Be Ready
Facelift timeline for realizing expected results.
Committing to elective surgery doesn’t have to be stressful if you prepare in advance. If you want to be a new Beautiful You before your next big event, scroll through these recommendations to ensure you are fully prepared. Dr. Elizabeth suggests planning your “Beautiful You” process at least 4-6 months in advance to be ready for the holiday season, a wedding, that high school reunion, or other important events. That time is now! Let’s not let another New Year go by wishing everyone would notice your transformation…even though no one will know!
Remember, this is an elective procedure, and you’ve done everything you can to prepare for it, including receiving a clean bill of health from your primary physician.
Standard timeline to start treatment:
Four to six months in advance:
Primary physician preoperative meeting. At Atlanta Face & Body, our number one concern is your health and safety. Please visit your primary physician so they can clear you for any further surgical treatments.
Three months in advance:
Consultation – The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Elizabeth Whitaker. Typically the consultation is 30-60 days prior to your treatment date. At this step, you will want to ask all the questions. Many new patients bring a friend or family member to make sure all the answers are appropriately documented.
During your consultation, inform your surgeon about all medications you are currently taking, both prescription and over-the-counter. Also, note any allergens, medical conditions, and other information you think would be important.
Six to ten weeks in advance - the earlier, the better:
- Prepare yourself for beautiful results. If you are a smoker, quit the habit as soon as possible before any treatment. Smoking reduces blood flow and slows down your body’s healing process.
- Start prepping your body for a quick recovery. Changing your diet just slightly can help ensure a faster recovery. Introduce more raw and cooked fruits and vegetables. Eliminate fatty foods and replace them with high-protein foods.
- Boost your Vitamin C intake to help promote a faster recovery time.
- Avoid harsh sun exposure prior to your treatments and wear your sunscreen daily. Dr. Elizabeth will provide a recommended treatment pathway just for you.
- Define your personal plan!
- Who is driving you to and from your surgical treatment?
- If you live more than 30 miles from Atlanta Face and Body, it is recommended that you book a hotel close by for you and your driver.
- Arrange time off from work and other activities. Most surgical facelift patients take about two weeks and then ease back into their daily activities.
- The desired home layout is to have pillows ready, easy access to a bathroom, and a truly dedicated place for recovery. Lay out clothes that are easy to get on and off that do not interfere with the treatment area.
- Have plenty of snacks and water, along with medical supplies and blankets.
One week prior to your treatment day:
- Avoid alcohol at least one week prior to your treatment date.
- Get your last hair appointment in because it may be challenging to have this service done during your recovery.
- No more “do it later” statements. To ensure a more relaxing recovery, get your errands done, like grocery shopping, fill any prescriptions, and visit your pharmacy for medical supplies. Make arrangements to have any school-age children taken care of and any pet appointments done.
The day of:
- Arrive at your appointment with an empty stomach, meaning no eating or drinking (including water) 12 hours in advance.
- Is the car fueled up and your friend or family member eager to help you on the day of your appointment? You will not be able to take public transportation home, nor will you be able to drive yourself.
- Prepare frozen meals that can be easily heated up and contain softer foods that are easy to chew.
- Take a long shower and focus on mentally preparing. Typically, you won’t be able to wash your hair for three to four days after your treatment. Do not apply any makeup and remove any nail polish.
- Pick clothes that are comfy, loose fighting, and do not require to be pulled over your head and shoulders.
- Do not put in your contacts.
Dr. Elizabeth Whitaker is known to many of her patients as the “Queen of Faces.” She has performed over 5,000 facelifts to help her patients become “Beautifully You.” Atlanta Face & Body (AFB) is a state-of-the-art, AAAHC-accredited Plastic Surgery Center that was designed with every aspect of your comfort, well-being, convenience, and privacy in mind. We can accommodate all your aesthetic needs with a full-service menu of surgical, non-surgical, and minimally invasive treatments all in one place.
Various Facelift Options
Liquid Facelift - Timeline to expected results - three to four days
The minimally invasive liquid facelift uses precisely placed fillers, sometimes in combination with neurotoxins, such as Botox® and Xeomin®, along with your body’s own platelet-rich plasma, to lift and contour the features of the face and bring back that youthful triangular look without surgery.
- Noninvasive
- Most popular in 30s and 40s age group
- Price range $3,000 to $4,000
Laser Facelift - Timeline to expected results - less than one week
This type of procedure is designed to rejuvenate the face and neck without the downtime and bruising that usually accompanies more traditional surgical procedures.
- Minimally invasive
- Most popular in 30s and 40s age group
- Price range $4,000 to $5,000
Mini Facelift - Timeline to expected results - three weeks
Males and females with a mild degree of “jowling” and sagging skin are often good candidates for this less invasive procedure.
- Less invasive than a full facelift with shorter incisions
- Can be performed with local anesthesia
- Most popular in 40s and 50s age group
- Price range $7,000 to $8,000
Mini Facelift - Timeline to expected results - three weeks
Males and females with a mild degree of “jowling” and sagging skin are often good candidates for this less invasive procedure.
- Less invasive than a full facelift with shorter incisions
- Can be performed with local anesthesia
- Most popular in 40s and 50s age group
- Price range $7,000 to $8,000
Full Facelift - Timeline to expected results - typically about six weeks
The full facelift (often called a “traditional facelift”) addresses more moderate to advanced signs of aging around the face and neck. It’s a more extensive procedure than a mini-facelift with longer, deeper incisions, therefore resulting in more recovery time for patients.
- Addresses moderate to advanced signs of aging
- Offers dramatic results
- Most popular in 50s and 60s age group
- Price range $11,000 to $12,000
Collagen is naturally produced by the body and is an essential protein located in the deepest layer of your skin. As we age, the collagen production decline which tends to associate in age related changes to the skin. A typical client may need a series of 2 to 5 treatments and should wait about 4 weeks between them for the best outcome.
Each nonsurgical skin tightening treatment available at Atlanta Face & Body generally presents improvement in skin’s appearance within a few days after treatment, with progressive results over the course of several weeks.
Atlanta Face & Body provides a spectrum of injectables for our patients. These can be used to diminish or eliminate wrinkles, replace fat under the skin to smooth the face or hands, or stimulate the production of collagen, which makes the skin look younger. You should see results almost immediately. Optimal results appear over about 7-10 days.
When used appropriately, it can bring long-lasting, natural results to various areas of the face.
Consultation → Book an appointment. Atlanta Face and Body has a large team to handle your appointments. However, slots fill up quickly and are limited!
Treatments – An appointment typically takes about an hour with the consultation, photos, and treatment. Based on your consultation, you may need a combination of treatments. The best practice is typically to come in for a two-week followup for any tweaking. Results vary from person to person, but you will see results between 1 to 10 days on average.
Morpheus8 can be used to treat virtually any area of the face and body that would benefit from wrinkle and/or scar reduction, skin tightening, and refined contouring. The most noticeable results typically appear about six weeks after the last treatment in a series. However, skin improvements can continue for up to three months following your treatment. Most patients experience rejuvenating effects that last over a year.
Consultation → Book an appointment. Atlanta Face and Body has a large team to handle your appointments, however, slots fill up quickly and are limited!
Treatments – Typically, three to four weeks between treatments. One full face treatment takes about an hour and 15 minutes, which includes the time it takes to numb the treatment area. Body treatments can take quite a bit longer, depending on the size of the area. It is suggested to do a minimum of three treatments. We will discuss this during your consultation.
