1. What do I do to prepare for face lift surgery?

I might have a patient on a skin prep regime, especially if laser resurfacing is planned with the facelift. I get the patients to have a shower and get them to wash their hair the night before surgery.


2. What happens at the preoperative face lift appointment?

I would usually have met with the patient 2-4 times prior to the pre-op appointment to customize the design of the facelift. At the pre-op appointment itself, the surgical plan is reviewed, questions answered, post-op recovery explained, prescriptions for post-op medications given, labs and informed consent reviewed, discussed, and signed. The financial transaction is also completed at this time. ,


3. What does informed consent mean?

The informed consent is a process by which the risks, side effects, surgery, and options are explained to the patient so that it is assured that the patient is able to give his or her consent to perform the procedure. While the process of this discussion is the legal requirement, a document is also signed acknowledging that this informed consent process was completed.


4. Where will my face lift incisions be?

The incisions vary according to the requirements of the individual case. Typically there is an incision either at the hairline or within the hair-baring scalp behind the ears that extend in the groove at the base of the back of the ear. This continues around the base of the lobule or ear lobe and then proceeds onto the cartilage in front of the ear, the tragus. In males, this incision in front of the ear may be placed on the back edge of the sideburn. This then may continue into the scalp of the temples. Other incisions may be in the skin fold crease below the chin.and in the upper recesses of the inside of the mouth for mid-face lifts.


5. What if I have a history of bad scars?

Procedures may take into consideration a history of poor scars by limiting the incisions, placing them at different sites, or using different suture or suture techniques. In rare instances, intra-scar steroid injections may be used.


6. What about my daily medications before facelift surgery?

Usual medications will be reviewed with me in conjunction with your regular doctor. Aspirin or other potentially anti-clotting medications should be stopped about two weeks before surgery. Most daily medications can be taken with a sip of water as usual. If you are on herbal or homeopathic remedies or medications, I will usual ask you to stop taking them a week or two before surgery.


7. I take vitamins and supplements. Do I need to stop them before facelift surgery?

Most vitamins and supplements such as minerals can be taken as usual.Vitamin E in large doses can reduce clotting of blood. So this is usually stopped but regular multi-vitamins can be taken. As mentioned above, because of the unregulated nature of herbal or homeopathic supplements, I will have patients stop these before surgery.