The Importance of Skin Care in Cosmetic Surgery

Facial plastic surgery can be an amazing way to dramatically enhance your appearance, but here’s something people often overlook: the quality of your skin plays a huge role in how great your results will look. Surgery can reshape and lift, but your skin’s health determines how well those changes shine through: and how long they last.

Whether you’re preparing for a procedure or you’ve already had surgery, skincare isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential to your success.

Table of Contents

Understanding Dr. Cote’s “3 D’s” of Aging

Dr. Christopher Cote, one of our Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons, breaks down facial aging into what he calls the “3 D’s”:

Descent (Gravity): As we age, gravity pulls facial tissues downward, creating sagging and jowls
Deflation (Volume Loss): We lose fat and bone volume over time, resulting in a hollowed or sunken appearance
Dermal (Skin Changes): The skin itself deteriorates: losing collagen and elastin, developing uneven tone and texture, and showing sun damage

According to Dr. Cote, “Healthy skin is a sign of a healthy body and healthy tissues, which is what we look for before any surgical procedure.”

While surgery addresses the first two D’s beautifully, it’s your skincare routine that tackles that third D: and it makes all the difference in your overall outcome.

Pre-Surgery: Why Skin Prep Matters

Preparing your skin before undergoing plastic surgery can significantly impact both the healing process and your final results. Think of it as getting your body in the best possible condition before a big athletic event.

Here’s why healthy skin makes such a difference:

More resilient during surgery: Skin with good texture and elasticity can better withstand the stress of surgical procedures
Lower risk of complications: Healthy skin is less prone to infections, delayed healing, and post-surgical issues
Better healing capacity: Well-conditioned skin has the cellular resources it needs to repair itself efficiently
Enhanced aesthetic outcome: When your skin foundation is strong, surgical improvements show through more beautifully

The bottom line? Investing in your skin before surgery sets you up for a smoother recovery and results you’ll love.

Pre-Surgery Treatments That Transform Your Skin

At FacesFirst, we offer several professional treatments that significantly improve the health, function, and appearance of your skin before surgery. Here’s what works:

Microneedling (Collagen Induction Therapy)

This treatment is a powerhouse for skin preparation:

Stimulates your body’s natural collagen production: The tiny needles create controlled micro-injuries that trigger your skin’s healing response
Thickens the dermis: More collagen means structurally stronger, more resilient skin
Smooths the skin’s surface: The new collagen production creates a more even texture
Delivers impressive results: Studies suggest that a series of microneedling treatments can increase collagen by 400-600%

Whether you’re correcting existing skin issues or simply preventing future ones, microneedling is something everyone should consider.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are an excellent tool in our skincare toolbox:

Exfoliate deeply: They remove a significant portion of the top layers of damaged skin
Reveal fresh, bright skin: As the old layers shed, new, healthier skin emerges
Reduce wrinkles and discoloration: The renewed skin shows fewer signs of aging and sun damage
Strengthen the skin barrier: Healthier, better-performing skin means improved protection and function

The result? Skin that’s primed and ready for whatever comes next.

Laser Treatments

Different lasers work in different ways, but they all support surgical success:

Stimulate collagen and elastin thermally: Heat energy triggers your skin’s natural repair mechanisms
Target specific concerns: We choose lasers based on what we want to correct: pigmentation, texture, vessels, or overall tone
Build long-term skin health: Regular treatments are an integral part of a comprehensive skincare plan
Enhance surgical outcomes: Better skin quality means better-looking results after surgery

Each laser has its own mechanism of action, and we customize treatments to your unique skin needs.

The Home Care Factor: Your Most Important Tool

Here’s something that might surprise you: your at-home skincare routine may be the most important factor of all.

Think of it like dental care. You could go to the dentist every few months for cleanings, but if you’re not brushing and flossing daily, you’ll never have truly healthy teeth. The same principle applies to your skin.

What makes home care so powerful:

Consistency is everything: Daily application of active ingredients keeps your skin in constant improvement mode
High-quality products matter: Medical-grade skincare with proven ingredients delivers real results
Specific ingredients work wonders: Antioxidants and Vitamin A derivatives (like retinoids and retinols) improve texture, elasticity, and tone
Ongoing collagen stimulation: These products don’t just maintain: they continue building new collagen on a consistent basis
Better surgical outcomes: All of this leads to enhanced aesthetic results and higher patient satisfaction

Your home routine is the foundation everything else builds on. Don’t skip it.

Post-Surgery: Protecting Your Investment

You’ve invested time, money, and emotional energy into your cosmetic surgery. Now it’s time to protect and maximize that investment through strategic skincare.

Dr. Nicolette Picerno, another of FacesFirst’s Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons, puts it perfectly: “Your skincare routine plays an invaluable role in the long-term success of your cosmetic surgery. You want to protect and enhance your investment and fully enjoy the results of your procedure.”

What Post-Surgery Skincare Accomplishes

Supporting collagen production:

Keeps the skin-building process active
Maintains the structural improvements from surgery
Prevents premature breakdown of results

Reducing and preventing inflammation:

Calms post-surgical swelling and redness
Prevents inflammatory aging processes
Uses anti-inflammatory ingredients like arnica and aloe vera

Maintaining optimal hydration:

Keeps the skin barrier intact during healing
Prevents dryness and sensitivity
Uses ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides

Protecting against sun damage:

Shields vulnerable healing skin from UV rays
Prevents hyperpigmentation and discoloration
Requires daily SPF 30+ sunscreen application

Minimizing scar visibility:

Supports the skin’s natural healing mechanisms
Incorporates collagen-stimulating topicals
May include gentle massage techniques

Your Comprehensive Skincare Plan at FacesFirst

Here at FacesFirst, we don’t just perform surgery and send you on your way. We provide you with a full, comprehensive plan to manage your skin health as you prepare for and recover from your procedure.

What we offer:

Personalized skincare consultations
Pre-surgery skin conditioning treatments
Medical-grade product recommendations
Post-surgery skincare protocols
Ongoing skin health monitoring

Our Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons work alongside our skincare specialists to ensure every aspect of your transformation is optimized: from the surgical technique to the cellular level of your skin.

Ready to Enhance Your Results?

Whether you’re considering facial plastic surgery or you’ve already scheduled your procedure, now is the perfect time to invest in your skin. The better your skin health going in, the better your results coming out: and the longer they’ll last.

Contact FacesFirst to schedule your skincare consultation and discover how we can help you achieve the radiant, revitalized look you deserve.

Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver & Lone Tree, CO
303.744.2300

Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive approach to cosmetic surgery and skincare.