An Instalift face-lift procedure is minimally invasive and lifts your face to regenerate lost collagen, “reversing” the aging process. During the procedure, your experienced cosmetic surgeon will place completely dissolvable threads in your face to lift, reposition, and “smooth” the sagging skin of your mid-face, jawline, neck, or brows.
This common procedure requires only local anesthesia, where your cosmetic surgeon inserts threads under your skin with an extremely fine needle. The entire process takes about 30 minutes to perform.
Most patients who undergo an InstaLift procedure can resume their normal activities within a day or two. However, at times, it is recommended that you avoid strenuous activity for at least ten days while your skin fully heals.
Usually, it will help your healing, etc., if you do not sleep on your side or even on your stomach, as this may put unnecessary pressure on your face. You need to avoid this for about a week after your Instalift procedure. It’s commonly best to sleep on your back with your head propped up on a pillow, which will help minimize any minor swelling.
Immediately following the Instalift procedure, you may experience a tightness to the skin due to the lifting effect of the threads. The tightness typically resolves over two weeks. After initial placement, there may be mild skin irregularity or a slight depression or dimple, which might appear near the entry points.
Commonly, your face will begin the healing process almost immediately and increase collagen production in the face areas that contain the threads. You usually see your full results appear within one to two months following the initial Instalift treatment.
However, as with all surgery, each patient is different, and your specific healing process may differ from the norm. Also, your experienced and knowledgeable cosmetic surgeon will monitor you every step of the way. If at any time you feel cause for concern, your best path is to contact your surgeon immediately, and they will make sure any issue is resolved.
What Do I Need To Do Immediately After My Instalift Procedure?
First, follow your cosmetic surgeon’s post-op instructions to the letter! This alone will help you ensure a short and uneventful recovery period.
Due to the anesthesia, some patients may experience slight nausea after the Instalift procedure. This commonly will pass rapidly, and sipping tiny amounts of water will help.
Your surgeon will recommend some specifics, and you should follow them with diligence. Some examples are:
- Ice the general area for a few minutes four to five times during the day, as this will help to reduce any bruising or swelling.
- Make sure to rest for at least a full day after getting your treatment.
- Move around normally but avoid strenuous activity for about three weeks.
- You may be prescribed pain killers as required after the procedure by your surgeon.
- Avoid applying any makeup or facial creams for at least 48 hours.
- You may experience slight discomfort in the first two days after the procedure, but that is normal.
- Do not wash or touch your face for at least 12 hours.
- It is recommended that you sleep on your back to prevent any swelling.
Your cosmetic surgeon will outline specific care and post-op guidelines for incision wounds after the procedure. Again, you must follow them strictly, as by doing so, you will obtain the youthful results you’ve hoped to achieve.
How Soon Can I Return to Work Or My Usual Activities?
This is one of the areas that are specific to you. When you can return to work primarily depends on the nature of your job and the environment in which you do it.
In most cases, you can return to work within one day to one week after the treatment. This time will vary from job to job, and your surgical team will address this on a case-by-case basis. If you have a very strenuous job that requires plenty of activity and movement, such as personal training or nursing, it might take a bit longer for you to return to work.
Light physical activity, such as minor exercises, usually can be resumed after one week, but it would be unwise to perform any practices that may strain the treated facial area.
Always consult your surgeon before you resume weightlifting or other heavy exercises. Specific exercises, such as Yoga or other meditation exercises, require bowing your head below your heart, which must be avoided for a week.
Is An Instalift Procedure Generally Painful?
In most cases, the simple answer is “no, it’s not.” There might be minimal discomfort associated with any InstaLift procedure, as both the entry and exit points of the sutured areas are numbed locally with lidocaine anesthetic.
Immediately after your treatment, you may experience minor inflammation from the sutures. This may include things like minor pain, swelling, and bruising. Remember, your body treats any cut as a “wound” and responds accordingly. Although this might be uncomfortable, the inflammation aids in restoring the collagen in your skin.
As with any type of “wound,” your surgeon and their team will expect you to experience mild discomfort, but it is highly manageable and usually well-worth the youthful effects you end up with. Again, following your experienced Boston cosmetic surgeon’s post-op instructions is vital to minimizing your discomfort and any side effects.
Instalift procedures are prevalent and are done every day. As in most cases, if you listen diligently to your surgeon’s instructions, your chances are excellent of obtaining the youthful appearance you desire.
I So Plan On An Instalift Procedure; How Should I Proceed?
Because Instalift procedures are minor, in-office surgery, you still want the best surgical team possible. Choosing an experienced, empathetic, award-winning team maximizes your chances of satisfaction and achieving the most natural-looking results.
Consult with your Boston cosmetic surgeon first, and their professional, experienced, and empathetic Instalift surgical staff will answer all the questions and concerns you have. By doing so, you can feel confident in moving forward to your more youthful appearance.