You know that the results of a facelift can last for up to 10 years, which might have been one of the reasons why you chose the procedure over other quicker, but less long-lasting options, such as Juvederm or other injectable fillers. While in many cases, the results from a facelift are long-lasting, they are not one-size-fits-all. Your face will continue to age after the surgery.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make the results from your procedure last as long as possible. Changes to your lifestyle and habits can keep you looking more youthful for longer, as can getting regular maintenance treatments as needed.
Beware the Sun
When it comes to aging, the sun is really not your friend. Part of maintaining or extending the results of a facelift involves being extra cautious about sun exposure. If you loved tanning before your surgery, either by lying directly in the sun or in a tanning bed, post-surgery, you’re better off switching to a sunless tanner or bronzing powder instead.
If you aren’t already, get in the habit of putting on sunscreen everyday, even when it’s cloudy and even when you don’t plan on spending much time outdoors. Talk to your surgeons about the best sunscreens to use or the appropriate level of SPF to put on if you’re unsure.
Watch Your Diet
Your diet also plays a part in helping you keep up the results from a facelift. Eating a diet that’s full of sugar won’t do you or your face any favors, as sugar have been shown to contribute to the aging process. Choose foods that contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help keep your skin looking youthful longer. Fruits and vegetables are essential. Try to eat one or two different types of produce with each meal.
It’s also a good idea to try to keep your weight level after your facelift. A loss of volume in the facial ages you, and losing or gaining weight frequently can make your skin looser and can lead to a loss of fat from the face.
Care for Your Skin
A facelift won’t stop time or the changes that aging does to your skin. The surgery also doesn’t improve the texture or condition of your skin, which is why it’s important to keep up or begin a good skincare routine after your facelift.
Along with using moisturizers and products that fight wrinkles, such as retinoids, it might also be worth it to consider procedures such as laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels from time to time. Peels and skin resurfacing focus on the texture and quality of your skin.
They not only help reduce the appearance of fine lines, they can also reduce the appearance of any spots or areas of hyperpigmentation, as well as improve your skin’s texture by reducing the size of pores or exfoliating dead skin cells from the surface. Laser skin resurfacing can also stimulate the production of a type of protein known as collagen, which can help your skin look and feel firmer and plumper.
Injections Can Give Your Face a Boost
When it comes to surgery or injections, the choice isn’t necessarily one or the other. A facelift only targets the lower portion of your face, meaning you may want an injection such as Dysport or Botox to help reduce wrinkles between your eyebrows or in the corners of your eyes.
Fillers can also give your face a little boost after it has healed from the surgery or as the years go on. For example, you may decide to have an injectable filler to keep fine lines from appearing around your nose or mouth a few years after the facelift. Or, you may decide that a filler that restores volume to the face is what you need to keep your face looking plump and youthful several years after your surgery.
Specialist Dr. Jessica Kulak, who practices at the Naderi Center in Maryland and Virginia, can help you determine the best way to maintain your facelift results the longest. A facelift is an investment and finding out how to preserve that investment will go a long way in terms of keeping your face youthful. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kulak, call (703) 481-0002 in Virginia or (301) 222-2020 in Maryland today.
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