A facelift tightens and contours the lower face, jawline, and neck with the goal of taking years off of your appearance. As with any plastic surgery procedure, a thorough consultation with your surgeon before a facelift is a must.
When you book a facelift consultation at the Glasgold Group in Princeton, NJ, you have the opportunity to discuss your goals and expectations with our plastic surgeons and get your questions answered.
Our goal is to meet or exceed your expectations throughout the process. A consultation is a conversation to help us understand what you’re hoping to get from a facelift. Here’s what you can do to prepare for the consultation and what to expect while you’re at our office.
What to Bring to Your Facelift Consultation
You don’t have to bring much to your consultation, but certain items can help your surgeon get a better sense of how to plan your procedure and help you set realistic expectations.
It is helpful to bring youthful, non-smiling photos so that your surgeon can see how your face has changed over time. A driver’s license or passport photo that shows your head and neck can be ideal.
If you take medications, it is a good idea to bring a list of the medicines you’re on. Include over-the-counter medications that you take regularly and any vitamins or supplements you take, too. Some medicines and supplements increase the risks of bleeding or are otherwise not recommended in the weeks before or after a facelift.
Questions to Ask During the Consultation
Think of your facelift consultation as an opportunity to get to know the surgeon and a chance to learn as much as possible about the procedure. After your consultation, you should feel ready to make an informed decision about whether or not a facelift is right for you. Ask as many questions as you need to!
Here are some questions to ask when meeting with a facelift surgeon:
- Are you board-certified? You will want to work with a facial plastic surgeon who has earned board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as this means they have undergone extensive training and proven their ability and talent as a surgeon.
- How many facelifts have you performed? It’s a good idea to learn more about the surgeon’s experience, specifically with facelifts.
- What facelift technique do you recommend? There are several ways to perform a facelift, depending on a patient’s goals. Your surgeon should let you know which technique they think is appropriate for you.
- What happens after the surgery? Find out what will happen immediately following the surgery and how long you can expect the recovery process to take.
- What type of anesthesia will you use? At the Glasgold Group, we typically use conscious sedation, as it’s safer than general anesthesia. Ask your surgeon to explain the differences between each type of anesthesia if you’re not sure about them.
- Are there possible complications? Every plastic surgery has some risks and potential complications. Ask the surgeon to give you an idea of what the possible complications are and what you can do to avoid them.
- What will my results be and how long will they last? It can also be worthwhile to ask your surgeon about the type of results you can expect and when you can expect them to be visible. Your surgeon might tell you what you can do to improve your results or make them last longer.
- What happens if I’m not happy with the results? Be sure to ask the surgeon what your options are if you end up dissatisfied with your facelift results. A revision procedure might be an option.
Your Facelift Goals
In addition to asking your surgeon questions during the facelift consultation, it’s a good idea to ask yourself some questions before you go in for the consult. One question to ask yourself is what your goals are for the surgery.
It can be worthwhile to have specific goals for a facelift, beyond something like “look younger.” When thinking about your surgical objectives, focus on what bothers you about your appearance. For example, you might not like the way your skin hangs down around the chin or jawline. Or, you might be unhappy with wrinkles on the lower part of your face.
Letting the surgeon know exactly what you want to correct will help them determine which technique will work for you and whether or not a facelift is a right choice for your goals.
What to Expect from a Facelift Surgeon During the Consultation
Our extensive experience means that we approach the consult in a very unique manner. We will show you before and after photographs of our own patients with similar faces and concerns who went through the same procedure, we are proposing for you. We’ll also take photos of your face and might measure your face and neck.
Through this approach, you will see what can be realistically achieved. We find that thoroughly discussing expectations and limitations as part of the consultation leads to very high patient satisfaction.
During your consultation, we’ll likely ask you about your past medical history and lifestyle habits. Some habits, such as smoking, can increase the risk of complications, so we’ll ask you to quit well before the facelift.
We’ll also talk to you about your goals and expectations for a facelift and will give you an idea of whether or not the surgery is likely to live up to your expectations. Depending on the situation, there might be instances when we recommend another procedure or no procedure at all.
If you decide to go forward with the facelift after your consultation, we’ll give you instructions on what to do in preparation and how to make arrangements for the day of the surgery. For example, we’ll recommend finding someone to bring you to the surgical center and home again. We’ll also let you know how long you can expect to need time off from work.
We understand that every patient is trying to get the most improvement with the least invasive treatment. The Glasgold Group doctors in Princeton, New Jersey perform many non-surgical procedures in addition to facelift surgery so that we can offer the full range of treatment options. Contact us today to book your consultation or call 732-655-6429.