Face Lift Recovery Basics
Before you get a face lift, you should be aware of the typical healing process involved. This will ensure that you leave plenty of time between the operation and any social events where you want to look good.
If you plan to get a face lift in order to look a bit younger,
you should be aware of the recovery process involved. Like any type of surgery, you will need a few weeks to heal properly. Following your doctor's orders, and having an idea of what to expect, should help you recover as quickly as possible.
This procedure is typically an outpatient operation that can be finished within a few hours. You should not feel much during the surgery, but afterward you will probably feel some pain or discomfort. However, you will be given pain medication to manage it. If you can get the prescription from your surgeon before the face lift, you can fill it and then have it ready to go directly afterward, eliminating the need to stop by a pharmacy or wait around at the clinic after the operation.
Right after the operation, your doctor will put a large bandage around your head. You can expect to have heavy bruising and swelling for the first couple days of recovery. You will probably have drainage tubes attached to collect any excess blood, but you will likely be able to take these out after the first few days of recovery. Of course, you will still be swollen for several weeks, but you may feel up to going out and starting to resume your normal activities after about two weeks.
You are encouraged to relax for up to six weeks, as you are not advised to do any strenuous activities during that time. This means that if your job requires you to be active or particularly physical, you may have to take off more time than the average person does. Ask your doctor, describing your job description, if you are unsure of how much time to take off. Fortunately, most of the swelling and bruising should disappear within about three weeks, and you will likely see the results you wanted within a few months.
Of course, this means that you should not get a face lift just before any major social events or photo shoots. Instead, try to plan ahead and schedule it several months before you need the results. Though you will have to get through the recovery period first, a face lift should eliminate any wrinkles, fine lines, or other qualities that tend to make you look older. Therefore, for most people, the surgery is well worth it.