Once you’ve finally taken the plunge and gotten the facelift surgery you’ve been dreaming of, you’ll be able to enjoy basking in all the compliments from friends and family telling you how great you look. You may even find your confidence increasing to the point where you feel empowered to pursue a new career or romantic opportunities. How can you maintain your improved appearance and self-esteem in the years to come? Here are Dr. Schmidt’s top tips for extending the results of your facelift.

1. Take Good Care of Your Skin

One of the best ways to look younger for longer is to practice a skincare regimen. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated or involve multiple expensive products. You should wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, then follow up with a moisturizer. It’s a good idea to have two moisturizers: a lightweight one for daytime use and a heavier one to wear overnight that can nourish your skin as you sleep.

If you’re planning to go outside, protect your face and any other exposed areas of your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. There are many types of sunblock made specifically for use on faces. Look for the term “non-comedogenic” on the label to ensure the sunscreen you choose won’t clog your pores.

2. Eat a Balanced Diet

Nutrition is crucial to being healthy, inside and out. The foods you eat can affect every aspect of your life, from your mood to your appearance. For glowing, youthful skin, choose foods that are high in healthy fats, such as salmon, avocados, and walnuts. Load up your grocery cart with fresh produce in a variety of colors – the more colorful your diet, the more vitamins and minerals you’ll be getting.

3. Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of pure, clean, refreshing water is essential for overall health, but it also helps keep skin moisturized and looking younger. Instead of soft drinks or coffee, you should be drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day. If you have trouble remembering to take breaks for drinking water throughout the day, there are plenty of free phone apps that will remind you.

4. Don’t Smoke

If you smoke and plan to get a facelift, Dr. Schmidt will expect you to quit smoking at least three to six weeks before the date of your surgery, and to maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle throughout your recovery. To prolong the results of your facelift, you should not start smoking again. The nicotine in cigarettes narrows the blood vessels, which restricts blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn’t get as much oxygen and essential nutrients, which results in wrinkles and skin laxity.

5. Relieve Stress

Stress exacts a heavy toll on your mental and physical health. If you are chronically stressed, you can develop problems such as high blood pressure, a disrupted sleep schedule, weight gain, anxiety and depression, digestive problems, and a weakened immune system. You can also age more rapidly if you’re always under pressure. To avoid this, try all-natural stress relief methods such as the following.

• Massage
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Essential oils
• Exercise

Make sure to set aside time every day for self-care. While this may sound indulgent, it can help you prolong the results of your facelift by minimizing the stresses of daily life.

6. Get Touch-Up Treatments

Our final suggestion for enjoying your facelift for longer is to take advantage of the many non-surgical, minimally invasive anti-aging solutions that are available today. Dermal fillers can enhance your lips, make your cheekbones look more pronounced, and help define your jawline. Neuromodulators can smooth existing wrinkles around your eyes and help prevent new ones from forming. These zero-downtime products have received FDA approval for safety and will help freshen up your appearance in a brief, in-office treatment whenever you feel your facelift results could use a boost.

Facelift Results You’ll Love

If it’s time to turn back the clock on your aging skin, a facelift can rejuvenate your appearance and address many of the common worries associated with getting older, such as loose, sagging skin and deep-set wrinkles bracketing the mouth. As Denver’s top facelift specialist, Dr. Schmidt can use his expertise as a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon to provide you with the best possible surgical outcomes. To love the way you look and feel after getting a facelift, schedule your consultation today.