During the sleep, a position on patient’s back should be always maintained with elevated head. However, the overall head dressing remains applied for three to five days after the surgery as instructed by the surgeon.
Swollen face and eyelids, occasionally even subcutaneous suffusion, belong to a normal post-surgery process in the initial days after the procedure. Also the body temperature may rise temporarily to 38 degrees for a day or two. Therefore it is necessary to avoid strenuous activities and apply cold compress on face and eyelids.
No post-surgery pain usually accompanies the facelift procedure, disagreeable is rather the discomfort caused by the bandage and by restricted possibilities of head positioning. Face swellings and bruises gradually recede and mostly disappear within a week from surgery.
When the bandage has been removed, it is necessary:
- Wash hair repeatedly, further healing usually takes place without bandage.
- Protect the face with a scarf during the night and during any brief stay outdoors.
Further checks and re-dressings after the bandage has been removed depend on instructions by the surgeon and on the healing situation, stitches are normally gradually removed within two weeks. During this period, it is also necessary to avoid strenuous activities and reduce the movements of head and neck. Physical load should be introduced gradually and a normal strain including physical exercise can be resumed in approximately one month from surgery. Making up is possible roughly a week after the removal of stitches, hair should not be dyed with dark shades until six weeks from surgery.
The recovery following a facelift surgery is highly individual and depends on the healing capabilities as well as on the overall approach of every patient.
After the basic healing achieved in ten to fourteen days, it is to be expected that the tissues of the face and neck need several additional weeks to become stabilized. Sensations of tension when moving and a disturbed fine touch sensitivity at the treated areas are a normal accompanying effect and will return to a normal situation in several weeks. Small swellings and skin infiltrations can appear temporarily, particularly in warmer periods of the year. Patient’s face should not be actively exposed to sun for at least two or three months from surgery. When staying on the sun, the face should be protected by means of suitable lotions with a higher sun protection factor.