Facelift – Common conditions that may occur during the initial healing process include: swelling, discomfort, and numbness. These symptoms can be mitigated with proper medication and cold compresses. Your skin might also look bruised or discolored and facial movements may be temporarily limited.
It is important that you to keep your head elevated until the initial swelling has subsided. Your surgeon and his staff will give you very specific directions to follow after the operation. This may include how to cleanse your face and hair. Be sure to follow all instructions very carefully in order to maximize the results of your facelift. Within a few days, you should be able to go back to light, normal activity. On average, the incisions from a facelift are fairly healed after one week. In 2 to 4 weeks, you should be able to cover up any bruising with cosmetics and return to work.
The healing process will continue for several weeks as the swelling dissipates and the incision lines become less obvious. Until you are completely healed, you need to be diligent about using sun protection in order to prevent skin discoloration. Continue to go to follow-up visits as scheduled and follow your plastic surgeon’s directions.
Facelift – Results and Outlook
Although this is a major procedure, remember that it can take up to 6 months for you to completely heal. Your younger looking face will slowly appear as your wounds fade away. In order to maintain your investment in this more youthful appearance, make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle and wear sun protection long after you’ve recovered. The benefits of the facelift and your continued care will be worthwhile as you continue to age.
Facelift – Choosing the Right Surgeon
Electing to undergo a facelift is a very important decision so it’s important to pick the right plastic surgeon. Two key things to look for in a plastic surgeon are board certification and privileges.
Board certification is granted by one of two organizations: The American Board of Plastic Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Only these two organizations can certify physicians to perform plastic surgery of the face and entire body. In order to be certified, doctors must:
- Graduate from an accredited medical school
- Complete five years minimum of surgical training after medical school. This includes an accredited plastic surgery residency program.
- Pass all-inclusive written and oral exams
In addition to board certification, your surgeon should also have operating privileges at an accredited local hospital specifically for the procedure you plan on undergoing, for example, facelift surgery. This is highly recommended even if your surgeon can complete the procedure at an ambulatory surgery center or an accredited office-based surgical facility.