While recovery is unique for each individual, it is generally recommended that showering be avoided for 48 hours after plastic surgery. This allows your incisions time to begin the healing process and helps prevent premature scab removal.
Try not to roll on your face; this tends to tear down the supporting stitches used under the skin of your face; therefore, it is necessary to sleep on your back for 2 weeks. Some patients find a reclining chair placed at 45 degree angle to be more comfortable.
You must wear the chin strap continuously for the first two weeks after surgery except while eating and showering/cleaning incisions. The strap helps fight the forces of gravity immediately after surgery and helps improve any swelling.
The compression garment must be worn 24/7 even when you sleep, you will be only allowed to take it off when you shower. It is recommended to have two garments, so you can have one for change. . Invest in a good quality garment as this influences the outcome of the surgery.
Hydrate. Drinking plenty of water is important to maintain maximum health and keep your body operating at a high level. This fact is especially true during recovery from surgery. Maintaining proper hydration levels will allow the body to heal properly and help abate any bruising or swelling after surgery.
Swelling and inflammation are normal during facelift recovery. Swelling may occur around the mouth, chin, or jawline, depending on the extent of your facelift procedure and where it was performed. Most patients can expect the majority of their swelling to dissipate after 3 – 4 weeks.
Things to Not Do
Avoid and restrict physical activity for several days after surgery. Avoid bending and lifting heavy objects for about two weeks. Do not color or bleach hair for at least four weeks. Avoid direct exposure to the sun at the incisions; use a 30-SPF sunscreen or higher.
- You may start showering and washing your hair the day after surgery. However, because you will have numbness in the face and earlobes, DO NOT use hot rollers, curling iron or a hair dryer. If you must dry your hair set it on the cool setting. Do not color or perm your hair for at least 4 weeks after surgery.
When performed correctly by the hands of a skilled surgeon, facelift results can be some of the most natural looking of any cosmetic procedure and can leave you with a rejuvenated and more youthful facial appearance.
You may shower and wash your hair with a mild shampoo 48 hours after surgery. Your hair may be dried with a blow dryer on a cool setting since you may not have full sensation in the operative areas. Gently wash your face and neck at this time.
A facelift often will enhance the appearance of your cheek, jaw line and neck region but is considered major surgery. You should think carefully about your specific expectations and communicate your goals to your plastic surgeon.
Massage after a facelift helps with:
The gentle upward massage strokes of a lymphatic facial soothe the pain receptors that signal the brain to interpret discomfort. Massage also increases circulation through healing tissues, which reduces pain.
How long do ears hurt after facelift? Some patients may experience pain or numbness in the ears after their facelift, which can persist for 1-3 months.
Use ice packs: Apply cold compresses to your face for about 20 minutes at a time to help reduce inflammation. Since the skin and tissue will still be delicate, take care not to leave the compresses in one spot for too long.
Sleep is very important
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.
Sudden increases in weight are likely temporary and due to a buildup of excess fluid, which is common after major surgery. In some cases, a lengthy recovery may require you to be less active, which can lead to weight gain.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, nicotine, and caffeine, for these will dramatically slow down the healing process.
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. The tightness can last for about 2 – 3 months.
A series of lymphatic drainage massage sessions may be started after surgery. These sessions are usually done 2-3 times the first week with decreasing frequency over the following 4 weeks.
Injectable treatments will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but they will not remove excess skin, improve skin laxity, or eliminate skin sagging. The only way to effectively treat these issues is through surgery. A facelift will provide much more long-lasting results than non-surgical options.
Facelift fails are most likely to occur when a surgeon doesn't have the level of training and experience required to do a good job with the procedure you want. This is why you should be sure to look for a facial plastic surgeon for any facial surgery, not simply a plastic surgeon.
Do not use any products that remain on the hair. Avoid any rubbing or combing trauma to the incisions in the hairline and around the ear. Do not blow dry for two weeks, and postpone any planned permanent waves or hair coloring for 6 weeks following surgery.
The incisions from a facelift need to heal before you color your hair. This process of healing for the incisions takes approximately 2-4 weeks, so the timing of coloring of your hair is somewhere between 2-4 weeks.