04 May 2024 | by Akshay Sanan, MD, FACS
The idea of seeing old friends and family at a big event such as a reunion, wedding or big birthday party can be stressful. While it is fun to reconnect, these events are significant markers of the passage of time. And they are usually going to be well documented in photos. This can be a motivating factor for patients to come see me in order to discuss facial rejuvenation. I have a wide range of treatment options, but the three most common procedures for getting event ready are a: facelift, lip lift and rhinoplasty. Each is effective for producing a completely natural result that will have friends wondering where you went on vacation. However, it is critical to leave enough time between your procedure and your event for your body to completely heal. Here are some general guidelines for how to schedule treatments before a big event.
Healing is Individual
One of the most important things to keep in mind before scheduling a facial rejuvenation procedure is that healing is completely individual. Numerous factors such as:
- Genetics
- Diet, exercise & hydration
- Where you live
- Lifestyle choices like sun exposure
These may all impact the rate at which your body recovers. This is why I spend so much time during your initial consultation asking questions about your medical history, family history and lifestyle. I conduct a in-depth physical exam to establish which procedure, or procedures, will be right for delivering on your goals and to examine any scars. I want to know how your body reacted to any prior procedure
you may have had, including injectables. This will help us to establish a baseline for your body’s recovery timetable.
Scheduling Facial Rejuvenation in Boston Before a Big Event
In terms of how much time you will need to allow for recovery between your procedure and your event, there is a difference between looking socially presentable and looking fully healed. For my three most popular before a big event procedures:
- Deep Plane Facelift
- Lip Lift
- Rhinoplasty
The general rule of thumb is 3 weeks to socially presentable. This means lunch with a group of close friends. But to be fully healed, I advise patients to allow 3 months for a facelift or lip lift to fully settle, and 9-12 months for a rhinoplasty.
Treatment Options for Improving Recovery
Since my practice philosophy is to deliver the kind of elegant result that will have people asking if you went to the spa, I am conservative in my recovery time estimates. I want you aware of how long it could take until you are fully healed so that you can decide whether or not you want to push that timeline. I do have some treatment options for improving recovery. While Vitamin T, or time, is the most crucial, I often employ Arnica for bruising as well as a top-secret injection to reduce inflammation and speed up healing. There are also a myriad of treatment options for improving the appearance of scars ranging from topical steroid creams to microneedling. These can be a game changer if your body is inclined to keloid. All of these options will be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation. My goal is to provide you with all of the relevant information so that you can make an informed choice about
scheduling. Bottom line, we want you feeling confident and looking fabulous at your big event.
To find out more about a facelift, lip lift, rhinoplasty, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
