Patients should expect to spend the first 1 – 2 days after facelift surgery resting in bed with some level of discomfort, swelling, and bruising. These symptoms can be controlled with medication and other recommendations provided by your surgeon.
One question I hear a lot from facelift patients is “how long do I have to elevate my head after facelift surgery?” While sleeping on your back is a must, keeping your head elevated for the first 2 to 4 weeks is equally important.
Day one is usually when you most need pain medication to stay on top of discomfort. Day 2. Your surgeon will schedule a follow-up visit around this time. They will remove or change your surgical dressings and evaluate your incisions and swelling.
This is an essential facelift recovery practice for minimizing swelling and preventing postoperative complications, such as pulling out stitches, delaying healing, and compromising your overall results. Dr.
The Second Week of Facelift Recovery Time
Sometime during the second week, most individuals who work desk jobs can expect to return to work. However, if you have a job that requires physical labor and strenuous activity, you will need to wait a bit longer before you can go back to your job.
When can I go for a walk after a facelift? You can go for short walks three days after facelift surgery, but you should not walk for more than 30 minutes at a time and should focus on building up walking distances slowly over the first three weeks to minimise the risk of complications.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks.
AVOID HITTING OR BUMPING YOUR FACE, HEAD AND NECK. It is wise not to pick up small children and you should sleep alone for one week after your operation. SLEEP WITH THE HEAD OF THE BED ELEVATED for 1-2 weeks after your operation.
Be careful, take it easy, and avoid any vigorous exercises for at least a few days after the procedure. If you feel pain or discomfort during an activity, take a moment to stop and rest to avoid injury to the face or body. After the initial recovery, you can slowly return to your daily routine to encourage blood flow.
Beginning on day 2 or 3, light walking is recommended to help promote blood flow which speeds healing. Short, easy walks is the only form of exercise that should be undertaken. Many patients start to feel less discomfort over the first few weeks as bruising and swelling subsides.
Why? When the facelift is performed, the skin is tightened and it can flatten out the jowls because the skin is tighter. However, over time as the skin relaxes, the full fatty jowls will restretch out the skin and the jowls will reappear. Weight loss prior to face lift surgery is very important for these people.
Stage 2 (Post-Op Days 7-14)
During the second week post-surgery, you will likely still have swelling and bruising around the affected areas. Some patients report strange sensations, such as tingling, numbness, or tightness. These sensations are commons occurrences following a facelift and are not cause for concern.
A dull ache around the ears and tightness around the jaw and neck can be expected for the first night after surgery but reduces significantly each day thereafter. Most patients transition from opiate medication to regular Tylenol within the first week. The feeling of tightness decreases over the course of a few weeks.
Truthfully, there are patients who experience no pain at all after a facelift and some that are very uncomfortable and require oral pain medication for relief. The discomfort that most patients feel is usually a pulling sensation from the swelling and from the sutures, which are used to tighten the neck.
1 Week Post-Op
During the first week after your facelift, you can expect swelling and bruising around your lower face, ears and neck.
You may begin light aerobics after two weeks, but no head- or neck-turning exercises for four weeks.
5. Stay on a full liquid diet for three to four days, then soft foods that minimize chewing for the next week. 7.
Avoid foods requiring prolonged chewing and avoid excessive facial movements for one week. Brush teeth gently with a soft toothbrush only. Avoid manipulation of upper lip and cheeks. You may have difficulty opening your mouth wide or turning your head.
Most patients return to a normal diet after surgery, but it is important to eat foods that are soft and easy to chew. Below, Dr. Raj TerKonda explores the details of facelift surgery and aftercare, including the importance of healthy eating.
A collection of blood (hematoma) under the skin is the most common complication of a face-lift. A hematoma causes swelling and pressure. It usually forms within 24 hours of surgery. When a hematoma forms, prompt treatment with surgery helps prevent damage to the skin and other tissues.
Unlike having a nose job or a breast enlargement, a facelift can be subtle enough that even your close friends and family members won't know you've had surgical intervention. The goal isn't to restructure your face, but to lift your appearance.
Not only is a natural-looking facelift possible, but it's also what you should expect from an experienced and professional surgery team. To help you get the results you deserve, our expert plastic surgeon, Dr. Anthony Dardano, shares five guidelines here that produce the most flattering facelift possible.
Avoid all sorts of caffeinated beverages if you can. If you cannot, limit the caffeine intake to one beverage per day. Excessive caffeine can dehydrate your body which is never a good thing for post-surgical swelling.