Skin Care Products Prior to Face Lift

The same regimen we recommend for overall anti-aging skin care maintenance will also greatly augment the results of a facelift. In general, a facelift improves the structure and volume of the face. Skin treatments enhance the finish and surface.

A good physical sunblock is one of the key players. Reduction of UV exposure will greatly reduce progression of actinic damage, atrophy, loss of elasticity, and fine lines. Active treatment with a retinoic acid topical treatment can be instrumental in promoting collagen regneration and strengthening of skin.

This can result in wrinkle reduction, improved smoothness, texture and tone. Also, a Vitamin C based ferrulic product serves as a powerful anti-oxidant therapy that can tighten, brighten, and stimulate collagen production. We offer a customized protocol for each patient which can be modified based on skin type and individual needs.

It is a mistake to think that a facelift pulls the skin so tight that all the surface blemishes are smoothed out. Patients need treatment on a cellular level to effectively optimize the skin surface so the outer "canvas" matches the improvements to the inner "sculpture".

Obagi NuDerm is a medical skin rejuvenation system that uses tretinoin, hydroquinone and alpha hydroxyacid to reverse some of the changes that occur with sun damage and aging. With Obagi, it is possible to get these active ingredients through to the deeper layers of this skin. Combined with the use of a zinc oxide containing sun screen, this program can help prepare your skin to heal well after surgery, as well as improve the texture, pigment and tone of your skin. When your skin is healthier, it can add to the result of your facelift

Although it can help to have good quality skin care products, a new product can cause skin allergy or sensitivity. It is not a good idea to try on new products before your surgery. If you develop a rash or sensitivity to the new product, your surgery might need to be cancelled. Wait for after surgery and six weeks later start some good new skin care protocol.
Regards

I do not recommend making any drastic change to you skin care regimen prior to your facelift with one exception....a retinoid. A retinoid such as retin-A or Tazorac has a powerful effect on collagen stimulation and will help reduce irregular pigmentation, fine lines, and promote healing.
The key is that this should be started a minimum of 4 weeks prior to your facelift and you should introduce this into your reimen slowly, as to avoid your skin becoming too irritated. I have also added LED light technology before and after my facelifts - this has helped reduce bruising, welling, and speed recovery in my patients.

The skin of the face does not need to be “preconditioned” prior to a facelift operation. It is certainly preferable that there be no outbreak of an acne condition or other infection of the skin of the face at the time of surgery. Therefore, antibacterial skin cleansers may be helpful but they are generally not essential.
A facelift is performed to redrape the subcutaneous fascia/muscular elements as well as the full thickness skin to improve the contour of the face and neck. Preconditioning of the surface of the skin with topical substances will have no bearing on the results of facelift surgery.

You will need to arrange for someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours, but limit visitors for the first couple of days. After surgery, your face and head will be wrapped in bandages. After a day, your surgeon will remove the bandages and perhaps replace it with a lighter one. The incisions will be sensitive but shouldn't hurt. Your stitches will either dissolve or need to be removed in about five days, depending on what type of sutures your doctor uses.
While you're healing, it is important to limit certain activities. Refrain from bending down or straining, and vigorous activity for at least two weeks. Don't shower for a couple of days and sleep with your head elevated on at least two pillows. Also, avoid unnecessary phone calls because holding a phone to your ear will be uncomfortable and potentially damaging to the sutures. Do not wear earrings for approximately six weeks and you may go back to wearing makeup about seven days after surgery, so long as you avoid applying it near the sutured areas.  

Since you are lifting, and not resurfacing, you do not need a bleaching agent, but a lot of the laxity of the skin needing a facelift is from loss of dermal volume from sun damage. For this reason, you need to protect your 20K + investment and begin to take better care of your skin by using a great sunscreen like Anthelios or Neutrogena Age Spectrum. Renova will also begin to heal the sun-damaged skin, but one of the best pearls I can pass on is to use Prevedem by Neocutis for at least 14 days prior to reduce bruising and swelling. Neocutis Biorestorative Cream at night is also a great idea to improve skin appearance. Good luck and make sure all fish oils, vitamin E, herbals, aspirin etc. are discontinued for 14 days prior.

Skin care is always beneficial prior to invasive facial rejuvenation surgery. Our office aesthetician will evaluate facelift patients to provide treatments and/or products as long as the patient is not from out of state or out of the country. Clean healthy skin will heal better and more rapidly following the operation. Treatment is individualized, depending on skin type and condition.

If you have little damage already, then you want to protect your investment. If you have a significant amount of damage to your skin, then the skin rejuvenation can do as much for you as the facelift itself. We begin skin care well in advance of facelift surgery and continue it postoperatively. What this care is depends on how much damage is present.
At the very minimum, you need a good Zinc Oxide Sun Block which you need to wear every day. You also need something to reduce the outer dead cell layer and something to restore the normal Ph. Beyond this, we usually use the Epionce® System for lesser changes or the Obagi® Nu-Derm System for severe damage. Both restore the normal protective layer and Ph, reduce brown spots, remove the thickened outer dead cell layer, firm the skin and protect it from further damage from the sun. The Obagi® system is just more aggressive and gets faster results.

From a scientific standpoint, there is no need to precondition your skin for a facelift. Many surgeons use the surgery as an opportunity to discuss the different kinds of creams or peels that will enhance your beauty. Skin care can definitely improve the entire result. There are many recommendations to chose from and I am sure your surgeon or his esthetician can discuss that with you. However, there is no need to start a skin program just before surgery. Best of luck with your procedure.