There are surgeons who recommend doing a surface peeling and a cosmetic facial treatment a day before a facelift procedure, as well as taking medications that decrease blooding and edemas. The patient is examined by his chosen surgeon in the day of the operation, to make sure his health permits to go through with the operation. The doctor also checks necessary indexes such as blood pressure and body temperature.

Approximately an hour before the facelift operation the patient is given sedatives and pain killers as a preparation for the procedure. In the surgery room the patient is connected to an intravenous infusion (which supplies more sedatives and pain killers). When needed, the patient would also receive supplies of oxygen or treatment of other monitoring devices.

In the beginning of the operation, local sedation is injected to the specified area, in order to prevent pain or any general feeling of the place. At this stage, the patient usually does not feel or remember anything from this point until the operation is completed.