Essential Questions to Ask Before Undergoing a Facelift?

Every successful cosmetic surgery starts the same way: with a one-on-one consultation with your board-certified plastic surgeon. Your pre-surgery consultation is the perfect time to get to learn more about your respective cosmetic procedure and how it can help you reach your personal aesthetic goals. It can also serve as a great opportunity to better get to know your plastic surgeon and start building a working relationship as partners on your cosmetic surgery journey.

Facelift consultations are especially important, as many people can be extra sensitive about the appearance of their face. For many patients who are beginning to notice visible signs of aging on the face including laxity in the neck and jowl, my signature short scar facelift can be an excellent option. A short scar facelift can effectively rejuvenate a patient’s appearance by lifting the cheeks, reducing the jowls, decreasing prominence of the lower eyelid, and softening the nasolabial folds. To help my patients get the most out of their consultations, I have provided some essential questions to ask their plastic surgeon during any facelift consultation.

• Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Are you a member of any other plastic surgery societies or organizations?
• How many facelift procedures have you performed in the past?
• Have you developed any special techniques for performing facelifts?
• Do you have before-and-after facelift photos from past patients you have worked with?
• What makes someone a good candidate for facelift surgery?
• How long will it take until I see the final results from my procedure?
• Will my surgery require a hospital stay? And if so, at which hospitals do you have hospital privileges?
• How much time will I need to successfully recover after my facelift?
• Is there anything I can do to help reduce post-surgery scarring?
• What kind of anesthesia will be used during my procedure?
• What kind of costs will be associated with my facelift?
• How should I physically prepare in the weeks leading up to my surgery?
• What are the potential risk of undergoing a facelift?
• How does your approach change from patient to patient?

These questions can provide an excellent start, but don’t hesitate to bring up any additional questions or concerns you have during your consultation. I take time with each of my facelift patients to evaluate their face, discuss their medical history and personal cosmetic goals to help make sure that undergoing a short scar facelift is the best surgical option for them. For more information or to schedule your plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. And you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for additional cosmetic surgery news, videos, and more.