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.
Walking is hands down the best form of exercise to do post any kind of surgery including a facelift. Walking in the initial phases of recovery will promote blood circulation, prevent blood clots and promote healing. It will give you a surge of energy as well.
Most people recover in 4 to 6 weeks. But it probably will take 6 months or more to see the final result from the surgery. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace.
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.
1-3 Days Post Surgery
In the first few days, avoid even moderately strenuous movement, including bending over and inverting. 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.
Things NOT To Do After Facelift Surgery
Avoid applying pressure around the incisions. Restrict physical activity for several days after surgery (other than walking). Avoid bending and lifting heavy objects for about 2 weeks.
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.
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.
AVOID BENDING OVER OR LIFTING heavy things for two weeks. Besides aggravating swelling, this may raise the blood pressure and start hemorrhage. In addition, avoid actions such as forceful coughing, straining when passing stool, vomiting, and sneezing with the mouth closed.
One Week
At this stage the swelling is descending with gravity and there can be a bit of a new double chin – which will go. The stitches come out painlessly but the facial skin is still completely numb. Bruises are at their peak if present and we might laser them if indicated.
1 Week Post-Op
During the first week after your facelift, you can expect swelling and bruising around your lower face, ears and neck.
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.
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.
If you want to get stronger, do cardio after weights. On upper-body strength training days, you can do either first. On lower-body strength training days, do cardio after weights. If your goal is just general fitness, do either first, but maybe start with the one you like less.
In other words, while the newly enhanced skin, muscles, and tissues may feel tight or artificial, the patient's face won't look that way. For most patients, this sensation goes away after about 6 – 8 weeks, though it can take up to 3 – 4 months in some cases.
While the recovery timeline can vary from patient to patient, most people are generally able to resume front or side-sleeping after 2 – 4 weeks.
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.
Fatigue is normal following surgery and should improve day after day as your body begins to heal itself. Some people have it worse than others due to age, health, and the type of surgery they had, but with time and proper care, most will be able to build up their strength and energy levels.
Most patients begin to feel like they are really making progress during their second week of facelift recovery. Most fatigue should wear off by this point and patients should feel well enough to resume many of their normal tasks around the house.
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.
Generally speaking, most patients will need to sleep on their back with their upper body slightly elevated for about 2 – 3 weeks after facelift surgery.
The Ideal Sleeping Position
If you do not assume the right position, your sutures could open. This would increase swelling and cause bleeding. After your facelift procedure, you should lie on your back with your head elevated above your heart. If you are a side sleeper, this could be a big challenge.
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.
Make sure to use cool or lukewarm water when you shower for at least a week or so after surgery. Use the Softest Shower Setting - To minimize potential harm to the incision site, make sure to use a gentle showerhead setting when you take your first post-op showers.