Should I lose my 15-20 lbs prior to my facelift? (Photo)

I have added a link that might be helpful...Hi.  Thanks for sharing your photo with your question.  If you feel that previous 15 lb weightloss impacts the appearance of your face, then yes, wait to have your surgery.  If weight gain and loss do not show much on your face in general, then you are less likely to impact your surgical results.  Remember that you won't be permitted to exercise for several weeks after surgery, so it may be better to reach your goal weight before-you will feel better overall.  Best wishes,

If a patient is in the midst of a weight loss, I typically recommend that we don't move forward until that patient is at a comfortable weight. Although a fluctuation of a few pounds isn't likely to significantly affect the appearance of your face, a 15-pound weight loss could leave you with loose skin and diminished results. To be on the safe side, lose the weight beforehand and be sure that you can maintain the loss before going through with your facelift. 

I suggest reaching a weight you're satisfied with before undergoing a facelift, especially if your face tends to accumulate fat. It may not make that much of a difference, but I believe it's worth avoiding the potential disappointment of having a facelift and then seeing the results compromised if you lose weight after the procedure. By losing weight first, your facial plastic surgeon will be able to create the best possible surgical plan, which may include using fillers to restore volume in certain areas of the face.  

If you are planning on loosing the weight, it is best to do it before.  Weight loss after a facelift surgery may result in skin excess which would detract from your results.  Best wishes, Dr. T. 

The short answer is not necessarily. Many years ago I would tell patients if they intended to lose weight, they should do so prior to surgery. Techniques have changed considerably and now typically the fatty tissue in the neck is not as weight loss sensitive as other areas of the body so if you lose weight, it’s typically not lost in the lower face or neck. Additionally for anyone who has a little bit of a double chin or fatty tissue in the neck, that can be addressed with liposuction at the same time as a lift. Since we perform a little liposuction on almost all of our patients and it is customized to the individual,  it is not necessary to wait for them to lose 15-20 lbs. Hope this answers your question.