5 Tips For Lasting Facelift Results
While facelift surgery can reverse the hands of time, it doesn’t stop the clock from ticking. A traditional facelift procedure can produce beautiful, natural-looking results that last an average of 7-10 years for most patients. Whether the age-defying effects of a facelift will last is dependent on the skills of the surgeon, and the patients themselves. An experienced plastic surgeon, such as Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Frank C. Madda, uses advanced facelift techniques can make a all the difference when it comes to the longevity of results. The patient’s current age and overall skin elasticity are also important. But one of the most crucial aspects of ensuring long-lasting effects is the patient’s commitment to certain lifestyle habits. Below are five tips to help your facelift last.
- Recover Right. Following your plastic surgeon’s postoperative instructions is a critical first step towards ensuring that you are able to achieve optimal response to the procedure, and for an extended period of time. A facelift requires 1-2 weeks time for rest and recovery. If you are considering this procedure, it is important that you are able to commit to the time and personal care needed to recover.
- Live Well. A healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise will go a long way toward maintaining the youthful look achieved through a facelift. Poor diet and extreme weight fluctuations can have a negative effect on skin laxity in the face, and can cause the gains made through the procedure to become undone. Smoking can have a negative impact on your body’s ability to heal after surgery, and is well-known for causing wrinkles. For a glowing look that lasts, nip this unhealthy habit in the bud, immediately.
- Protect Daily. Sun exposure is one of the primary causes of physical aging. Therefore, avoiding direct sun exposure immediately following surgery and applying sunscreen daily are essential for avoiding further sun damage. Not taking proper care of the skin can have a significant impact on the length of facelift results, so it’s particularly important to embrace an effective skincare regimen.
- Hydrate Often. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. Unfortunately, the water we drink reaches all the other organs before it reaches the skin. So, it’s important to apply water to our skin through moisturizer, which will not only show a visible difference in hydration, but it can also help to prevent wrinkles. Apply a hydrating moisturizer twice daily, and if possible, within 2 minutes of leaving the bath or shower for better absorption.
- Refresh Sporadically. Because the aging process inevitably continues, fine lines, skin laxity, and discoloration might arise after a facelift. To extend the longevity of your facelift results, there are several non-surgical options for continued facial rejuvenation. Laser skin resurfacing treatments help remove the top layers of the skin to give way to new skin cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other blemishes. Laser also promotes the production of collagen, a naturally occurring substance that is primarily responsible for the smooth and plump appearance associated with healthy looking skin. Injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers will help enhance facelift results by preventing further formation of lines and creases. In addition, fillers help restore youthfulness by adding volume to areas that tend to shrink as you age.
Overall, as long as patients choose their facelift surgeon wisely and take good care of their health and skin after a facelift procedure, the positive effects can keep them looking youthful and refreshed for many years to come. If you are considering facelift surgery, contact us today. As one of Chicago’s Top Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Madda is a surgeon you can trust for outstanding results that last.