How to Prepare for Facelift Surgery

Incredible, natural-looking facelift results start before you reach the operating room. They actually start before you even have your first consultation. Thoughtful prep can help your skin look healthy, feel more comfortable, improve healing times and elevate your results.

Our “How to Prepare for Facelift Surgery” guide blends insights from our entire practice — from board-certified plastic surgeons to aesthetics experts to functional medicine specialists — to help you arrive on surgery day with great skin, clear expectations and confidence.

At-A-Glance

Your Pre-Op Timeline (At-a-Glance)

• 3 Months Out: Begin skincare, hit protein targets & remove nicotine from lifestyle; schedule & receive recommended in-office skin treatments

• 6 Weeks Out: Confirm which medications/supplements are safe to keep taking, gain lab clearance, set up at-home recovery & schedule rides to/from the surgery center

• 2 Weeks Out: Taper/hold surgeon-flagged medications & supplements; avoid skincare products with active ingredients, like retinoids

• 1 Week Out: Keep steady with your routine; get your head-elevating pillows ready, prepare some easy-to-make meals & pick up prescriptions

• The Day Before: Hydrate well & have a light dinner with ample protein; follow instructions given directly from surgical team & confirm arrival time

• The Morning Of: Clean the face, skip the skincare/skincare-products/ & button-front clothing; you’ll then meet your team & review the plan one more time

“I don’t personally permit patients to smoke for a month before & a month after any facelift surgery. If they do smoke, they need to have stopped a month before. I do perform nicotine tests the day-of surgery to make sure that’s true, as nicotine can adversely impact wound healing.”

-Dr. Sieffert

What Should I Have at Home Before I Go into Facelift Surgery?

Due to advances in the field, this procedure has become safer, more comfortable and profoundly more effective. For example, some surgeons – like Dr. Sieffert – safely employ quilting sutures instead of using drains, which supports a smoother recovery experience.

That said, it is still a surgical procedure and downtime is expected. We’ve created a brief guide to what you can keep on hand for maximum comfort and ease of living during recovery to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

• Sleep:

  • Wedge pillow or recliner so you can rest with your head above your heart

• Bathing:

  • Shower stool to avoid slips

  • Gentle cleanser to keep incisions clean

  • Fresh towels for easy-of-use

• Wardrobe:

  • Loose, button-front tops for comfort

  • Soft wraps/scarves for warmth and, in some cases, mild bleeding (common)

• Comfort:

  • Cold compresses (as directed) to reduce swelling

  • Lip balm to protect against UV rays and combat cracking

  • Humidifier to ease congestion, prevent dryness and promote cell regeneration

• Logistics:

  • Prescriptions on hand

  • Tylenol, NSAIDS or any other approved anti-inflammatory medication

  • Easy meals prepped

  • Ride & caregiver to help out and monitor health (especially for the first 48 hours)

“It’s also great to have pet care or childcare set up before you go in. We love them so much, but a Dobermann that thinks he’s a lap dog? One moment of excitement can potentially be pretty disruptive to wound healing.” 

-Andie Schroeder, LME

Skincare Holds: When to Pause & Resume

To minimize irritation, patients should pause strong actives (e.g., retinoids, exfoliants) before surgery. Your skincare products can be reintroduced after the incisions are sealed. In the final week, keep the routine gentle and predictable with an emphasis on SPF and UV ray protection.

“Incisions that are exposed to sunlight can darken permanently. I advise patients to stay out of the sun for at least 2 weeks if they really want to protect their incisions & ensure they’re not visible. Be aware — anytime you’re outside, even if you’re wearing a hat & sunscreen, sun is reflecting off the ground & getting under that hat.”

-Dr. Sieffert 

Face procedures are better tolerated than you may think. Modern techniques like the deep plane facelift are used to better support deeper structures instead of simply pulling skin. These methods are paired with a multimodal, narcotic-sparing plan to make recovery far more comfortable than many expect. With careful planning and a highly skilled surgeon, most patients hit early milestones quickly and feel “themselves” sooner.

“Technique plays a role in how comfortable someone will be after surgery. The gentler the technique, the gentler the retraction. Patients will be more comfortable after because there’s simply less trauma.”

-Dr. Sieffert

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