Preparation for a major cosmetic surgery procedure such as facelift should begin from the moment an individual has chosen this procedure and their candidacy is determined by a surgeon. A well-prepared patient will have more confidence about going ahead with the surgery and will be more relaxed throughout.
At the time of pre-op consultation, the facelift surgeon will provide detailed instructions for preparation. Patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities have an opportunity to receive facelift surgery from Dr. Landon McLain.
Pre-operative Instructions
If the patient is a smoker, they will be required to quit smoking for a specified time period prior to the facelift procedure. Smokers are at a higher risk during the surgery because nicotine in tobacco can inhibit the oxygen flow in the blood. Such patients also face a risk of slow healing after the surgery.
The surgeon will ask the patient to provide a list of all prescription and non-prescription medications, including vitamins and herbal supplements at the time of initial consultation. Some of these medications may have to be stopped or their schedules may have to be altered in consultation with the physician.
The surgeon will also encourage the patient to have a more balanced diet and follow a good exercise regimen in the days and weeks preceding the surgery. Lean proteins intake in the diet can be increased, which will help in faster post-surgical healing.
Health Assessment
The surgeon will evaluate the candidate’s face and neck to assess the degree of skin elasticity, type of skin, fatty tissue deposits, underlying muscle weakness, and the strength of the facial bone structure. The surgeon will review the patient’s past medical records and ask questions about their current health. The surgeon will also like to know about the patient’s personal cosmetic goals with regard to their facial appearance.
The patient should feel free to disclose all relevant information to the surgeon for their own benefit. It will enable the surgeon to give appropriate preparatory instructions, modify the procedure as necessary, and take other counter-measures in anticipation of any concerns.
Customized Surgical Plan
Prior to the facelift procedure, the surgeon will prepare a detailed surgical plan customized to fit the unique needs of the patient. Patient’s inputs will be incorporated into the plan to create more satisfactory outcomes.
The plan will determine:
- The choice of surgical technique to perform facelift
- The type of anesthesia
- Location and size of incisions
- How the wound closure will be done
- The choice of surgical facility
- The estimated length of procedure
- Whether an overnight hospital stay may be required
- Whether additional surgeries such as neck lift or upper facelift may be needed
- Plan for recovery
As part of the advance preparation, the patient should arrange for transportation that will be required to take them home after the procedure. They should also arrange for aftercare, if required for a few days. Dedicated cosmetic surgeon Dr. McLain provides facelift surgery to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other cities in this part of the state.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here. Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.
