Facelift Recovery: Tips for Speeding up the Healing Process

If you’re considering getting a facelift, it’s important to know about the procedure itself and the associated healing process. Healing after plastic surgery is never a speedy process. This is especially true when dealing with the delicate tissues of the face.

Your recovery time depends on the extent and type of facelift you have done. Mini facelifts require about a week to heal, while traditional facelifts need more time. But, there are ways to encourage the healing process and ensure the process runs smoothly.

Read on for a week-by-week breakdown of the recovery process as well as tips to speed up your healing!

Week 1 of Facelift Recovery

Immediately after surgery, you’ll feel groggy and unsteady. Ask friends and family to drive you home and take care of you for the rest of the day. Day one is usually the most uncomfortable, so make sure you have pain medication on hand.

The next day, you will see your plastic surgeon for a follow-up visit. They will remove your dressings and evaluate your healing. If every incision and your swelling looks normal, they will redress the wounds and send you back home. Keep your head elevated, especially when you sleep, and apply cold compresses to relieve any discomfort.

Facial surgery often results in a lot of bruising. Swelling, discoloration, and bruises will be most visible 3 or 4 days after surgery. They may linger even after you feel physically comfortable again. From day 6, your swelling will start to go down and you won’t need pain medication to stay comfortable.

Week 2 of Facelift Recovery

After 1 to 2 weeks, you can return to daily activities and desk work. If you have a job that requires a lot of movement, you may need to wait a little longer. Chat to your plastic surgeon to decide the best time for you to return to work.

You may experience numbness, tingling, and tightness. Do not apply any heat to your face. You can use makeup to cover bruising and other surgery marks after about 10 days.

Week 3 and 4 of Facelift Recovery

Depending on your healing progress, your plastic surgeon may remove your sutures from the end of week 3. You may experience residual tightness or swelling, but you will mostly feel normal. This is typically when you start to see the change in your facial structure!

You can exercise and enjoy activities without showing obvious signs of your surgery. Incision sites will appear red-pink and begin to fade with time.

After the First Month of Recovery

After 6 weeks, most signs of surgery will have faded. The incisions and scars will fade further for the next 6 to 9 months. Use these scar treatment strategies to help the scars fade completely.

Things to Do Throughout Your Recovery Process

warned against, and trust that your doctor knows best.

Healing won’t happen overnight. And there is no quick fix or cheat code that’ll make it happen faster! The key to speedy healing is fueling your body and properly looking after the tender areas. With some intention and self-care, you’ll be healed in no time at all.

Healthy Healing Leads to a Lasting Youthful Glow

Enjoy the youthful glow of your facelift after a speedy, but entirely necessary, healing process. By looking after your skin and giving it some extra TLC, you can make your facelift recovery a swift and pleasant experience.

Did this article answer your questions? Be sure to check out our blog and see even more you can learn about!