Night Before Facelift Checklist | Final 24-Hour Guide
If your facelift is tomorrow, you probably want one clear answer: what exactly should you do tonight, and what should you avoid?
This article covers the final 24 hours before surgery — from the night before until you arrive at the surgical center.
Your surgeon’s and anesthesia team’s written instructions always come first. This checklist organizes those instructions so nothing is missed; it does not replace them.
For the broader multi-week preparation path, see the complete facelift preparation guide. This page focuses only on the last 24 hours.
What should you do the night before a facelift?
1. Re-read your surgeon’s written instructions (fasting time, allowed medicines, arrival time). 2. Confirm arrival time and address. 3. Manage medicines only as directed by your care team. 4. Follow food and drink (NPO) instructions exactly. 5. Shower if your team recommended it. 6. Lay out button-front clothes, documents, and essentials. 7. Go to bed earlier than usual.
Night-before facelift checklist
- Re-read written surgeon and anesthesia instructions
- Confirm arrival time and surgical center address
- Clarify allowed vs stopped medicines with your team
- Know and follow your NPO cut-off time
- Shower if recommended
- Remove makeup, nail polish, and jewelry if required
- Prepare comfortable front-opening clothes
- Set aside ID, medical records, and required tests
- Confirm companion and transportation
- Prepare your home recovery space
- Get enough sleep
Is preparation the same for brow, forehead, and temple lifts?
The general framework is similar — documents, companion, fasting, medicines, and rest — including for neck lift, forehead lift, eyebrow lift, and temple lift. Exact details still depend on anesthesia type, procedure extent, and your medical history. Follow your surgeon’s procedure-specific instructions.
What can you eat or drink the night before?
Follow the exact fasting times given by your anesthesia team. Do not invent your own cut-off. If you ate or drank by mistake, call the surgical center immediately.
Should you shower the night before a facelift?
Many centers recommend a shower. Wash hair if advised, limit scented face products, and remove makeup/nail polish if required. Do not shave or manipulate the surgical area unless explicitly told to.
What about medicines the night before?
Never start or stop any medicine, supplement, or over-the-counter product on your own. Confirm blood pressure or other morning-of medicines with the center the night before if unclear.
What to pack the night before
- ID and medical records / labs
- Comfortable button-front clothing
- Phone and charger
- Leave jewelry and contacts at home unless told otherwise
- Confirmed companion for transport and early recovery help
What not to do
Do not self-medicate, ignore fasting, do heavy exercise, manipulate the surgical skin, stay up late, or use alcohol or substances your team forbade.
Morning of surgery
Take what you prepared, re-check fasting and morning medicines, confirm your companion, and arrive early.
If something goes wrong the night before
Call your surgical center or surgeon. Do not decide alone whether to proceed — especially after accidental eating/drinking, medicine mistakes, fever/cold symptoms, or missing instructions.
After surgery day, see the facelift aftercare guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do the night before a facelift?
Re-read your surgeon’s instructions, manage medicines only as directed, follow fasting times, shower if advised, prepare clothes and documents, and sleep earlier than usual.
What can I eat the night before a facelift?
Do not invent your own cut-off time. Follow the exact fasting schedule from your surgical or anesthesia team, which depends on anesthesia type and surgery time. Ask before the night of surgery if anything is unclear.
Can I shower the night before a facelift?
Many centers include a pre-op shower in preparation instructions. Follow your center’s cleanser and timing guidance, and avoid new or heavily scented face products unless approved.
Should I wash my hair the night before surgery?
Yes if your care team recommended it — after surgery, hair washing may be inconvenient for several days depending on dressings.
Can I take medicines the night before surgery?
Only medicines your surgeon or anesthesiologist explicitly allowed. Do not start or stop anything on your own.
What should I avoid the night before a facelift?
Self-medicating, ignoring fasting rules, heavy exercise, manipulating the surgical skin, and staying up late.
Is night-before prep similar for brow and forehead lifts?
The general principles are similar, but exact details differ by anesthesia type, procedure extent, and individual medical factors. Your surgeon’s instructions always come first.