Ramp Up Your Skincare Routine Wear plenty of SPF and stay out of the sun to avoid getting a sunburn before your facelift. Keep your skin healthy and hydrated by consistently using moisturisers and serums. Avoid products with harsh or irritating ingredients.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks.
You will feel some pain for 2 to 4 days after surgery. You may have some trouble opening your mouth for several days. The skin around the incisions probably will be numb. You may have some itching or shooting pain as the feeling returns.
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.
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.
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.
Facelift surgery does not improve the area around the eyes, lift sagging eyebrows, or smooth creases across the forehead. Nor, when performed correctly, does it change your smile.
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.
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.
While it may seem impossible to change your sleeping position, the overwhelming majority of patients tolerate temporary back-sleeping after facelift surgery exceptionally well.
Again, it's best to start on the early side. Generally, we have patients that are in their late 40s or early 50s seeking a facelift. Many range between 40-60 years old.
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.
There is usually very little actual pain following a facelift, but you may experience a deep bruised sensation as a result of the swelling, and your face may seem heavy.
For example, high-sodium foods increase swelling and should be avoided for a week or so after surgery. Meats that are dry or tough also require a lot more chewing than other foods. Alcohol should also be avoided to avoid interactions with any pain medications.
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.
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.
Hair coloring should also be delayed until six weeks after your surgery. Use cotton balls to WASH THE FACE gently with a mild soap (Ivory, Neutrogena) twice daily after the first week, use a gentle upward motion. You may take a shower by the second post-operative day, but NEVER on the day when you have sutures removed.
After the dressings are removed, shower and wash your hair. Use warm not hot water (much as you would wash an infant.) Use only baby shampoo. Let the water run through your hair to remove all dried blood and surgical soap.
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.
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.
Winter is a great time for undergoing cosmetic surgeries. You can wear bulkier clothing to conceal scars and swelling, more easily avoid direct sunlight, and combine your recovery period with winter vacations. It's the season for just about everything: facelifts, rhinoplasties, liposuction, and breast surgeries.
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.