Facelift: Look at Before and After Photos Prior to Surgery

If you are unsure whether you want a facelift, or are having trouble choosing a doctor, consider checking out photos of successful surgeries before deciding. Looking at photos of past patients can give you an idea of what to expect from this surgery and from the doctor you are considering. Find out what to look for and where to find the pictures. 

Many doctors have a website where they feature information about their office. They often post contact information, office hours, and a little background of their training and education. However, some doctors go a bit further and post before and after photos of past patients. This allows potential patients to see the quality of work, as well as what to expect from a facelift in general. If the surgeons you are considering do not post photographs on their website, ask if you can see any at the initial consultation. Some have a book full of them for you to browse in the waiting room. 

When checking out the photos, be sure to pay attention to the details about each patient. The results tend to differ based on the age, sex, and preferences of the patient, so try to find a photo of someone close in age and the same sex as you. This will give you a good idea of the results you can get from the surgeon you are considering. If the book or website of photographs does not categorize the pictures or tell you this kind of information, you can ask your practitioner which patients are close to your age. 

Some photos feature details about each patient, describing their particular problems. For example, some people are most interested in smoothing out the skin in their upper facial area, while others want their lower face or neck fixed. Consider what you want the most, and then find pictures of people who had the same problems fixed. Of course, at your initial appointment you will go over in detail what you need fixed, taking the surgeon's thoughts into consideration. You will probably both look at pictures to decide which outcome you want most, and to get an idea of what the surgeon means when describing the changes that will be made. In the end, you should both come to a decision about how to proceed, with your preferences and the doctor's expertise included in the final choice. 

Before and after pictures can be helpful before a facelift since they allow you to get an idea of the type of outcome the doctor tends to get. This allows you to choose a practitioner carefully. If no photographs are made available on the website, ask if you can see some when you are at your initial consultation. On the other hand, such photographs can also help you decide what result to expect, depending on which part of your face you get fixed. Whether you want your upper or lower facial area smoothed out, or even your neck, checking out photographs first can be helpful in a few ways.