Avoid alcohol, smoking, nicotine, and caffeine, for these will dramatically slow down the healing process. Take medications as directed by your prescriptions.
The recommendation is to avoid regular and decaf coffee for 2 weeks before your surgery and no regular or decaf coffee for 1 month after surgery.
It's been documented that coffee—in moderation—can be good for your health, but what about a patient just coming out of surgery? Recent studies show that a cup of coffee right after an operation may lead to faster recovery times and happier patients. Dr.
AVOID BENDING OVER OR LIFTING heavy things for one week. Besides aggravating swelling, this may raise the blood pressure and start hemorrhage. 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.
Your face likely will be bruised and swollen. The swelling may get worse before it gets better, but it will probably go away in 1 to 2 weeks.
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.
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.
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. As healing takes place and swelling subsides this will improve.
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.
Pre-Surgery
Stop drinking alcohol as well as coffee and other beverages that have caffeine. That's because these drinks can have a dehydrating effect on the body, which can deter scars from healing as quickly.
Caffeine can also act as an adenosine‐receptor antagonist, although it has been shown that adenosine and adenosine‐receptor agonists promote wound healing through stimulating angiogenesis and increasing ECM production 8, 9, 10. This would therefore imply that caffeine can interfere with the wound healing process.
Drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day during recovery is recommended by doctors to ensure optimal health after surgery. Many patients also opt to drink sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade for added electrolytes.
At weeks 3 and 4, you may still have some residual swelling (this is normal and will dissipate), but for the most part it is at this point patients often begin to see real improvement in their face. You will look and feel much better three weeks after your facelift.
Most patients return to a normal diet after surgery, but it is important to eat foods that are soft and easy to chew.
Swelling Recovery Timeline After Facelift
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.
You'll likely feel the most discomfort your first day, so you should take pain medications to stay on top of it.
Most patients will be able to take showers again a week after their surgery. This will vary from patient to patient, however, so be sure to follow the instructions provided by your plastic surgeon. If you have drainage tubes in place, you may be asked to avoid showering until the drainage tubes have been removed.
First and foremost, drink plenty of water! Water serves a lot of functions in the body and will be particularly good to reduce swelling after surgery.
It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.
The skin of the face may feel tight for a while and you may feel that it interferes with your smile; this will disappear within a few weeks.
One of the concerns of most patients after cosmetic surgery is feelings of weakness and fatigue. These are normal and usually go away in a few days or weeks after the surgery. If fatigue persists and you experience other symptoms, inform your plastic surgeon immediately.
Patients do complain of a feeling of fullness in the ears or pain in the ears for the first few days after surgery. This is caused by swelling, and improves fairly quickly. Most of my patients take prescription pain medication for the first couple of days before transitioning to Motrin or Tylenol.
Winter is the perfect time for a facelift. It's easier to avoid the sun, which aids the healing process. Bandages can be more easily hidden under layered winter clothing.
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.