5 Things You Need To Know Before Getting A Facelift

by Andy Cheng Director

When people talk about anti-aging treatments, facelift is probably the first treatment that pops into anyone's head. A facelift treatment is an excellent way to reverse signs of aging and tighten loose, saggy skin so that you look more youthful and energetic.

Doctors often advise patients to do their own research about the various anti-aging treatments. By doing so, the entire experience of choosing a doctor and opting for a treatment tend to be more positive.

People who have read extensively about the different treatments are often more well-prepared because they generally know what to expect and how to care for themselves after the procedure. In addition, acquiring knowledge about facelift treatments gives you realistic expectations of the treatment outcome.

If you are thinking of undergoing a facelift treatment, read on as veteran aesthetic doctor in Singapore, Dr. Siew Tuck Wah discusses some important considerations.

1. Choose the right doctor to perform the treatment

You may think that non-surgical skin lifting treatments are not complicated and thus it should make little difference as to which doctor to perform the treatment.

It may be tempting to choose the clinic based solely on price. However, according to Dr. Siew, price should not be the only factor you consider when choosing a doctor. The skill and experience of the doctor directly correlates with the quality of the result.

Always do your background research and find out more about the doctor’s credentials carefully to ensure that he has sufficient experience in performing facelift treatments. Arrange for a consultation with the doctor and look at the before-and-after photos of his cases to get an idea of the quality of his work.

2. Manage your expectations

Read up and compare your notes with what the doctors say. Weigh the risks and benefits associated with various skin lifting procedures.

The idea of a non-surgical skin lifting treatment is to stimulate collagen production and tighten loose, saggy skin by suspending the loose skin to a higher position. However, different treatments have varying degrees of lifting outcome with associated adverse side effects.

A surgical facelift requires significantly longer recovery downtime. After the surgery, you should plan to take at least one to two weeks off from work and scale back your social activities. You need to rest at home most of the time.

On the other hand, non-surgical options such as Ultherapy and thread lift treatment such as Silhouette Soft Thread Lift have significantly shorter downtime and less adverse side effects such as permanent scarring.

Non-surgical facelift treatments are gaining popularity over the last few years because of its immediate lifting results, it is important to note that these generally have less lifting capabilities as compared to a surgical one. The maximum lift for a thread lift treatment is about 2.5cm.

3. Facelift treatment does not stop the aging process

A facelift treatment turns back the clock and restores the firmness of the skin. It does not, however, stop the aging process altogether. You will continue to age after the skin lifting treatment, and it is up to you to maintain the result with a good skincare regime and adjunct cosmetic procedures such as dermal fillers and Botox.

4. Recovery time can vary

No two people are alike. Everyone recovers at their own pace, depending on several factors such as age, health status, and lifestyle habits. Focus on your healing and following the doctor’s post-treatment protocols. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.

5. Pain relief medications are available

Some facelift procedures are done under general anesthesia and some with local anesthesia. The choice of anesthesia depends on the procedure, your doctor’s preference, and your pain threshold.

A wide range of pain relief medication is available for non-surgical treatments such as topical numbing cream, local anesthesia, and sedation.

Discuss with your doctor to find out more about the different pain relief medication and your pain threshold so that he can make the proper recommendation so that the procedure will be as comfortable as possible for you.

Radium Medical Aesthetics is a medical aesthetic clinic in Singapore that offers one of the biggest range of non-surgical skin lifting treatments such as Ultherapy, HIFU, and thread lift.