A facelift is a time-tested anti-aging procedure that restores a youthful contour, allowing you to age more gracefully by repositioning and tightening your skin. In Dallas, Dr. Stephanie Teotia uses her surgical skills to offer an in-office mini facelift, minimizing patient downtime without the risks of general anesthesia.

Taking care of your skin in the days and weeks after this procedure can prolong the improvements made during surgery and contribute to a smoother recovery process. This comprehensive guide provides tips to prepare you for the critical postoperative period and recommendations for nurturing your skin’s health and vitality.

What Is a Mini Facelift?

Dr. Teotia has perfected the minimal access cranial suspension (MACS)  facelift, a less invasive technique that uses smaller incisions to provide an immediate, subtle improvement. Her procedure takes only two to three hours in her comfortable, well-appointed office.

This approach is less stressful than a traditional facelift, allowing patients to remain calm, awake, and pain-free throughout by self-administering Pro-Nox, a mixture of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide. It also reduces the operation’s total price tag while decreasing the risk of complications.

The Importance of Preparing for Facelift Recovery

Though an “awake” facelift requires less postoperative downtime, you must still have an aftercare plan to ensure optimal results. Knowing what to expect can significantly reduce the anxiety that often accompanies medical procedures, giving you more peace of mind. Here are a few things you can do before your facelift to make a dramatic difference.

1. Set up a Recovery Area

Your body will consume more resources than usual after surgery as it enters an intensive healing period. Organizing your recovery space and schedule beforehand is one way to avoid unnecessary stressors. Create a quiet, restful environment that allows you to direct your energy toward repairing tissues and reducing inflammation. Keep your prescription medications, water, and entertainment options close to hand with plenty of pillows to prop up your head.

2. Minimize Your Risk

Proper preparation can reduce your chances of experiencing adverse effects like infection or excessive swelling. Dr. Teotia and her friendly team will provide instructions to follow as part of their partnership with you. Adhering closely to these directions will pave the way to achieving the best possible results from your facelift.

3. Take Time Off

Many of Dr. Teotia’s patients choose the mini facelift because they want less disruption to their busy schedules. Still, rushing back to work and a packed social calendar immediately after undergoing surgery could hinder your well-being. Arrange for at least a week off to give yourself the uninterrupted time you need to heal. You will continue feeling better and more energetic as the early bruising and swelling subside.

4. Preserve Your Emotional Well-Being

Some people find the post-surgery period emotionally taxing. Mental preparation helps you set realistic expectations, making the experience more manageable. You can try incorporating practices like meditation and controlled breathing exercises into your routine to bring more mindfulness into every day.

5. Attend Follow-Up Appointments

Follow-up appointments with Dr. Teotia are essential for monitoring your healing progress and addressing concerns that may arise. For example, you will need to return to her office within a week of your in-office facelift to have non-dissolvable sutures removed. After your operation, we will discuss scar therapy and go over a timeline of what to expect over the next 6 weeks.

6. Arrange for Assistance

It is wise to anticipate you might need additional help with routine tasks like cooking and laundry, especially if you are your family’s primary caregiver. Stock up on nutritionally balanced, easy-to-prepare meals to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs for optimal healing. Ask your partner or a trusted friend or neighbor to drive you from your appointment and to stay with you the first night to help as needed.

How to Maximize Your In-Office Facelift Results

Healthy, resilient skin is a hallmark of youthful beauty. You can proactively prolong your facelift with these ten postsurgical skin care recommendations.

1. Consistency is vital. Establish a daily skin care routine that includes professional-grade products such as cleansers, moisturizers, topical retinoid serums, and sunscreen. These products should not be applied directly to the incision following surgery. After surgery, patients should apply bacitracin to their incisions twice daily, starting 48 hours after surgery.
2. Adhere to all postoperative care instructions provided by Dr. Teotia, including caring for your incisions to prevent infection, speed healing, and reduce scarring.
3. Avoid touching or massaging the incision area, and use a mild, non-abrasive cleanser to care for your skin without stripping away its natural oils. Choose a moisturizer tailored for your skin type to maintain elasticity and smoothness. Patients should not apply these products to their incisions until cleared by Dr. Teotia.
4. If possible, stay out of direct sunlight for at least the first week after surgery. Protect yourself from UV damage by applying broad-spectrum sunblock daily, even if you are indoors.
5. Refrain from vigorous exercise like heavy lifting and high-impact cardio to prevent excessive strain on your body. You can take gentle walks, but please wait to resume a more demanding workout routine until Dr. Teotia approves it.
6. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of antioxidant-rich fresh produce to nourish your skin from within. Drinking plenty of water during the immediate postsurgical period and beyond will promote a glowing complexion.
7. Nicotine and alcohol accelerate skin aging, so quitting these unhealthy habits is an excellent way to preserve your facelift results. Ask Dr. Teotia to recommend smoking and alcohol cessation resources if necessary.
8. Minimally invasive solutions like Botox® and dermal fillers are ideal for minimizing wrinkles and creating a subtle enhancement without surgery. Botox® relaxes underlying muscles, particularly around your eyes and eyebrows. Meanwhile, fillers restore volume in areas that may lose fullness with age, such as your cheeks or lips.
9. A compression garment must be worn at all times during the first week and then at night for the second week to reduce swelling.
10. Icing the area in 20-minute intervals for the first couple of days post-surgery is crucial.

Experience the Benefits of an In-Office Facelift

Dr. Teotia is one of the greater Dallas area’s premier plastic surgeons. Her perspective as a busy mom and business owner gives her unique insights into the challenges many women face in balancing their responsibilities while wanting to look and feel their best.

Dr. Teotia’s “awake” mini facelift is a trusted and effective way to turn back the clock, combating sagging, deeply etched wrinkles, and the inevitable pull of gravity. She treats all patients respectfully, taking time to answer their questions and never pressuring them to make rushed decisions. Schedule your MACS facelift consultation today to start a partnership with a board-certified surgeon who believes in revealing your natural beauty on your terms.