A Natural Facelift vs. Being Overdone: What to Ask in Your Consultation

Your face changes as you age. Gravity, sun exposure, and changes in your skin, muscles and tissue cause the skin on your face to loosen and sag. This can make you look older than you really are. A facelift can help to restore that youthful appearance.

We’ve all seen people who have gotten a “bad” facelift. They have that taut, overdone look that is very unnatural. If you’ve been thinking about getting a facelift, but worry about the outcome, here are some things you should know.

Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon

All plastic surgeons are not created equal. It’s up to you to do your homework and find the right plastic surgeon for you. Start by checking out local plastic surgeons online. Check out their credentials. There are websites where patients can rate their doctors and the ratings could help you determine where to start your search. Choose several doctors who have good reputations. Start by making consultation appointments with your top choices.

When you meet the doctor, it is important that you have a good rapport. You should choose a doctor that is willing to answer all of your questions and to work with you to accomplish your desired results.

Find out how much experience the doctor has with facelifts. The doctor may be a good plastic surgeon, but if he or she doesn’t have a lot of experience doing facelifts you may not get the kind of results you’re looking for. Make sure the doctor has a proven track record with facelift surgery and ask to see some before and after photos of previous patients. This should help put your mind at ease.

Discuss All of Your Concerns

Be prepared to discuss all of your surgical goals in your consultation. If a natural-looking result is important to you, discuss it with your plastic surgeon. Communication is the key to getting the successful results you can be proud of. If a doctor does not take the time to fully discuss your concerns, you need to find another doctor.

Follow All of Your Doctor’s Instructions

To get the best possible results from your facelift surgery, it is important that you follow all of your doctor’s instructions. How well you take care of yourself before and after the surgery will help to determine how well you heal. Make sure that you understand what will be expected of you and that you are willing to do as the doctor orders.

Remember That Outcomes Can’t Be Guaranteed

Here’s the bottom line. You need to keep your expectations realistic and you must be flexible with the outcome you’re expecting. There’s no way to tell exactly how your face will look after surgery no matter how skilled and experienced the surgeon is. All patients are different, so it’s not possible to get the same results every time. That being said, a good plastic surgeon should be able to predict facelift results accurately enough to give most patients the results they’re looking for.

To find out if a facelift is right for you, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Port City Plastic Surgery serves Charleston, Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant and Summerville, South Carolina from two locations in Charleston and Daniel Island.