A facelift surgery can do much to improve your facial contour and youthful appearance, sometimes taking up to 10 years off of your appearance. Still, having a major cosmetic surgery that will be obvious to friends, family, and coworkers can be more nerve wracking than you might’ve expected. After surgery, you’ll be fairly reclusive during your recovery period, perhaps getting a little too comfortable for your own good. When the time finally comes to emerge from your home and rejoin the real world, how will you handle it? If you’re facing some anxieties about leaving the house after your own facelift, read on for some helpful tips for a smoother transition.

Recognize the Types of Recovery

As many plastic surgeons in New York will explain to their patients, the recovery process after a facelift involves many different types of recovery. There’s the obvious physical recovery, where the swelling goes down and the incisions heal. Then there’s the recovery of your sensation, which may occur along with your other physical healing but may take longer to go from tingling feelings to real nervous sensations. Finally, you’ll be faced with your social and emotional recovery, where you’ll address your new look and how it may (or may not) impact your social life. This recovery is often the hardest to manage. By giving a name to these separate kinds of recovery, you can prepare yourself for that adjustment from resting to reentering the world.

Give Yourself Time

Many patients get bored in the house and want to rush back out to complete some errands, meet up with friends, and the like. Some patients might get a little cabin fever, suddenly itching for a hiking trip or a visit to the beach. It’s tough to force yourself to stay inside and rest when it’s beautiful outside, but it’s definitely worthwhile to give yourself the time you need to heal.

To avoid temptation, clear your schedule for at least two to three weeks so you have enough time to completely recover. Talk to your surgeon during your consultation about how much time he expects you to need for proper healing, Then tell your friends and family in advance that you’ll have to bow out of any ski trips or summer barbecues during that timeframe so they aren’t expecting you. In fact, they might send you home if you do show up! It’s always nice to have a backup plan if you do give into temptation.

If you have any high-profile events coming up, such as a wedding or class reunion, you’ll want to add extra cushion time to allow for your swelling to subside and your incisions to fully heal. Schedule your facelift accordingly to give yourself at least six weeks for a complete recovery. By then, you’ll also have the time to adjust to your new appearance so it’s not as nerve-wracking to attend this special event.

Use Makeup Wisely to Transition

When it is time to finally come out and rejoin the world, you might be worried about any swelling, redness, or bruising that’s still hanging around. Sometimes these symptoms will hang on after you have healed, making you self-conscious about your appearance. For women, and maybe even some men, strategic makeup can do much to ease your nerves and hide some of your after-effects. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe to apply makeup to the area and don’t break the rules; you may risk infection or other complications if you do. He may even suggest certain brands that work better than others for the task.

When you’re ready to start using makeup again, use a concealer to camouflage bruises and redness. Concealer and foundation, either liquid or powder, can be combined to achieve the layered coverage you may need. To hide swelling, makeup contouring techniques can be especially useful. By using bronzers, blushes and darker powders, you can create an optical illusion that will hide the effects of any residual swelling you may be experiencing.

Don’t know how to do either of these things? Make it a part of your pre-op planning to visit a makeup counter where a skilled aesthetician can walk you through the steps to creating camouflage and contour. Ask your plastic surgeon if any of the skincare clinicians or spa staff at his practice are able to help you. After surgery, you’ll be fully prepared to unveil your facelift results.

Choose the Right Facial Plastic Surgeon in NYC

The speed of your recovery can cut down on your anxiety to reenter the world after a facelift. A speedy recovery comes from a successful surgery performed by an expert in the field. Plan two steps ahead by choosing the right surgeon to perform your facelift. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery and offers over 20 years of experience to his patients. A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with peers at various national facial plastic surgery conferences. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56^th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

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When you’re considering a facelift procedure, the last thing you might be thinking about is your weight. After all, your need to lose 10 or 20 pounds seems to have very little to do with your face, right? How can training for a half-marathon affect the way your face looks? The truth is that your overall health is closely related to any surgery you may have, even those surgeries performed on your face. The results of your facelift procedure, a surgery where fat plays an integral role, can easily be affected by weight loss before and afterward.

The Facelift and the Ideal Candidate

A facelift surgery is performed to improve the overall appearance of the face by tightening the facial muscles and supporting tissues, removing or redistributing excess fat from the lower third of the face, and relaying the skin to appear firmer and more youthful. It can have a profound impact on a patient’s appearance, sometimes wiping away a decade or so from their looks. Planning ahead for such an important procedure is key to your success and to your eligibility for surgery.

