What to Expect With Facelift Recovery

After facelift surgery, your skin will heal at its own pace, but an aware and engaged patient is a key part of the process.

Below, experienced San Diego-area plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Chacon of Divino Plastic Surgery explains the timeline for healing, and what you can do to ensure a quick and satisfying recovery.

A Beautiful Face at Its Own Pace

After surgery, you will feel tightness and tenderness near your incisions once the anesthesia has worn off. At home, swelling will increase during the first three to four days. It is accompanied by bruising and some pain, which should not be severe and can be managed with prescribed medication. You may also feel some temporary numbness. Swelling and bruising won’t entirely disappear for one to four months.

It’s important not to rush your recovery. Plan to stay home for one to two weeks. You should be able to resume most normal activities in a month, although your face will continue to heal for up to a year. You will notice an immediate change from your facelift, but the final result won’t fully emerge for many months.

Playing Your Part

As soon as possible, you should begin walking around to boost circulation, support optimal healing and prevent blood clots. Straining, lifting and bending should be avoided. By the second day, you will be able to wash your hair, and you can use makeup again in about two weeks. You will need to sleep on your back with your head elevated during this delicate period.

Eat healthfully, drinking plenty of water and avoiding high-sodium foods that can aggravate swelling. If your procedure included incisions in the mouth, you will need to follow a special diet. As a general rule, you should avoid alcohol, niacin and aspirin products. Get plenty of rest, and follow the postoperative routine recommended by Dr. Chacon. You will return to Divino Plastic Surgery the day after your surgery, and again within the week for removal of sutures.

Make sure you take your antibiotics to ward off infection, along with any other medication your surgeon may prescribe. Stay alert for any warning signs, such as rising body temperature, facial redness and excessive pain.

To learn more about facelift, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Carlos Chacon at his San Diego-area office in Bonita by contacting Divino Plastic Surgery today.