Should I Lose Weight Before SMAS Facelift and Neck Lift?

This is a very common question.  I tell my patients up to 10% of their body weight is fine to lose before or after a facelift.  If you are interested in losing much more, lose the weight first, then have the facelift. 

Simple answer: it depends on how much weight you wish to lose! The best person to answer this question is your surgeon who can examine you and provide a well-informed, educated opinion. Your surgeon might be incorporating liposuction of the neck with the neck lift and facelift, which would render weight loss inconsequential. As a board certified plastic surgeon, my answers to this question would absolutely vary based on the specifics of the patient. It’s always good – meaning healthy – to not be overweight, and to respect and take care of the precious gift of our own body. Being healthy going into surgery only makes it better for you in recovery as well. Similarly, just as you don’t want to be overweight, you don’t want to be underweight, as recovering from surgery requires calories. Keep in mind, it is usually advised that patients should have a BMI of less than 30 to undergo anesthesia for elective procedures, but the threshold can vary from facility to facility. I recommend discussing the matter with your board certified plastic surgeon.

If you consider that one of the effects of a facelift is to match the facial volume and skin tightness in order to create a balanced appearance, weight loss after surgery can damage the balance. Weight loss before surgery identifies more skin laxity and allows more impact for the face and necklift. The advantage is distinctly in favour of weight loss before facelift and necklift.

You should be at a stable weight that you think you will be able to maintain before you have SMAS Facelift and Neck Lift, otherwise you could compromise the result. Most people who manage to lose more than 10-15kgs end up with more loose skin, so it is better to lose the weight before the surgery.

Hello there, if you are planning on losing weight, you should certainly do so before your facial surgeries. Weight loss can result in excess skin laxity and soft tissue atrophy, therefore you should be at a stable weight prior to surgery.

Thank you for your question.  In the ideal situation is better to lose the weigh first but also some personal circumstances can change your situation and decision for surgery of your face