The ideal facelift candidate is an adult man or woman in good overall physical health,who does not smoke or abuse alcohol or drugs. For best results, they should be as close to their ideal weight as possible and have the healthy habits to maintain their current weight, such as proper diet and regular exercise. If you are not at your ideal weight, losing the pounds can greatly affect your overall health as well as your final surgical results.

Losing Weight Before a Facelift

When you talk about losing weight with nearly any plastic surgeon, he will almost always suggest that you do so before your procedure. Many plastic surgeries, including the facelift, deal with the redistribution and removal of fat cells. Losing weight before your procedure, and subsequently keeping it off afterwards, is the best way to ensure that all of your physical goals for your body and face are reached in tandem.

If you are going to lose weight before a facelift, it’s important to get the timing right. You should never make dramatic changes like this between your consultation and surgery date, since it will change the surgical plan created for you by your New York plastic surgeon. Surprises like that, however healthy they may ostensibly be, can greatly affect how your surgery is performed. If you do attend a consultation but have plans for weight loss, disclose these intentions to your plastic surgeon, who may plan ahead to meet with you a second time and draw up your surgical plan once you have achieved your weight loss target. Ideally, however, the best time to lose the weight is before you step foot into the surgeon’s office. The trick, of course, is to maintain your new weight loss through the date of your surgery and then for years after.

For healthy weight loss at any time, be sure to eat a balanced diet and adopt a regular exercise routine. Avoid crash or fad diets, as these can achieve great initial results before ending in disastrous weight fluctuations after the fact. Such diets can also affect your overall health, perhaps making you a poor candidate for a facelift. Remember that losing weight at a good, steady pace is the best way to achieve lasting results, and that’s really the true goal of any initiative to get healthy.

Losing Weight After a Facelift

Chances are good that you’re going to do a lot of living and enjoying your new look after you have your facelift surgery. In the long run, especially the first few years after your facelift, do you have any plans to lose weight? If you’re not at your ideal weight or within about five to 10 pounds, the choice to lose a large amount of weight could be tempting. After all, it’s only natural to want your whole body to look as thin, trim, and fit as your new facial profile. Who can blame you?

The truth is that significant weight loss following your facelift may not be the wisest decision, especially if you lose that weight at a fast pace. Most people will experience some loss of fat from their faces during weight loss, not an ideal side effect when you’ve just had a procedure to adjust the distribution of fat to create the right look. Sagging and laxity of the skin may also result from fast, dramatic weight loss after a facelift, resulting in the need for a secondary facelift procedure.

While you can and should always lose weight in order to be a healthier person, most patients are not willing to jeopardize their surgical results so quickly. It doesn’t have to be complicated, however, if you plan your weight loss goals carefully. To preserve your facelift results and still achieve your ideal weight, follow these tips:

• Lose weight slowly and at a healthy pace. Most doctors recommend 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week for safe and lasting results.
• Check in at 5-pound milestones to see how you look. Some people lose weight from their face first and others can drop several pounds before they see results in their face. Monitor your own progress as you go.
• Keep your options open. You should never sacrifice your health to preserve your facial appearance, especially when you have the ability to add volume and contour in other ways. Talk to your plastic surgeon about fat transfer or injectable fillers to replace any lost volume from your weight loss.

It is possible to manage weight loss following a facelift procedure, especially with the help of your plastic surgeon. During your consultation, be open and honest about your weight loss goals to find out what his recommendations for your specific case may be. This is the best way to ensure that your surgical and healthful goals are all met in due time.

Plan Your Weight Loss and Surgical Goals Together for Success

For guidance on your own weight loss and surgical needs, consult with a reputable, credentialed facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Philip Miller specializes exclusively in facial plastic surgery and offers over 20 years of experience. A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his techniques with his peers at various national facial plastic surgery meetings. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

Next, learn How to Leave the House After a Facelift.

If you’ve been considering a facelift surgery, you might be wondering whether the time is right or whether you’re even a candidate. It’s important to think about, since your plastic surgeon will be evaluating the factors that would make you a good facelift patient and those that would make a facelift the right procedure for you.

Learn more about what it means to be a good candidate for facelift surgery in NYC before you walk into your first consultation.

