to avoid using nicotine for the last two or three weeks leading up to your surgery. Quite simply, this will reduce the risk of complications. In addition, it's recommended that you do not smoke for roughly two to three weeks after the procedure has been completed.
• Consider stopping the use of ibuprofen and aspirin, as these may increase your risk of complications.
• Make sure that you wear sunscreen on your face when you go out. The last thing you want is sun damage before your surgery, which could possibly delay the procedure.
• Ensure you are getting plenty of essential nutrients and vitamins, such as vitamin C, zinc and vitamin A leading up to your surgery, as these can help you heal faster.
• Make your accommodation plans. If you will be traveling more than 30-60 minutes to undergo the facelift, if it is a good idea to set up shop for the night in a hotel near the clinic.
• Start preparing the area in your home where you will recover. Recovery is going to take a couple of weeks at least. It is important to set this area up now because you won't feel like it when you get home. Make sure you have plenty of blankets and pillows, healthy snacks, comfy clothes, water, medical supplies and entertainment.

One Week Prior to Your Facelift

It's almost time, but there's still plenty for you to go to prepare for the surgery and the recovery process. Here are a few odds and ends that you need to finish up:

• Avoid alcohol at all costs. According to WebMD, it can have adverse reactions to any medications that you may take during and after the surgery. Plus, it can reduce your risk of complications.
• Perform any last-minute errands that you have, such as picking up the dry cleaning and completing a big grocery story list.
• Consider getting a couple bags of frozen peas to put in your freezer. These make great ice packs/bags following your surgery.

The Day of Your Facelift

Finally, the day has come when you will get a new face. It's time to make sure that you've done everything previously mentioned in this article. If there's anything that you skipped over or forgot to do, it needs to be done now. In addition, there are a few last-minute things that you need to do today as well:

• Avoid eating or drinking – even water – after midnight on the night prior to your facelift surgery.
• Make sure you have someone that will be ready to take you to the clinic for the surgery and to pick you up on your return home or to a nearby hotel.
• Take a nice, relaxing shower or bath the morning of your surgery, but avoid putting on any kind of makeup or styling your hair.
• Make sure that you dress comfortably and opt for button-up shirts rather than pull-overs.
• Leave your contacts at home and bring your eyeglasses, as these will be easier to use after the surgery.

When coupled with the instructions from your surgeon, the aforementioned preparation measures will go a long way in helping you to obtain the results that you want and a quick, safe recovery following the procedure. If you have any issues or concerns, consult with your surgeon to eliminate any possible confusion that there may be.