Face Lift: What to Avoid During Recovery

If you are considering getting a face lift, you are probably curious about the recovery period. Your doctor will tell you what to expect well before the surgery, likely at the initial consultation. This way, you can be prepared for the recuperation time. However, it is nice to know what to avoid during recovery before you even schedule the procedure.

One of the first things to remember is that you cannot drive home after the face lift. You will have just undergone major surgery, and will still be feeling the effects of the anesthesia. Plus you might be on pain pills prescribed by your doctor, which you cannot ingest before driving. For these reasons, most doctors request that patients have a ride home from the operation, and they will not let you leave on your own. In addition, you should have someone look after you for a few days afterward since it will be hard to do things on your own. If someone cannot stay with you, at least have them stop by occasionally or call for the first few days of recovery to check if you need anything.

You are also advised not to lift anything heavy for several weeks after the face lift. If you are required to lift anything over about 25 pounds at work, you should either take about 6 weeks off, or request to perform another task until your doctor says you can lift heavy objects again. Consider telling your boss about this rule before the surgery so that he or she can tell you whether to take off work completely, or switch you to another position. If you do not obey this rule, you risk breaking open the incision, which can be painful and dangerous to your health if you do not see a doctor right away.

There are certain habits that you need to avoid during face lift recuperation. For example, you should not drink alcohol for the first few weeks since it is not good to mix it with pain medication. Wait until your surgeon says it is okay to start drinking again. The same goes for smoking cigarettes and taking ibuprofen or medicine with aspirin. Additionally, do not apply anything to your face, such as makeup or facial masks, and do not go to steam rooms or saunas since they can harm your facial skin as it is trying to heal.

It may seem like there is a lot you cannot do during recovery. However, the time will go fast, and the results are typically worth it to most patients. Your surgeon should tell you what you can and cannot do as you recover, but if you have questions, you should call the office and ask. Otherwise, you risk not completely recuperating from the operation, leading to revision surgery to fix the issues that result. If you want to feel as good as possible during recovery, and get the best result possible, you will follow these basic rules until your surgeon claims that you are recovered fully.