What you do in the years after a facelift can affect your results

While none of us can stop the hands of time altogether, a facelift can take years away from your appearance. However, the way you care for your skin after your facelift will play a major role in determining how long you may be able to enjoy those same beautiful results.

If you're looking for ways to prolong your facelift results, these five tips are a great place to start.

Get serious about sun protection

Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of signs of aging, as UV rays break down important proteins in your skin. This can accelerate the appearance of lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, which could compromise your facelift results. Wearing sunscreen every day and avoiding deliberate tanning helps protect your skin from sun damage and the accelerated aging that UV ray exposure can cause.

Nourish your skin from the inside out

Another important aspect of maintaining great, healthy-looking skin and prolonging your facelift results is to eat a healthful, balanced diet. Piling your plate with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains can have a positive impact on the way your skin looks and feels while helping to stave off skin aging.

Just as important as eating the right foods is limiting or eliminating the wrong foods from your diet. Sugar, for instance, acts as an enemy of any anti-aging efforts because it triggers a chemical process called glycation. During this process, sugar molecules damage proteins, lipids and other important molecules necessary for optimum skin health.

Use the right skin care products

Good lifestyle habits like wearing sunscreen and eating a balanced diet are just part of maintaining your facelift results. The second half of the equation is using the right topical skin care products for your skin type and concerns. Medical-grade skin care products that contain ingredients like retinoids, peptides and antioxidants can all be great tools for brightening and smoothing the skin.

Take advantage of cosmetic treatments

Cosmetic treatments can complement your facelift results by acting as an extension of your regular daily skin care regimen. Laser resurfacing treatments, for example, work by gently removing the outer layer of skin to reveal the smoother, more youthful-looking skin cells beneath. Other types of skin rejuvenation treatments include photofacials and chemical peels. If you've just recently had a facelift, however, check with your plastic surgeon about how long you should wait before scheduling any non-surgical cosmetic treatments. You'll need to give yourself enough time to fully heal first.

Work with a board-certified plastic surgeon

It is true that what you do after your facelift can have a huge impact on how long your results last. However, equally important are the decisions you make leading up to your facelift procedure. One of the primary decisions that can influence how long your results might last is which plastic surgeon you choose.

Be sure to check for qualifications such as board certification, affiliations with accredited medical associations and experience performing facial rejuvenation procedures. Working with an experienced plastic surgeon who frequently performs facelift surgery is the best way to help you achieve a radiant, natural-looking result from your facelift.