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

I generally don't recommend that patients wait to lose weight before proceeding with facial rejuvenation procedures. The first reason is that weight loss can be a struggle, as we all know, and patients may end up delaying forever to make the changes they really want and need in their lives if they wait to get to their ideal weight loss goal. 
Secondly, weight loss does not typically affect the facial structures much unless the weight loss is very significant (more than 20-25 pounds). Weight tends to come off of the body much more noticeably than the face. 
I always encourage patients to make changes as soon as they are ready, because that gives them the best opportunity to enjoy them!
All the best,

It is always best to be at or near a healthy, stable weight that you can maintain before having a surgical cosmetic procedure. If you lose a significant amount of weight after your surgery, it is possible that your skin will become lax and you will lose some of the benefit of the surgery. Typically, if you are going to lose more than 20 pounds, I would suggest doing it before surgery. If it is less than 20 pounds, it will unlikely make much of a difference. I advise visiting a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and discussing your weight loss plans during your consultation.

You should probably lose weight before your surgery, as losing weight afterward can contribute to sagging, reversing your results. It's always best to be at your ideal weight before surgery, anyway.

It's a great question. Certainly losing a significant amount of weight after a facelift surgery can change the appearance of the face. Volume within the face helps keep tissues in a lifted position. Losing weight, and decreasing the volume, can cause tissues to sag somewhat.As with any cosmetic surgery, it's best to be at a long-term stable weight. If you plan to lose a significant amount of weight, delaying the procedure can help you obtain a stable and long lasting result.