Face Lift Recovery

Face Lift Recovery

Prior to undergoing a surgical face lift procedure, patients must already be informed of the face lift recovery and healing period so they know what to expect after the procedure. Most individuals under going this type of cosmetic procedure must be willing to commit a decent amount of time to allow their bodies to heal from the surgical procedure, thus proper knowledge about the healing and recovery time will help you prepare for your facelift recovery and make the healing easier to deal with.

Minor Discomforts and Medications Right After Surgery

Right after your facelift surgery, it is normal to feel cold or nauseated as the anesthesia injected into your body wears off. If this happens, let your surgeon know about it so you could be given proper medication. Some bruising and swelling may also appear and may extend to the eye area. This is normal and should disappear after two to three weeks. To help reduce swelling and bruising, the surgeon will have the patient’s head and face loosely bandaged. They may also insert a drainage tube behind the individuals ear. This will help prevent the blood and fluid from collecting under the skin.

Other common discomforts that a patient may feel after the surgery includes temporary numbness and tightness. There are also cases where patients become emotional given the fact that a face lift is a permanent change. Majority of these discomforts may be controlled with pain killers and proper medication, but psychological counseling may also be needed. Surgeons may also prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection.

Face Lift Healing Time

Facelift recovery period can vary greatly, however a patient can start getting back to normal and return to work after 10 to 14 days with some physical activity restrictions from the time the surgery was performed. During this time, the person has already recovered from bruising and swelling. Though the scars are still visible, make up can cover them fairly well. The recovery period may take longer depending on the complexity of the surgery. A more extensive type of cosmetic surgery involving the face and the neck or any additional procedures done at the same time such as eyelid surgery, brow lift, cheek lift, or fat grafting will prolong the period of recovery while a less invasive facelift will take a patient to recover faster.

Surgeons may also advise a patient to take several measures that could help speed up the recovery. Patients can expect a full recovery along with visibility of the final results of the surgery in about 3 to 6 months. The results of a surgical face lift procedure are permanent and cannot actually stop process of aging skin. A person may choose to have a facelift done again or they may use an effective face lift cream for an ongoing treatment.

What Patients Must Do To Accelerate the Healing Process

As the face is loosely bandaged with a compression garment or a surgical gauze after the surgery, taking the proper precautions for the treated area must be observed to further accelerate the healing process. The compression garment must be worn full time for at least a few days as prescribed by the surgeon to help control the swelling. As it holds the loose skin close to the body, this will also prevent the skin from sagging or wrinkling during the healing period. The head must also be kept elevated to minimize the swelling. Some patients tend to worry as they start to experience visible bruises and scars along with residual swelling on their face.

At this time, patients are advised to wear button down shirts to avoid the incisions and facial tissues from being disturbed. The most important thing that a patient must pay attention to during the healing period is to avoid the skin from being irritated. For example, do not shower instead towel bath yourself until the time that the surgeon indicates that bathing is okay. Being gentle with the face and avoid brushing or blow drying the hair will surely help a lot. It is also advisable to drink lots of water in order to prevent the body from becoming dehydrated.

Patients must be aware of the proper precautions for bending and must limit their exercise to walking and mild stretching during this time. Avoid alcohol, saunas, steam rooms, heavy exercise, and sexual activity for several weeks to help speed up the recovery.

Post Face Lift Appointments with Your Surgeon

It is normal to have an appointment with your surgeon a few days following the surgery in order for the surgeon to know the condition of your incision and drainage tube inserted behind the ear. In your first appointment, which is usually a day after your surgery, the drainage tube is typically removed and the bandage will probably be changed. Sutures or any staples in your scalp will not be removed until about a week or two.

On your next visit, which will be set by your surgeon, most of the stitches on your face will be removed however there may be some stitches that will be left for a few more days. There will be several more visits to follow-up as this will greatly help the surgeon in tracking the results of your surgery and ensuring that no major complications arise.

It is normal for a patient who has just undergone a face lift surgery to periodically feel depressed and easily get tired. After removing the bandage on the face, the patient will see noticeable bruises and swelling. This can cause the face to look distorted at first until the swelling subsides. This is probably one of the most challenging adjustments a facelift patient may encounter psychologically.

However, this will only be for the first few weeks. After the face lift recovery period, it is reasonable for a patient to expect an improved look in their appearance and majority of the saggy skin before surgery will be tight and revitalized. The success of a face lift is dependent on the condition of the skin and its elasticity. To get the best results, it is important to seek the advise of a board certified plastic surgeon prior to deciding on a face lift procedure. An excellent surgeon will provide you with detailed information about face lift surgery, the total cost of the procedure and the recovery time.