“When is the right time to have work done?”
Patients often ask, “When is the right time to have work done? I don’t want to start too early, and I don’t want to wait until it is too late!!!” The truth is, if you see an area that you need improvement in (tired eyes, wrinkled skin, volume loss, sagging), there are a range of treatments from minimal to aggressive for you to consider. Only a consultation with the right artist will give you the answers you are looking for.
And you must consider the reasons you want to make a change. Consider the story of Vivian and why she chose to make a change in her appearance.
Vivian’s Story
Vivian was very concerned about having a consultation with us. She is a survivor of breast cancer, and was not sure if cosmetic treatments would create problems with the chemotherapy she has had in the past. As a forty-two year old professional, Vivian needed to look as good on the outside as she felt on the inside. Although she was quite fit, she still saw room for improvement.
“I’m a little scared about doing this! Am I going to feel any pain?”
“I have beaten breast cancer, and my life is far from over. I feel like the fight against cancer took place on my face, and if I can improve my neck and eyes, I will feel a lot better about what I see in the mirror. When I look in the mirror and see my Mom, I know it is time to have something done.” Vivian was an excellent candidate for a medium ImageLift and fillers for volume replacement, with a little bit of liposuction along the neck and jowl area. Moreover, she had appropriate expectations and was in good health.
After her chemotherapy treatments, she took an active role in her health by increasing the vegetables in her diet, and taking care of her body with dance lessons, cardio, and going on daily walks. Vivian also did her research and took the time to talk with former patients of ours to see how their experiences were. This was very helpful for her to put things in perspective. I advise any potential patients to do the same, regardless of who the doctor is.
Vivian came in for her procedure, “I’m a little scared about doing this! Am I going to feel any pain?” With a little reassurance and relaxing medication, she felt much better, and we completed her procedure in less than a few hours. “That was completely painless!” We have heard that many times before.
We saw her back for her follow-up appointments at one day, one week, and one month. I love hearing patients beam about friends commenting on their fantastic results. When Vivian came in for her follow up pictures, she was wearing a new outfit and new accessories. This is common for patients who are excited about their more youthful look. She noted some numbness around her ears, but said it was steadily improving, and otherwise was healing perfectly well. “I love my results. I still look like myself, only a younger version,” she explained happily. “Some people say nothing at all, and some people ask, ‘did you cut your hair? Did you lose some weight or something? You look so well rested…’ ” She trailed off for a moment, caught in a reverie. “It is a little embarrassing; I’m getting looks from some of the guys in the office. My husband said I didn’t need it, that I was beautiful before I did anything. Even if he thought I was beautiful before, he sure does seem to look at me a lot more than he used to!”
Vivian is a prime example of a patient who was just old enough to benefit from a cosmetic procedure, even in light of her past breast cancer treatment. The goal is to create a youthful, rested-looking appearance, as well as create a foundation to help prevent future sagging that is inevitable without intervention.
When Is The Right Time To Have A Treatment Or Procedure Done?
To determine the right time to have a treatment or procedure done, you must first discuss your unique anatomy, goals, and expectations with your physician. Having said that, there are still some general guidelines you can follow. Overall, you need to choose treatments that will look authentic and not take away from your natural beauty. The younger you are when choosing cosmetic treatments or procedures, the fewer changes you should make to your appearance. Hence, injectables such as Botulinum toxin and fillers are often the first steps that many take into cosmetic treatments. No-downtime options help people to understand how cosmetic treatments look and work. Building our patients’ confidence with lighter treatments helps many of them to be comfortable with more involved treatments.
Chemical peels and light laser treatments may also be appropriate for those who are sticking their toe in the water. When discussing tightening procedures of the neck and jowl line, we usually tell people if they like what they see when they pull their facial skin taut, they are good candidates for a lifting procedure. Patients in their forties may show little to no difference in their before and after pictures, but they will often achieve a more youthful and refreshed appearance from a small ImageLift procedure. These treatments also remove excess skin and create a layer of scar tissue under the skin that you cannot see. This invisible layer can hold the tissues in place and delay or help prevent gravity from aging you in the future. Patients in their forties often opt for this proactive approach to combat aging and maintain a youthful appearance.
Many patients wait until they are older or have a looser neck or jowl area to seek treatment. Their rationale is that by waiting they will get more for their money. However, the later you begin the less overall improvement you may achieve. Again, there is no right or wrong time to start treatment. Simply keep in mind that when we perform a procedure at a later age, the potential for improvement is not the same. Older patients often say, “I don’t want to look like a teenager. I need to look well-rested and more like the age I feel like on the inside.” Have this discussion with your physician, family, and friends to see what is right for you. There is no right or wrong answer, only your personal preference.
The best reason to undergo a procedure is to please yourself and no one else.
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Here is another thing to smile about …
…ImageLift offers a FREE, live, interactive event. Every week, my team and I travel across our state to deliver live events and offer free medical advice.
That’s right! No Charge!
Anyone can come and ask me about their problem areas or concerns about plastic surgery.
You would think giving away my advice for free would be bad for business but the opposite is true. My true passion is to help patients in every way. Usually in ways they never expect.