The swelling may get worse before it gets better, but it will probably go away in 1 to 2 weeks. After a few days you may get some bruises on your neck and chest. This is caused by gravity, which pulls the excess blood and bruising downward. You will feel some pain for 2 to 4 days after surgery.
Ice: Ice will help fluids to drain, thereby reducing swelling. Apply ice to the affected body area for the first 48 hours following surgery. Blue ice gel packs will provide the most comfort and can be refrozen as needed. Compression: Cold compresses will also help bring down swelling and reduce bruising time.
Take NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work on the inside to help alleviate pain and reduce swelling in the process.
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.
Bruising and swelling usually reach their height around day 3 and 4, but both will likely be present for several additional weeks. Continue to take medication if you experience discomfort.
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.
Getting your body moving can make all the difference for your bloated face. "When we lay still and flat overnight, swelling accumulates and settles around the eyes.
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.
In general, the results from your facelift will look very good after about 1-month and you'll look your best at 6 months. A facelift can produce long-lasting results for years to come. And while everyone has a unique aging process, many of my patients don't feel they need more work for 12-14 years.
As with any diet, fruits and vegetables are recommended, especially dark leafy greens. Other good foods include red onions, broccoli, pineapples and apples, and capers to decrease swelling faster. These provide your body with essential vitamins to help you heal and fight infection. Omega-3 fats.
Facial swelling will take the most amount of time to fully disappear. A facelift disrupts your lymphatic vessels, causing the damaged tissue to hold more fluid. Redness and heat in the affected areas are caused by an increase in blood flow and movement of fluid to the area of inflammation.
You'll likely feel the most discomfort your first day, so you should take pain medications to stay on top of it.
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.
Apply ice on the area for the first 2 – 3 days following the surgery. Be sure you use a gel pack or another well-insulated ice pack, as these items are easier to ap ply on your ice. The insulation is also necessary for protecting your skin, as directly applying ice onto the skin can be dangerous if not managed well.
Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) is a proven treatment for joint swelling and inflammation. Rest the joint from activities that aggravate symptoms. Apply ice packs several times a day for 20-minute intervals.
After the first three days – or 72 hours – swelling should have peaked, and you can begin to use heat. But not on all injuries. “For aches related to bones or joints, ice is still a good treatment option,” Jake said.
Heat dilates, or widens blood vessels, allowing more inflammation to flow to an injured or painful area. As a general rule of thumb, ice should be used if you have recently injured an area or had surgery or a procedure. Medical studies agree that 20 minutes of icing is most effective.
The importance of rest after surgery is stressed by doctors because your body is going to do a lot of healing while sleeping. After all, your body does the majority of its healing while you're asleep. It's important that you're able to take a nap whenever you need to.
The doctor may recommend taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen three times a day for 3 to 5 days to reduce swelling and relieve mild to moderate discomfort.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, nicotine, and caffeine, for these will dramatically slow down the healing process.
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.
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.