To Lift or not to Lift
Q: I’m not vain, but I do take care of myself. I don’t look younger than my friends by accident; instead it’s the ongoing minor treatments I’ve had at my cosmetic surgeon’s office that have contributed to that. Dr. Raval, my facial plastic surgeon, has never been one to urge me to undergo an extensive procedure. In fact, the Doctor has counseled me to try a number of laser treatments and other minor non-invasive alternatives to a facelift—things like Botox to smooth away wrinkles, filler in the jaw line to eliminate the appearance of developing jowls, filler around the lips to make them youthfully full again, collagen and filler in the face to make it full and not drawn and wrinkled. I’ve even had my eyelids lifted—both upper and lower. But I think the time has come to take the big leap and go ahead and have that facelift.
My main concern is not about the surgery. I have every confidence in Dr. Raval’s technique and his surgical skills. My concern now is downtime. What kind of downtime should I expect?
A: Adhering to Dr. Raval’s recommendations as you recover will accelerate the recovery process and will minimize and bruising or tenderness. Following surgery for at least a day, it’s recommended that you rest with your head slightly elevated using ice packs (or bags of frozen corn) to temper the swelling. Prior to your surgery, Dr. Raval’s expert staff will have prepped you, talking you through the surgery and its possible challenges and timeline for recovery. At that time, you will have been given a prescription to fill for mild painkillers should you require them following surgery. Some patients don’t require pain medicine at all. You will be prescribed an antibiotic to take, and sometimes a five-day course of steroids to diffuse swelling. You will be wearing bandages for at least five days, so you’ll want to plan to stay at home, but you’ll be able to get up and around in your home during that time. Strenuous activities are to be avoided for the first month after any major surgery and this is no exception.
When you weigh the options of looking 10 to 15 years younger against one week off of work or other obligations, it’s hard NOT to elect to have a facelift.
Call Raval Facial Aesthetics today at 303-881-FACE (3223) for an appointment. Triple-board certified, Dr. Raval has been named among the finest plastic surgeons in the country in Castle and Connolly’s annual publication. His office is located Cherry Creek North in Denver, CO.