At Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident in their skin. At the same time, we recognize that it can be extremely difficult to feel self-confident when your face is showing signs of aging. For this reason, we are proud to offer our clients several anti-aging options, including a facelift. Today, we are answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure to help you decide if it is right for you.
How Long Is Recovery After a Facelift?
It may take between two and three months for your face to feel like it did before your facelift, sometimes referred to as rhytidectomy. However, you will not need to spend two to three months off from work on bed rest. Rather, you can generally expect to need a week or two off from work.
Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered
What Can I Expect My Recovery Timeline to Be Like?
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to feel physically fatigued for one to three days following your procedure. During the first 24 hours following surgery, you don’t need to worry about physical activity. However, after that, you should make a point to get at least 30 minutes of moderate cardio each day.
At first, you probably won’t feel up to completing 30 minutes at a time. This is okay. It is important to not push yourself too hard during the first six to eight weeks post-op. Just do what you can, rest, and pick back up when you are feeling sufficiently rested. After a week or two, your energy levels should be restored, and you should have no problem going for a 30 minute walk at least five days per week.
How Long Can I Expect My Results to Last?
You can feel extremely confident that your ideal results will last for at least a decade. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle following your procedure, you may be able to enjoy your ideal results for 12 to 15 years after surgery. Besides your lifestyle choices, your age significantly affects how long you can expect your ideal results to last. Younger clients tend to enjoy longer-lasting results than older clients.
What Can I Do to Extend the Longevity of My Results?
To enjoy the results of your rhytidectomy for as long as possible, you need to make maintaining your skin health one of your top priorities. Research shows that protecting your skin from sun damage is the most effective step you can take to prevent premature skin aging. To keep your skin protected, wear sunscreen every day, reapply it regularly, and limit your time in the sun.
Another very effective step you can take is to come in periodically for injectable anti-aging treatments. Depending on your cosmetic concerns, you may benefit significantly from both injectable muscle relaxant and dermal filler treatments. Furthermore, you can help your ideal results last longer by avoiding tobacco consumption and minimizing alcohol consumption.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
To find out if you are a good facelift candidate, you need to attend an initial consultation with Dr. Nicholas Tarola. During this consultation, he will verify your candidacy after reviewing your current health, medical history, cosmetic concerns, and desired aesthetic. You can generally expect to qualify for this procedure if you are relatively healthy, don’t have any medical conditions that will extend your recovery process, and you have realistic expectations about the results.
We also generally look for nonsmokers because you must go two weeks prior to surgery without consuming nicotine. Furthermore, you need to go two more weeks without nicotine during the first part of your recovery process. If you can’t abstain from nicotine consumption for 28 days, you will be considered a poor fit for this procedure. Additionally, tobacco consumption often leads to health conditions that will preclude you from this procedure.
What If Surgery Isn’t Right for Me?
If surgery isn’t right for you, BOTOX injections may be a better fit. This injectable muscle relaxant can be used to reverse many of the signs of aging that can be treated by rhytidectomy. For example, in some cases, it can be used to eliminate jowls and nasolabial folds. Whether BOTOX will be an effective anti-aging alternative for you depends on the cause of your cosmetic concerns.
JUVÉDERM formulas, like JUVÉDERM VOLUMA may be a better fit for you if the root of your cosmetic concerns is volume loss. For example, VOLUMA injections, like rhytidectomy, can be used to lift sagging cheeks and eliminate jowls.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Even though facelift recovery timelines vary, you can generally expect to be back to work just a week or two after surgery. After that, you may need to take another four to six weeks off from vigorous activity, and you can expect to feel just like your old self roughly two to three months following your procedure. Contact us today at Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN to schedule your initial consultation and find out if this procedure is right for you.
