Facelift Recovery Tips

A face lift procedure can make you look younger and more like yourself, but it is also a surgical procedure and must be treated as such. This means you need to pay special care to your post-op recovery. The following tips can help ensure you recover well and ensure your facelift heals as planned.

Tip #1: Understand how to care for the dressings

When you come home, you will have bandages in place on the surgical site. These are known as wound dressings. Care methods for the dressings vary depending on the exact procedure as well as your surgeon's preferences. In some cases, you may be instructed to leave the dressings alone and to come in for removal or changing. In other cases, you or a caregiver may be given specific instructions on how often to changes the dressings. Make sure you are clear on the needs so you can follow through properly.

Tip #2: Stick to soft foods

Your face is covered in muscles that can disturb the incision sites when you chew. To cut down on the need to chew during recovery, stock up on soft or liquid foods, like soups, puddings, and well-cooked meats and vegetables. You may also need to avoid straws, since the puckering motion can affect some types of incision sites. If you are unsure, speak with the surgeon for recommendations.

Tip #3: Take a few days off

The gym can wait a few days while you heal. Exercising, heavy lifting, and anything else that requires a lot of effort or causes you to break a sweat should be avoided until your doctor gives you the all clear. Exercise can cause stress on incision sites that are trying to heal. Heat and sweating can also affect healing, since when you are hot your recovery areas are more likely to swell. This can lead to popped stitches or other issues.

Tip #4: Follow through on medications

You will be provided with medications from your doctor to take as you recover from your facelift. Any antibiotics should be taken exactly as prescribed until the prescription is gone; otherwise they will not work properly. Pain killers should only be taken as need and never more than the amount recommended by your doctor. Any other medications, such as an anti-diuretic prescribed to minimize swelling, should be taken as directed.

For more help, talk to a plastic surgeon in your area.