subject: The Facelift: Surgically Removing Time [print this page] There are many reasons a person might choose to have a facelift. The procedure can be used to help the patient feel better about themselves-more vibrant; younger. It is true that a great deal of how we feel about ourselves is all about our self-perception. When that perception is affected negatively by the effects of aging on our appearance, it can make us feel older than our years. As they are performed today, a facelift can be done in such a way that no one would ever know besides you and your surgeon (and the people you already know, who will be wondering why you suddenly look so much better and younger, of course).
As far as plastic surgery goes, a facelift falls on the side of being rather minimally invasive, all things considered. This is especially true if you opt to have the "mini", which is quite a bit less extensive and cuts dramatically down on recovery time. People look to the procedure when they have noticed an increase in droopy skin or excess fat around their face.
There's nothing the procedure can do to put an end to the aging process, but it can certainly treat many of the sign we commonly associate with aging, producing a younger looking appearance in most instances. Depending on a great many outside factors, a patient can expect the effects of the procedure to last from ten to twenty years.
Viable candidates for a facelift include anyone who is looking to turn back the clock when it comes to their appearance. Good candidates should be in good overall health and want realistic problems with their face solved through the wonders of modern technology.
Smokers need not apply. Why is that? Smoking cigarettes, or any other form of ingested nicotine, can greatly reduce the chances of a successful surgical operation. Having said that, if you are a smoker and want to have something done, you should quit completely at least three weeks before the surgery. If you want to take the habit back up, you should wait until at least two weeks after it is finished.
Those interested in getting a facelift should contact a good surgeon near them and make an appointment to come in for a consultation. During this initial meeting, the doctor can decide whether or not the procedure is right under the circumstances and ask any questions the patient might have.
