(703) 924-3144Your recovery from your facelift procure will depend on factors including your body’s natural ability to heal, how well you follow postoperative care instructions, and the type of facelift you have. For example, a mini facelift may only require a 48 hour recovery, whereas a full facelift could take one or more months.
During your initial consultation with board-certified Virginia plastic surgeon, Dr. Eric Desman, what you can expect following your facelift will be covered in greater detail. The following is a generalization of recovery following a traditional facelift.
A facelift is an invasive surgical procedure conducted while you are under general anesthesia. You will need to arrange a ride home from the hospital. You can expect to be groggy and require rest for up to 24 hours following your procedure. Make sure you have arranged for help as needed.
There will be some pain in the first few weeks. This can be dealt with by taking medications prescribed by Dr. Desman. In addition to pain medications, you will need to take an antibiotic to reduce your risk for skin infections.
Bruising and swelling are common for up to one month. Swelling can be reduced by taking several walks during the day. Walking will also reduce your risk for deep vein thrombosis and blood clots. Bruising will subside naturally as you continue to heal.
You should be able to return to work within 2 weeks. At this time, swelling and bruising should have subsided sufficiently to apply makeup without irritation. However, more strenuous activities such as aerobic exercise or heavy lifting will need to wait until you are given the go ahead from Dr. Desman.
The final results of your facelift may not be apparent for up to 4 months. This may seem like a long period of time but remember, your facelift can provide a more youthful and attractive appearance for up to 10 years. This makes the initial recovery time almost negligible.
If you have questions about facelift recovery and live in the areas of Washington D.C. or Northern Virginia, including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fairfax County and Springfield, Virginia, please contact the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Desman today.