Most people share they are having a facelift with someone they know well. At a minimum it is worth telling close friends and family.
EMOTIONS & COSMETIC SURGERY
- Anxiety around the time of surgery
- Disguising the effects of surgery
- Do patients talk about facelift?
- Eating disorders and bulimia
- Eating disorders in men
- Family and friends may not be supportive of cosmetic surgery
- Interpersonal relations at the time of cosmetic surgery
- Lack of support from loved ones at the time of cosmetic plastic surgery
- Satisfaction after cosmetic surgery
An excellent study called "A prospective psychological study of 50 female face-lift patients." by Goin, Burgoyne, Goin & Staples (Plast Reconstr Surg, 65: 4, 1980 Apr, 436-42), showed that none of the patients who had facelifts in their series, kept it a secret.Twenty percent told their immediate family, 60% told all family members and close friends, & 20% told everyone .
Another study, by the same authors (Goin MK, et al. Face-lift operation: the patient's secret motivations and reactions to "informed consent". Plast Reconstr Surg, September 1976), found that many of the women who had a facelift were "assertive, perfectionistic people" and often needed to "feel in control of (a) situation". If this describes you, remember that giving up a little control and getting help from family and friends may make life easier around the time of surgery.
Overall you will find the strain of surgery less difficult if you let at least one person you trust int on your secret.