I am ready to schedule my facelift surgery

Question:
I am ready to schedule my facelift surgery and I am really excited. I am male, 48 years old, a smoker and have pharmaceutically untreated high blood pressure. I have been making lifestyle changes to decrease my blood pressure naturally. Does my medical condition predispose me for any complications from this surgery?

Answer:
It is great to be enthusiastic about your decision to have facelift surgery. The two conditions that you have described, smoking, and untreated high blood pressure are two conditions that are relative contraindications for facelift surgery. The number one and two potential complications from facelift surgery are bleeding and skin loss. Smoking leads to the potential for skin loss and untreated high blood pressure increases your potential for serious bleeding significantly. I suggest postponing your facelift surgery until both of these issues are well controlled.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld