This story has been medically reviewed for accuracy by Seattle, WA board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. William Portuese on September 24, 2024.
Whether it’s due to genetics, years spent in the sun without sunscreen protection, or simply the passage of time, we all eventually encounter sagging skin on our faces. And ever since its origin in 1901, some individuals have turned to the facelift – a procedure that tightens muscles, lifts tissues, and eliminates excess skin on the face – to achieve a notably more youthful look.
While preparing for a facelift typically involves the general plastic surgery preparations (such as consultations and doctor credential checks), there’s another aspect you should also explore before going under the knife: recovery. What you do after leaving the operating room plays a vital role in ensuring successful outcomes. Here, we elaborate precisely on what you need to know about recovering from a facelift. Continue reading to discover the most critical facelift recovery tips and aftercare advice.
Recovery tip #1: Avoid overexertion
After any surgical procedure, whether cosmetic or not, you need to relax. “Patients should steer clear of excessive exertion,” states Denver board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Manish Shah. “Actions like bending over or picking up heavy objects can raise the blood pressure in the face. This heightens the risk of bleeding beneath the facelift flap, potentially resulting in a hematoma.” A hematoma is a localized accumulation of blood that can reduce the blood supply to the overlying facial skin, causing issues with wound healing.
Wait approximately two weeks after surgery before resuming daily activities and around a month to six weeks before engaging in more strenuous tasks (such as exercise). After this period, swelling will have decreased significantly, incisions will have healed, and the risk of bleeding will have lessened.
Related: 5 Signs You’re a Good Candidate for a Facelift—and 4 Signs You’re Not
Recovery tip #2: Steer clear of certain medications, alcohol, and smoking
“Patients should avoid exposure to substances that thin the blood, both before and after the surgery, such as medications like aspirin and Ibuprofen, alcohol, and certain health supplements,” remarks Dr. Shah. “They increase the risk of bleeding during and after the surgery, which can lead to complications like hematoma formation.”
If you smoke, Dr. Shah claims, it’s advisable to quit the habit four weeks prior to the surgery to reduce the amount of nicotine in your bloodstream. “Nicotine is a chemical that constricts blood vessels, so exposure to it can result in poor wound healing,” he warns. “Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke also face the risk of wound healing problems after facelift surgery.”
Alcohol, on the other hand, dilates blood vessels. This can enhance the likelihood of bleeding and bruising after your surgery, so it’s best to avoid both smoking and drinking after the facelift.
Recovery tip #3: Stay (reasonably) motionless
According to Dr. Shah, excessive head and neck movement is a common recovery error for facelift patients. “This action places stress on the new incisions, which can lead to wide or raised scars that are challenging to conceal with makeup,” he says. As the swelling in the surgical area resolves over time – usually after two to three weeks – it becomes safer to turn your head and neck with low tension, and your risk of developing more noticeable facelift scars decreases.
Recovery tip #4: Stay away from the sun
Following facelift surgery, the facial skin becomes more susceptible to sunburns, so patients should avoid UV ray exposure after the procedure. “It’s best to wear a high-quality sunscreen and stay out of the sun for the initial several weeks after the surgery to prevent sunburns to the healing facial skin,” says Dr. Shah.
Recovery tip #5: Avoid extreme temperatures
“Sometimes patients ice their face excessively,” says Edison, New Jersey, board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Miller. “Remember that after a facelift, there will be some numbness and the patient won’t truly be able to tell if the skin is getting too cold or frostbitten.” Instead, alternate 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off using a washcloth soaked in icy-cold water for the first week.
Icing isn’t the only temperature-related issue to be mindful of. Dr. Miller states that some patients have also used a heating pad on their neck during recovery, which doesn’t always have a favorable outcome. “This is a problem because the skin is still numb – and patients have actually burned themselves,” he explains. “So be cautious.”
Related: 10 Doctors Give Their Best Facelift Advice, in 10 Words or Less
Recovery tip #6: Consume healthy meals
A nutritious diet is essential for good health at all times, but it’s particularly crucial after surgery. “The most significant thing a patient can do before surgery is enhance their nutrition,” says Dr. Shah. “This is even more important after the surgery, as surgery boosts the metabolic rate and often dulls the appetite.” Dr. Shah asserts that if you reduce your calorie intake, you might slow down wound healing and recovery. “I recommend a high-protein diet and supplements like vitamin C to maximize wound healing.”
Recovery tip #7: Rely on your support system
It is widely known that patients often experience a period of low mood for about a week after facelift surgery. It can be difficult to look in the mirror and see a different face, especially one that’s swollen and bruised, looking back at you. “Promoting mental health after surgery is essential,” says Dr. Shah. “We recommend that patients have a group of trusted people by their side after the surgery for support.” Activities that uplift the spirit without increasing the risk to the facelift are encouraged. Invite family or close friends over to chat, play card games, or simply watch Netflix. This type of social interaction is a beneficial distraction for those feeling a bit down after undergoing the surgery.
Recovery tip #8: Keep the incision clean
Another vital recovery tip is to maintain the cleanliness of the incision area to prevent infection. “The incision lines are truly the only indication that a facelift was performed, so we want them to heal as well as possible,” explains Dr. Miller. “An accumulation of debris or crusting will slow down this process.”
Always wash your hands before touching the incision area. To clean the surgical wound, prepare a mild soap-and-water or saline solution and apply it gently to the area. Use a damp washcloth to remove any dried blood or drainage; avoid using alcohol, peroxide, or antibacterial soap when cleaning the area.
Recovery tip #9: Stay upright
The swelling needs to decrease from the head downward, so Dr. Miller suggests that patients remain elevated at least 30 degrees while sleeping at night for two weeks to avoid fluid accumulation. “This will facilitate faster healing,” he says.
Recovery tip #10: Follow your doctor’s schedule
How long does facelift recovery take? While your personal schedule might not align with the appropriate follow-up plan recommended by your doctor, skipping the required post-op examinations could be a major mistake. Dr. Shah says these appointments are crucial as they can help identify correctable issues that might otherwise be overlooked, resulting in a less-than-ideal outcome in the long run. In total, you should anticipate about a month of recovery and facelift healing, at which point all bruising and swelling will have subsided.
Recovery tip #11: Be aware of potential side effects
It would be wonderful to undergo a facelift without encountering any side effects, but they do exist, and it’s important to be informed about them beforehand to avoid being taken aback. It might seem somewhat counterintuitive considering that a facelift targets the skin on your face, but one of the most common side effects is hair loss and thinning. Because the procedure involves cutting along the hairline, some patients experience hair loss around the incisions or general thinning around the temples. Your surgeon will strategically plan the location of the incisions to minimize the impact on hair, but after the surgery, you should wait at least one day to wash your hair and at least six weeks before having it cut or colored. Other side effects of a facelift include small blood clots in the tissue, prolonged swelling, and ridges from fat removal, but these are typically temporary and usually subside within a few months of the procedure.
Recovery tip #12: Be patient
As one of the simpler – but often the most challenging to adhere to – recovery guidelines, being patient during your recovery is highly recommended. The facelift recovery period might seem interminable while you’re in the midst of it, but it’s important to take it one day at a time. “Swelling resolves, sensation returns, scars fade, and all patients eventually look ‘normal,’” reassures Dr. Shah. “You can’t rush the recovery process. It can be difficult to slow down enough to allow yourself to heal, but in an attempt to return to our busy lives, we can compromise the recovery or forget that it can take 6 to 12 months to fully recover.” As mentioned, it’s common for patients to become despondent, but patience is key. “If you’re in the hands of an excellent surgeon, it will all be worth it,” says Dr. Shah.
