You will look and feel much better three weeks after your facelift. However, you should still avoid strenuous exercise or risk of injury. As your incisions heal, the incision sites may appear slightly pink, but this will fade with time.
Removal of your sutures may occur anywhere from the end of week one to week three and depend on your particular procedure as well as your healing process. At weeks 3 and 4, you still may have some residual swelling and tightness, but for the most part, will start looking and feeling much better.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks.
Most patients can expect the majority of their swelling to dissipate after 3 – 4 weeks.
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.
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.
Upon discharge, we will apply a chin strap with cotton underneath. We will show you how to appropriately wear this. You must wear the chin strap continuously for the first two weeks after surgery except while eating and showering/cleaning incisions.
Any swelling and/or bruising will peak three to four days following your surgery. It is recommended that you sleep on two pillows for the first two weeks following your surgery to help alleviate swelling. Do not underestimate the importance of keeping your head elevated.
Cold Compresses can help Minimise Bruising and Swelling after Facelift. There is a reason behind using cold compressions and it is not limited to feeling comfortable. Using ice packs on your face can minimise bruises and inflammation. Freezing temperatures fight against swelling by constricting the blood vessels.
The facial swelling may be uneven, or more pronounced on one side of your face. This is normal too, and it doesn't mean the results of your facelift will be uneven. All of this is a natural part of facelift recovery.
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.
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.
Clean and Moisturize
Once the first day is over, you can remove the bandages and clean the incisions. Failure to do so might result in a buildup of bacteria and could cause infections. Moisturize your skin gently using a soft cloth and a mild antibacterial product. This step will help minimize scarring.
The tightness around your face comes from the swelling triggered by the procedure. Once the swelling wanes, that tightness feeling should dissipate in time. Your skin will also start to slightly stretch as it adapts to the new shape. You can expect the face to feel tight for a few months following the facelift surgery.
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.
You may feel that it interferes with your smile; this will disappear within a few weeks. The swelling may became more pronounced along the jaw line and is generally worse when you first arise in the morning. The swelling itself is not serious and is not an indication that something is going wrong with your operation.
Ice, cold compresses, and the herb Arnica montana may also help after the initial two weeks after the procedure. Perhaps the best advice Dr. Marin has for patients experiencing facial tightness after their facelift procedure is to be patient as their body is healing. Over time, these sensations will fade.
Most of your swelling, up to 60 percent, will disappear in the first couple of weeks after surgery, but then the wait begins for the remainder to subside. After three months, 80 percent of the swelling will be gone. After six months, 90 percent of the swelling will be gone.
One way to support recovery after a facelift is through facial massage. This will support lymphatic drainage which helps to reduce swelling, bruising and discomfort. Your facelift aftercare instructions will include information on how to perform facial massages, but here we will explain it in greater detail.
You should feel some gentle pressure, but never so much that it is painful or causes a loss of circulation. The garment should also fit smoothly against your skin; if the fabric bunches or folds, this is a sign that it is too tight.
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.
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.
Answer: "The neck tightness in the first weeks following the face/neck lift will loosen. I promise! We often over-tighten during surgery in anticipation of the eventual loosening that always occurs over time. It usually starts to feel looser the second week.