After a facelift, it can be frustrating to have to keep the ‘new you’ at home while you heal. Costhetics understands.
When we look at the latest news and information about facial plastic surgery we often come across the question, “How can I speed up my facelift recovery?”
We have the answer.
Two Faces of Facelift Recovery
First, it’s useful to know that facelift surgery recovery is broken into two different phases:
- Surgical downtime – Most patients require two weeks to recover from surgery. During that time, they may have feelings of mild discomfort and tightness.
- Social downtime – It can take up to three weeks for unsightly swelling, bruising, and numbness to recede and for you to be comfortable resuming cocktail hour.
Complete healing from facial surgery takes 6 to 8 weeks. During that time, you can help your body recover, repair, and grow radiant with a few lifestyle adjustments. Here are our top 6 picks for speeding up a facelift recovery:
Don’t Be a Facelift Couch Potato
You’re likely to feel a bit knackered for a day or two after your procedure. As soon as you are able, take a short walk to boost circulation and aid healing.
Live Life in Balance
You will need to balance activity time with rest time. When you are reclining, be sure to elevate your head to minimise swelling.
Take Your Medication
Prescription medication not only addresses pain, but it can also help minimise soreness and stiffness.
Tend to Your Incision
Your surgeon will give you instructions for cleaning and caring for your incisions. Follow those instructions carefully to help your scars and skin settle into their new position.
Watch What You Drink
You will want to keep well-hydrated during your recovery. Water helps the body rid itself of toxins and is also essential to skin moisture. If you don’t like water, try fruit juices, teas, and other alternatives, but avoid alcohol which can cause unwanted swelling says the Mayor Clinic.
Keep Vampire Hours
The sun is never your skin’s friend. This is especially true when you’re in the midst of your facelift recovery. During this time, sunblock can prevent skin discolouration, especially at the incision site.
Don’t Layer Stress on Stress
Keep in mind that your body is in a stressed state during facelift recovery. You should avoid activities that add to that stress load whether it be tying your hair back in a tight ponytail, riding a roller coaster, or visiting a steam room.
Don’t Make Yourself Crazy
During your facelift recovery, you may catch yourself spending more time in the mirror examining the results of your surgery. It’s easy to become obsessed with your healing but try to keep things in perspective. Certain irregularities, swelling, discolouration and signs of facelift surgery take time to dissipate, and you shouldn’t stress about those things. The exception: if you are concerned about any aspect of your facelift surgery during recovery, contact your surgeon immediately.
Would you like to know more about facelift surgery and how to speed up recovery? Do you need help finding an experienced surgeon to help you achieve your facial rejuvenation goals? Contact us for help.