After careful consideration you’ve decided to get facelift surgery. This is a procedure that can boost your confidence, your comfort in your own skin, and significantly rejuvenate your appearance. The procedure is surgery and like any surgical procedure will require a period of time for recovery. Your recovery time can vary from other patients. Here are some of the factors that affect recovery times following facelifts and what to expect from your cosmetic surgery. Knowing what to expect will help you get through the necessary recovery time.
The Recovery Process
When you wake up in the recovery room following your surgery it’s possible to feel nauseous or cold. This is a normal reaction. You should let the someone know how you’re feeling. There are medications to help you through it. It’s also possible to feel emotional after the procedure. This is also a normal reaction.
Physically, your face may feel sore or tight. It’s normal to feel this. It’s likely that drainage tubes will be placed to remove excess fluid and blood. These tubes are intended to reduce the swelling for your comfort. You may have initial pain that ranges from mild to moderate in the days following the facelift. Pain medication may be prescribed to alleviate the pain. Antibiotics may be prescribed as well to fight off a potential infection.
As a rule of thumb following a facelift, you should be able to wash your hair after two days have passed and you should be starting to feel back to your normal self after a few days. In this time, your face will become bruised and swell. The swelling could peak within three days, then start to subside as your body heals. After two weeks the bruising will probably become easy to conceal with makeup. Depending on how fast your body heals itself, you may be looking completely back to normal after one to four months. You should be able to see the rejuvenating effects of the facelift now!
How to Speed Up the Recovery Time
Here are a few things you can do to help the recovery process along so you can heal in the shortest amount of time possible.
- Sleep with your head elevated for at least two weeks to minimize the swelling. You may find it more comfortable to sleep in a recliner during this time.
- Do not do any of the following until your surgeon specifies that it is okay to do so: Bend and lift heavy objects, take supplements that contain niacin or niacinamide, use aspirin, or drink alcohol. Facelifts that involve mouth incisions may be subject to additional restrictions.
- Get some exercise. You shouldn’t be participating in any marathons immediately following your facelift, but you should be walking around at least a few times a day. This will increase your blood circulation and help the healing process along.
As with any surgery, cosmetic surgeries do come with risks. If you notice any of the following signs during your recovery you should immediately alert your surgeon: excessive pain, excessive redness, or a high temperature.