The Facelift and Signs of Aging

First and foremost, any candidate for facelift surgery should be experiencing noticeable signs of aging. Facelifts can help correct symptoms like loose, sagging skin on the face, fatty deposits gathered around the chin and jaw, the formation of jowls in that area, and lines and wrinkles in the lower third of the face. These factors are all caused by aging and the effects of gravity, which team up to break down the elastin in skin and drag it downward. Fat is also susceptible to gravity, shifting downward throughout the years, leaving the upper portion of the face with less volume and accumulating where it’s not wanted.

Still not sure a facelift can help you? Some surgeons recommend you stand in front of a mirror and, with two fingers, gently lift and pull back the skin around the bottom jaw. If this makes you look instantly younger, imagine what could happen if the effect was created surgically. Check one off the list; you may be a candidate for a facelift if these symptoms sound familiar.

The Patient’s Health and Habits

Another large factor in determining your eligibility for surgery involves your own personal health and well-being as well as your lifestyle and habits. As your surgeon might tell you, a facelift surgery is meant for men and women who are in overall good health and do not smoke. Good health means that your recent medical history does not include any serious illness that might hinder your ability to heal. Checking to be sure that you are in good health is the surgeon’s best way to minimize your risks of complications following surgery, so be open and honest about your medical status.

The very best candidates for facelift surgery are also committed to caring for their skin, even before walking in for their surgery. These people understand that caring for their skin can help it to look younger and fresher over time, and they will continue to care once the surgery is over and they are focused on preserving their results. Skin that is well cared for responds well to these surgeries and helps the results last much longer than they might otherwise.

Your Weight: A Surprising Factor

There’s no magical number on the scale or BMI calculation to determine whether you are a good facelift candidate, but there are some interesting points to consider about being overweight and seeking this procedure. For starters, if you are overweight, but at a stable weight, many doctors may consider performing the surgery for you. If you are overweight but planning to lose more than 20 pounds, it’s better to wait until you have stabilized at your target weight.

Why all the fuss about weight? Your surgeon in New York won’t deem your surgery successful unless your results look natural. For overweight patients, it can be more difficult to gauge how much fat and skin to remove. Your face may be left looking unnaturally puffy or too thin, directly disproportionate to the rest of your body. Depending on how overweight a patient is, facelift surgery may also be an unsafe option. If weight is a concern you have, talk to your doctor. Every surgeon has his own level of comfort (and experience) when dealing with overweight patients, so you’ll never know if and how much weight you need to lose unless you ask.

Facelift Results and Satisfaction

Finally, the last important factor in determining your eligibility for a facelift is whether or not you have realistic goals for your surgery. On average, a facelift can deliver results that make patients look about 10 years younger. If you’re expectations are too far off that mark, you’re going to be unpleasantly surprised. An experienced, credentialed plastic surgeon doesn’t want to promise you just anything to make you get the surgery; in actuality, he is much more concerned with making sure you understand the capabilities and limitations of the surgery. Discuss your expected facelift results at length with your plastic surgeon to be sure you are both in agreement on the changes and finished look. You should have a good understanding of what is possible with this procedure before walking into your consultation, but definitely a better one as you walk out of it. If you’ve given your results a thought and you feel you’re a good candidate for facelift surgery, then it’s time to make your move and book an appointment.

Get Started With a Consultation In Our New York Office

Determining if you and a facelift are the right match for each other can be hard without the right plastic surgeon to guide you. To make sure your results are the best they can be, be sure to schedule your facelift surgery with a reputable, specialist facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery, offering over 20 years of experience. A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been invited frequently to share his specific techniques with peers at various national facial plastic surgery conventions. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

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If you’ve been thinking about having a facelift surgery, you might already know what your motivation is. Even if you haven’t pinpointed your one real reason for having this surgery, it does exist and it drives you to book a consultation, plan ahead for the procedure, and cash in your sick days for a proper recovery. More often than not, the men and women seeking facelift surgery are looking for a new beginning, in one way or another.

What Can a Facelift Do to Help?

A facelift procedure is a surgery performed in order to restore a youthful appearance to the face. It can correct unwanted effects of aging, such as drooping and wrinkled skin, fat deposits around the chin and jaw, and loosened facial muscles. All of these effects can contribute to a tired, older-looking face that may make you look worn down to those around you. Facelift surgery can help rejuvenate your appearance by alleviating the saggy, lax look from the lower part of the face.

Facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, begins with incisions placed around the hairline and ears, as determined by your plastic surgeon. With the incisions in place, your surgeon will redistribute the fat deposits collected around your chin and jaw to other areas of the face that have lost volume; any excess fat will be removed, sometimes using liposuction for best results. The muscles of the face are then lifted and tightened, followed by the skin. With the skin now adjusted to a firmer position, the excess is trimmed away and the incisions are sutured closed. The result is a more well-defined profile and more youthful look.

New Beginning #1 – A New Job or Promotion

Today’s workforce is a competitive place to be, especially with so few jobs available to those with years of experience and qualifications. Pink slips abound as companies cut back on unneeded employees, sometimes bringing in younger workers to fill the empty spots. In other cases, promotions are going to younger employees, whom management perceived to be younger with more energy and a longer career ahead of them. As a middle-aged worker with the right qualifications, getting passed over in favor of someone who looks younger can be quite a blow to your self-esteem and even your commitment to your job.

Facelifts are on the rise in recent years, with male and female patients alike citing their desire to stay competitive at work as a major motivator. By improving the way you look and feel, your self-confidence is naturally bolstered. Upper-level management takes notice of confidence and the qualities that come with it. While a facelift alone can’t get you a new job or help you climb the corporate ladder, it can certainly trigger changes in you that can help. Starting a new beginning in your career could be just the boost you need.

New Beginning #2 – A Special Occasion to Debut the New You

Many patients see an upcoming event or special occasion as the perfect reason to get a facelift. From 20-year high school reunions to awards banquets to a child’s wedding, the special events that qualify as a facelift motivator are diverse in purpose. Still, each of them share three things in common: the event is a life milestone with heavy meaning to the patient, the event will likely involve taking many pictures, and the event will include many other people, some of whom the patient hasn’t seen in a long time. Looking your best at big events like these doesn’t just mean getting a haircut and a new outfit anymore. When you reach the point where your facial features don’t look like you anymore, it’s time to start a new beginning with a facelift.

Bear in mind that planning a surgery in time for a special event can be a delicate business. Do yourself a favor and book your facelift out far enough to allow for a full and proper recovery. With enough time to rest and relax, you’ll certainly look like the youthful you for those friends, family, and photos. Follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully to ensure that the smoothest recovery and best results are achieved with your facelift.

New Beginning #3 – The End of One Era, Start of the Next

Another popular reason that patients seek facelift surgery really is a beginning of a new phase of life: divorce. Men and women often find themselves stuck in a rut after ending a relationship with their partner, even if it was mutual and amicable in nature. Whether you’re planning to reenter the dating scene or just spending more time caring for you, facelift surgery can give your self-confidence and self-image a boost. When you look in the mirror and go out into the world, you will have this confidence with you. Achieving this feeling is a good way to begin any major transition. It may also be a good way to psychologically mark a change in yourself.

New Beginning #4 – The Recommitment to Caring for Yourself First

Finally, the best reason of all for a facelift surgery is yourself. While a new career, special event, or ended relationship can be significant, the root of each of these motivators is a desire to better yourself. You don’t always need the bigger reasons to spend the time and money investing in how you look and feel. Many patients reach the decision for a facelift just by realizing that they would feel better if they addressed their aging concerns.

If you have noticed sagging skin and muscles around the lower portion of your face, you could be a good candidate for facelift surgery. You should also be in good overall physical health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations about what plastic surgery can do for you. If you’re not sure, consult with a credentialed plastic surgeon experienced in facelift surgeries to be evaluated. This could be the new beginning you’ve been waiting for.

Schedule Your New Beginning with a Facelift Specialist

Any new beginning can’t get very far if your procedure doesn’t go smoothly. Get the best results from a facelift procedure with a low rate of risks when you plan your surgery with a reputable, specialist facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery, offering over 20 years of experience and knowledge to his patients. A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with his peers at various national facial plastic surgery meetings. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56^th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

Next, learn How to Pick the Perfect Time for a Facelift

The results of your facelift can be affected by weight you lose after your surgery. The good news is there are ways to lose weight safely and effectively after a facelift, without compromising your results. 

Can weight loss affect my facelift results?

Yes. Losing significant weight results in a pattern distribution of weight loss throughout the body, including the face. Facial volume is necessary for proper skin support. If you suddenly drop 20 pounds or more in just a few months after facelift surgery, the weight loss may translate into lost facial volume, and skin laxity may develop. As a result, you may find yourself with an aged appearance in the mid-face and cheek areas.

