As you grow older, your skin and tissues lose their natural elasticity. It sags and shrinks, making you look older. A facelift is a surgical procedure that tightens and lifts these facial tissues. It also removes excess skin and smooths out wrinkles. Facelifts focus on the bottom two-thirds of the face. Often, they also involve work on the neck and décolletage.

People get facelifts for myriad reasons. The common one is to reduce or disguise the signs of aging. However, you need to consider a few things before going for a facelift.

Things to Consider Before a Facelift

Before getting a facelift, you need to talk to your doctor. There are things he will ask you to consider and help you think them through. They include overall health, your expectations of the surgery, and weight.

• Your Overall Health

Like every other surgery, facelifts require you to have good overall health. When you are healthy enough, your chances of a quick recovery are high. Otherwise, you are risking complications. The surgery may not have the desired outcome, or it may take a long time to heal.

• Expectations of the Surgery

Facelift surgeries vary from person to person. They are individual, so what you need from a facelift surgery may not be what another person needs. You may get the same surgery, but the results may turn out different. It depends on the elasticity of your skin. Skin elasticity varies across a section of people.

• Your Weight

Some people gain and lose weight fast. If you are one of them, this may work to your disadvantage. It messes up with the results and causes the shape of your face to change. The results of your surgery will not last for long. Before signing up for facelift surgery, get your weight stable. Assess the things that make it fluctuate and deal with them.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

So with the above considerations in mind, who is a good candidate for facelift surgery?

• A Person in Good Health

If you are in good health, you may enjoy a quick recovery. There is also less likelihood of complications during and after surgery.

• A Person With Realistic Expectations

It is okay to be hopeful, but it is also good to look at the bigger picture and understand how it differs from person to person. A person with realistic expectations is likely to appreciate the results more and do what it takes to maintain them.

• A Person With Stable Weight

Fluctuations in weight will affect the results of your surgery, so make sure that your weight stabilizes before going for surgery.

• A Non-smoker

Smoking affects your healing process. It distorts your immunity and delays healing. It also increases the risk of developing an infection at the wound site. Your body cannot absorb and use some of the required nutrients to heal.

• A Person Who Exercises and Eats Healthy

If you have a healthy lifestyle, you can maintain a healthy weight to help your body heal faster. Your results will last longer, helping you maintain a youthful appearance.

For more on facelift candidates or to schedule a consultation, call Alan Matarasso, MD at (212) 249-7500 to reach our office in New York, New York.