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.

This question has a twist to the answer.  If you plan to lose 15 pounds and keep it off, then definitely do it before a facelift.  If you are only losing the weight in preparation for a facelift and will quickly regain the weight, it won't make much difference.  I would recommend that you do not try to lose weight after a facelift because it will cause your skin to loosen and make the results of your facelift less pleasing.In the meantime, you and your sisters look great in the photo.  Are you sure you need a facelift?Good luck.

Thank you for your question.If you are trying to lose weight, it's best to do that prior to your operation, and then maintain a stable weight with a healthy diet going into surgery.  That way you'll have adequate nutrition stores for adequate healing.  Best of luck!-Dr. Michael EpsteinMAE Plastic SurgeryNorthbrook, IL

Although the photo doesn't show an individual who appears to be in the clear category of "one who should lose weight prior to a facelift", more information is necessary.  However, you certainly do not want to have a facelift during a catabolic state when you are trying to lose weight.  A protein rich diet is required for timely and appropriate healing.  Secondly, weight loss is notoriously unkind to the face in terms of volume loss. In this situation, a consultation would be required before giving a definitive answer. 

It is always best to be at a maintainable goal weight prior to any cosmetic procedure because yes, gaining or losing weight afterwards can adversely affect your results. Hope this helps.Kindly,Kouros Azar

The best scenario is that you are at your “best weight” prior to the facelift. Remember that 5 pounds of weight loss is distributed throughout your body, so losing 5 pounds will probably not make a difference. 15 to 20 pounds, though, will mean more loss from your face. Losing weight after your procedure might lead to more excess skin. If you are considering fat transfer at the same time as the lift and you lose weight afterwards, you might still need more fat to give you full midface replenishment.