A facelift is one of the most impactful procedures in plastic surgery because it directly addresses one of the most visible areas of aging – the face. Over time, gravity, sun exposure, lifestyle habits, and natural skin and facial structure changes can leave you looking older than you feel inside. Facelift surgery at Edina Plastic Surgery can help restore lift and tighter contours, redefine your jawline and neckline, and rejuvenate the youthfulness of your face in a way that topical skincare, cosmetic injectables, and laser treatments alone simply cannot.
However, deciding to undergo a facelift is about more than scheduling a surgery. It’s about planning a journey that considers your entire lifestyle, goals, and healing process. Careful preparation and strong communication with your plastic surgeon are key to a smooth recovery and results you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Choosing the right team for your facelift surgery is crucial. At Edina Plastic Surgery, we offer more than just technical expertise in facelift surgery. Our surgeons and skincare specialists at Skin Artisans collaborate to provide a unique, 360-degree approach we call the Full Focus Facelift. This innovative program combines advanced surgical techniques, artistry, medical-grade skincare, cutting-edge laser technology, and the care of an Advanced Practice Esthetician. The result? A more comfortable recovery, healthier skin, improved skin quality, minimized scarring, and beautifully natural results that stand the test of time.
If you’ve been researching “facelift Twin Cities,” “Minneapolis facelift surgery,” or “facelift recovery tips,” here are the key considerations to keep in mind before scheduling your initial consultation and surgery, and why Edina Plastic Surgery is the perfect team to start your journey with!
#1 – Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon and Practice
The single most important decision you’ll make in this process is selecting a qualified, experienced, and board-certified plastic surgeon. A facelift is a highly technical procedure that requires advanced training, meticulous skill, and an artistic eye for natural balance and facial architecture. At Edina Plastic Surgery, our team is composed entirely of American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeons. Collectively, Drs. Leigh, Philbin, Stewart, Wilke, and Kobienia bring years of expertise in facial surgery and results that have consistently exceeded their patients’ expectations.
However, surgical skill is only part of the equation when choosing where to go for facelift surgery. The right practice also offers comprehensive care that looks beyond the operating room. With Edina Plastic Surgery’s Full Focus Facelift, you don’t just have a surgeon, you have a team. You’ll work closely with both your physician and an Advanced Practice Esthetician from Skin Artisans, our onsite medical spa. This collaborative model ensures your skin health, surgical plan, and recovery strategy are all aligned to deliver the best possible outcome.
By choosing Edina Plastic Surgery, you’re choosing a practice where every detail, from incision placement to scar management, is carefully considered with your well-being and long-term satisfaction in mind.
#2 – Understand the Timeline and Pre-Op Preparation
Many patients ask, “What’s the best time for a facelift?” The answer depends on your individual goals and concerns, medical history and current health, and overall lifestyle. Some people plan surgery around milestones like birthdays, weddings, or reunions. Others schedule during quieter times of the year when recovery can fit more seamlessly into their calendar. The timing of your surgery is very personal, so it’s important to give this much consideration beforehand and also understand that your surgeon may book out for several months ahead of time.
During your initial consultation at Edina Plastic Surgery, one of our plastic surgeons will thoroughly review your medical history, evaluate your facial anatomy, and discuss your concerns, personal aesthetic, and desired results. Together, you’ll decide whether a complete facelift, mini facelift, or a combination with other procedures (like eyelid surgery or a brow lift) is right for you. This thoughtful, personalized planning process ensures that your unique needs and desires are understood and catered to, resulting in natural and harmonious results.
Another key part of the facelift surgery timeline is pre-surgical skin conditioning. This is where Edina Plastic Surgery’s approach truly shines. As part of the Full Focus Facelift, you’ll begin a customized skincare regimen weeks before surgery. This might include HALO laser resurfacing, BBL photorejuvenation, and the use of medical-grade products like antioxidants, retinoids, and hydrating serums to strengthen your skin’s barrier and deeply nourish it before surgery.
- HALO laser resurfacing to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture, overall quality, and smoothness
- BBL photorejuvenation to address sun damage, age spots, and redness to restore a clearer, brighter, and more vibrant complexion
- Medical-grade products like antioxidants, retinoids, and hydrating serums to strengthen your skin’s barrier and deeply nourish it before surgery, including:
-
- Avéne Thermal Spring Water
- Tolerance Extreme Cleansing Lotion
- Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
- A-OXitive SOS Antioxidant Sheet Mask
Preparing your skin in this way improves healing, reduces downtime, and maximizes the longevity of your results. It also enhances your skin’s clarity, smoothness, and overall quality, things a facelift can’t improve when performed alone.
#3 – Preparing for Surgery: Lifestyle and Home Readiness
The weeks before facelift surgery are an important window of time to get your body, mind, and home ready for recovery. Your plastic surgeon will provide detailed pre-operative instructions, which may include:
- Avoiding smoking or nicotine products for several weeks before and after surgery, as they can impair healing and increase complications.
