There are some required preparations before your facelift procedure. The following instructions are organized according to the days and weeks before your procedure. Your doctor may adjust these instructions based on your individual situation, and on the particular surgery you have, whether it is a standard facelift, a mini-facelift, or a brow lift, chin lift, or full facelift, in which case, please follow your direct instructions from your doctor.

You will be asked to provide a complete medical history for your doctor in Korea, including any health problems you have had, any medication you are taking or have taken, and any allergies you may have. Your doctor will provide thorough instructions, answer any questions you may have, and perform a physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery.

Unless your doctor advises differently, you will be able to continue taking most medicines that you have been taking. You may be advised to stop taking certain medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: Advil, Motrin, Aleve), aspirin, and medicines that contain aspirin. You may also be asked to stop taking vitamins/homeopathic regimens and naturopathic substances such as garlic, ginko, ginseng and St John’s Wort as they may affect clotting and anesthesia. Always tell your doctor EVERYTHING you are taking.

Your surgeon will also advise you if any other tests are required, such as blood tests, X-rays or an electrocardiograph (ECG) to evaluate your heart.

If you decide to have facelift surgery, your doctor will ask you to sign a consent form. Make sure you read the consent form thoroughly before signing. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.

Health

Before undergoing surgery, it is important that you be as fit as possible to help the recovery process. Eat well and sleep well to make your body ready to receive the operation. Be sure to get plenty of rest and plan on not doing any housework, heavy lifting, or exercise. Avoid hot showers, hot tubs and saunas for 2-3 weeks.

Smoking

Stop smoking six weeks before your surgery to promote good wound healing and reduce scarring. Stopping smoking will also decrease your risk of serious complications.

Rest

Prepare a “recovery area” for recuperation at the place you will be staying. This may include pillows, ice packs, a thermometer, the TV remote control, and a telephone within easy reach. If there is a recliner chair, it is best for elevating the feet, knees and head. If there isn't a recliner, be sure to have lots of pillows available to prop up your head and knees. Make sure you arrange for a relative or friend to drive you to and from the hospital or clinic, arrange for a taxi, or ask Korea Facelift Center to arrange transportation for you. Someone should also stay with you for at least 24 hours after you return home.

Food

Stock your refrigerator with lots of fruits and vegetables and lean protein. Lean protein helps with healing. Sodium increases swelling; avoid it! Prepare frozen meals in advance. High protein, low sodium, soft foods are best for the first few days. Regardless of the type of surgery to be performed, hydration is very important before and after surgery for safe recovery. Drink plenty of water before and after your surgery.

Clothes

Decide what you will wear for the first few days; pick items that open in front and do not have to be pulled over your head. The same kind of clothing should be worn on the day of surgery. Wear slip-on shoes.

Hair dyeing

If you color your hair, you should do it just before surgery or you will need to wait at least a month to dye it again.

Driving

Your facelift may be performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgical facility. If it is outpatient, make sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you for the first 24-48 hours, unless you and your doctor have decided on other postoperative recovery options.

Facelift surgery, which may be performed in a hospital or office-based surgical suite, requires at least several hours to complete, though more extensive procedures may take longer.

You will receive medications to keep you comfortable during the surgical procedure. Local anesthesia combined with sedation is commonly used during facelift surgery, though general anesthesia can be used instead. An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist may be present to administer sedatives (or general anesthetic) and assist in monitoring.

For your safety during the surgery, various monitors will be used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse, and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.

Your doctor will follow the surgical plan discussed with you before surgery. Once the operation has begun, he or she may decide to combine various techniques or change a technique to achieve the best results. It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your doctor to make these decisions.

After surgery, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored.

Your incisions will likely be covered with bulky bandages that provide gentle pressure to minimize swelling and bruising. A small drainage tube might be placed under the skin behind one or both of your ears to drain any excess blood or fluid.

Before leaving for home on the day of surgery, you or someone looking after you should feel comfortable emptying and resetting the drains.

You may choose to go home on the day of surgery or spend the night with an office consultant or nurse, unless you and your plastic surgeon have made other plans for your immediate postoperative recovery. You should arrange for someone to stay with you if you plan to return home.

If you are suffering from aging and sagging skin and it is becoming noticeable, we invite you to contact our facelift service today. You can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions here. Your doctors in Korea will provide a comprehensive medical history and facelift analysis that will allow them to provide each patient with an accurate diagnosis so that a patient-specific treatment plan can be put into action. Contact us now.