The surgeon you choose should have a good reputation. A good way to be sure of this is to choose one that is a member of ASPS. ASPS requires that its members have five years or more of experience in surgery and at the least- two years of experience in plastic surgery. ASPS' members are trained in every aspect of cosmetic surgery and continue to learn about every new technique and changes in the medical field throughout their career. They are also required to work in an accredited facility. One must be accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons in order to have membership in ASPS.

At your consultation, your doctor will ask you questions about your health in general, discuss all of your options including possible alternatives to facelift surgery, examine and take measurements of your face, take your picture, inform you of complications that can arise, tell you about the anesthesia.

Before You Go in for Surgery

Get an okay from your family physician. Your doctor should run some tests to be sure that you don't have an underlying condition that could complicate your facelift surgery.

You will be given instructions concerning any prescriptions or other medications you are taking. Some may have to be discontinued or the dosage may need to be modified. You may be given a prescription for another medication to be taken until your surgery.

If you smoke, you MUST stop several weeks before you have facelift surgery. Because of what smoking does to the tissues underneath, a facelift surgery can cause necrosis of the skin (skin death).

Do not take anti-inflammatory drugs or any herbal supplements.

Every instruction given to you by your doctor should be carefully followed.

Post Surgery

It will be a few weeks before you have recovered enough to go back to work. Swelling may last for several months.

Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. If you go out in the full sun without protection, you are undoing what you had done on the operating table - you are aging yourself.

Watch for possible complications and refer to the information given to you by your doctor. If you have reason to suspect that something is wrong, call the doctor immediately.