- Adjusting medications or supplements that can thin your blood, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or specific herbal remedies.
- Focusing on nutrition with a balanced diet filled with lean protein, fruits, and vegetables to support tissue repair and strengthen your immune system.
Equally important is preparing your home for recovery. Edina Plastic Surgery recommends setting up a comfortable “recovery station” in a quiet area where you can rest, like a bedroom or living room. Keep essentials like water, medications, lip balm, tissues, a phone charger, books, and entertainment within easy reach. Having extra pillows on hand can also help you sleep in a slightly elevated position, which reduces swelling. These small but meaningful steps ensure that your first days after surgery are as smooth and comfortable as possible.
#4 – What to Expect During Recovery
Recovery after facelift surgery is highly individualized, but knowing what to expect can help you feel more informed and confident going in. About two hours after your surgery, your surgeon will examine you to prepare for your discharge. Our recovery nurse will ensure that your caregiver understands the postoperative care instructions. You will wear a large head dressing overnight. In rare instances, an overnight hospital admission could be required to monitor the first night of recovery.
You will be seen by your surgeon the day after your facelift surgery, during which time they, or a nurse, will remove any drains and ensure that your recovery is on track. While no bandages are usually required, you will look bruised and swollen. If you have stitches, they will be removed within the next week. Your surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding activity guidelines and when you can return to work, most likely in one to three weeks after surgery. Recovery from a mini facelift is generally faster and easier than a complete facelift.
The Full Focus Facelift enhances this recovery process by providing advanced post-op care. Your Skin Artisans Advanced Practice Esthetician may perform soothing treatments, recommend scar-minimizing products, and schedule follow-up laser sessions to support healing. You will also be given a postoperative skincare regimen to help protect and heal your skin during its healing phase.
This proactive approach shortens downtime, improves results, and helps you feel comfortable stepping back into your daily life with confidence.
#5 – Skin Quality, Scar Minimization & Long-Term Results
Healthy skin is truly the foundation of beautiful, long-lasting facelift results. Without proper care, even the best surgical technique can be diminished by poor skin quality. That’s why our Full Focus Facelift emphasizes skin optimization both before and after surgery.
Postoperatively, our team guides you through a scar management protocol that may include:
- Silicone-based scar gels to flatten and fade incision lines
- Gentle massage techniques to soften tissue and promote healing
- Laser treatments to reduce redness and further improve scar texture
- Sun protection strategies to prevent hyperpigmentation and safeguard results
Over time, scars typically fade into fine, barely noticeable lines, especially when combined with this level of expert care.
In the long term, Edina Plastic Surgery patients are encouraged to maintain their results with consistent skincare, sun protection, and occasional non-surgical treatments like BBL or HALO. This ensures your facelift results remain fresh, radiant, and natural for a decade or more.
#6 – Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
A facelift is not about changing who you are or dramatically altering your appearance. It’s about revealing a refreshed, rejuvenated, more youthful-looking (and feeling!) version of yourself. During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your expectations transparently and honestly to ensure your goals align with what surgery can realistically achieve for you.
Most patients enjoy results that last 10 years or longer after facelift surgery, especially when paired with healthy lifestyle habits like sun protection, hydration, and a balanced diet. The Full Focus Facelift enhances these outcomes even further by addressing not just the deeper structures of the face, but also the skin itself. The result is a comprehensive transformation that looks natural, feels authentic, and restores confidence from the inside out.
Why Choose Edina Plastic Surgery and the Full Focus Facelift?
While traditional facelift surgery focuses primarily on tightening and lifting, the Full Focus Facelift addresses the full spectrum of aging. It is the only facelift program in the Twin Cities that integrates surgery, advanced skin treatments, and long-term esthetic support into a single package.
- All-Inclusive Care: In addition to surgery, your treatment includes HALO laser resurfacing, BBL photorejuvenation, medical-grade skincare products, and a relaxing post-op shampoo and blow-dry—details that make your recovery more comfortable and enhance your results.
- Holistic Approach: By caring for both the underlying structures and the surface of your skin, the Full Focus Facelift produces a radiant, natural result that traditional facelifts can’t match because they don’t optimize skin’s overall health.
- Personalized Support: From your first consultation to months after surgery, you’ll have access to a supportive, knowledgeable team invested in your success and prolonging your results.
Take the Next Step Toward a More Confident You
If you’ve been wondering how to prepare for a facelift, when the best time might be, or what recovery will really look like, the answers start with a conversation. Schedule a 100% complimentary consultation with an Edina Plastic Surgery surgeon to discover how our unique, all-inclusive approach to facelift surgery can help you achieve results that are beautiful, natural, and entirely YOU.
Book now by calling (952) 592-5871, texting (952) 925-1765, or CLICKING HERE. We can’t wait to partner with you!
