Timeless beauty isn’t only in cosmetics commercials or on
the red carpet. With a facelift, you can control the aging process,
slowing the hands of time and reversing age-related facial changes like jowls,
skin laxity, and wrinkles.
What’s holding you back from a facelift transformation? Many
patients are nervous about the healing process, but you don’t need to be. With
a board-certified plastic surgeon and careful planning, facelift recovery can
be a restful start to a new you. To help you navigate your recovery and
prepare, we’ve created this guide.
What to Expect at Every Stage of Facelift Recovery
Recovery is a process. Each day after your facelift, you’ll
feel a little better than you did the day before. At Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery,
we use advanced surgical techniques to significantly reduce downtime and ease
the recovery process. With these methods, most of our patients can return to
work and social activities within two weeks. Many people who can work from home
feel ready to do so only two to three days after surgery. If you get a mini facelift,
you may recover even more quickly.
After a facelift,
your skin may feel tight. Bruising and swelling are typical side effects after
a facelift, but infusing the skin with a local anesthetic significantly reduces
their occurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facelift Recovery
When will I feel healed enough to go out in public after my surgery?
Don’t schedule any work meetings or social events
immediately after your facelift. It takes up to two weeks for most of our full
facelift patients to feel comfortable going out in public again following their
surgery.
How can I improve my recovery experience after a facelift?
Heal faster after a facelift by asking your surgeon about
innovative surgical and anesthesia techniques. For example, by infusing the
facial tissues with a local anesthetic, patients experience less bruising,
bleeding, and swelling and have a faster recovery.
Can I smoke during facelift recovery?
Smoking is detrimental to your health, especially after
plastic surgery. Nicotine and tobacco products constrict blood vessels and slow
healing. Our surgeons asks patients to stop smoking at least a month before
surgery and to continue abstaining throughout the recovery process.
When can I return to exercise after facelift recovery?
Patients should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
until they have made a full recovery, usually about six weeks later. However,
we recommend doing gentle walking much sooner, often the day after surgery.
Light activity, such as walks around your house, yard, or neighborhood, helps
keep blood moving and can help patients to heal faster.
How can I protect my skin after facelift surgery?
Your skin will be more sensitive after surgery, so wearing
sunscreen and limiting time in the sun is essential. Our team will teach you
how to care for your skin after facelift surgery so you can heal quickly and
achieve the best aesthetic results.
Schedule Your Facelift Consultation at Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery
If you’re ready to learn more about facelift
surgery in Ann Arbor, contact us today by calling (734) 436-2186 or schedule a consultation online.