Additionally, making dramatic changes in weight between consultation and surgery date may significantly change the surgical plan your plastic surgeon created for you. Surgeons generally advise patients to achieve their goal weight as closely as possible before undergoing many types of aesthetic surgery.

How much weight can I lose safely to preserve my facelift? 

Most doctors recommend losing weight slowly and at a healthy pace. Losing 1-2 pounds per week is ideal for safe and lasting results. This slow steady rate ensures skin has time to conform over the new contour to maintain a firm, youthful appearance. 

Should I lose weight before or after facelift?

Surgeons typically recommend losing weight before a facelift. Since a facelift involves the redistribution and removal of fat cells, and facial fat is necessary for a more youthful appearance, it is best to lose weight slowly and steadily to allow skin elasticity to bounce back naturally before surgery. 

Most surgeons also advise patients to get within 10 pounds of their ideal weight before surgery. Doing so will produce the best facelift results.

Learn more about facelift surgery here. 

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, can guide you on your facelift journey. During your consultation, be open and honest about your weight loss goals so he can recommend the best approach for your specific case. This ensures that your surgical and weight loss goals are all safely met.

It is possible to manage weight loss before and after facelift surgery, especially with the help of an expert facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Miller specializes exclusively in facial plastic surgery and has over 20 years of experience performing procedures like a facelift. In addition to the standard facelift, Dr. Miller can perform a deep plane facelift, the Miller lift (liquid facelift), or a MicroLift.

To learn more about weight loss and facelift surgery, contact Dr. Miller’s Manhattan, New York, or New Orleans, Louisiana office to schedule an appointment.

While most celebrities would proudly flaunt their flawless, age-defying faces but won’t admit to going under the knife, comedy legend Carol Burnett candidly talked about having plastic surgery on live television.

In 2011, the comedienne and award-winning actress was a guest on CNN’s Piers Morgan LIVE where she openly discussed getting plastic surgery on her chin. The full hour interview touched on her successful Hollywood career, her family, and plastic surgery, which Burnett didn’t shy away from. “I’ve always wanted a chin,” she admitted.” She then made the decision to have work done after her daughter went to an oral surgeon to correct a jaw problem. One day after about a year post-surgery, Burnett walked into her hotel in New York City where she received a message from actor and film director, Marlon Brando. Once she got him on the phone and asked why he’d called, Brando replied, “So, where’d you get your chin?”

What Is A Chin Augmentation?

Also referred to as genioplasty or a chin implant, chin augmentation in New York is a surgical procedure that places a pre-formed silicone implant around the patient’s existing chin bone in order to enhance its size and shape, achieving a more harmonious and attractive balance in the facial features. As the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery puts it, “a well-defined jawline structure is the cornerstone of a balanced attractive face.” Therefore, correcting a small or weak chin will benefit the proportion of the lower face and improve the contours of the neck and jawline. 

When performed by a qualified and experienced board-certified cosmetic surgeon, chin augmentation can provide a permanent solution to improving a recessed or weak chin. A chin augmentation can also be performed on its own, or as a complement to other facial contouring procedures such as a rhinoplasty, neck lift, or facelift.

What Are The Benefits Of Chin Augmentation?

• It is natural-looking – Chin implants are designed to resemble your natural bone structure. The procedure is also performed in a highly personalized manner, enhancing your facial features while ensuring results are apparent without looking too exaggerated. 
• It is customizable – Chin implants, just like clothes that are tailor-made for you, are customizable to the patient by offering different looks based on your personal preferences. You can choose from an array of various styles and sizes, and even create new contours by reshaping the chin and jawline in order to accommodate nearly any profile or facial shape.
• Scarring is minimal –The incisions for chin augmentation are usually made below the chin. The incision is small and located in a barely noticeable spot. In some cases, the incision is made inside the mouth.
• It builds self-confidence – Having a weak or underdeveloped chin can affect your self-confidence. If your chin is making you feel self-conscious, a chin augmentation can help you feel better about your appearance and improve your self-esteem.

Would You Like to Achieve Facial Aesthetic Balance?

Do you feel like your facial features lack proportion? A chin augmentation can help you feel more confident in your appearance. 

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS is a double-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes exclusively in facial plastic surgery and offers over 20 years of experience and knowledge to his patients. Considered one of the country’s leading experts in facial rejuvenation, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with his peers at various national facial plastic surgery meetings. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007, and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

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