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How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Facelift?

A facelift is a popular cosmetic surgery that reduces the signs of aging on the face by tightening sagging skin and smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. The procedure can take years off of one’s appearance face and reveal a more youthful-looking glow. Still, the results are not just aesthetic, considering many patients report an increase in self-confidence after having a facelift. In fact, the physical and mental changes that take place after a facelift make it a truly life-changing procedure for those who elect to have it. Prospective patients often wonder, “How long does it take to recover from a facelift?” We share a helpful outline of the recovery process below.

 

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Facelift?

Before undergoing a facelift, it is essential to understand the recovery timeline. The entire process takes around one month, but each patient’s recovery is unique. You will notice postoperative symptoms right away, but they will gradually improve as time passes. By the fourth week, most patients are back to their daily routine. Still, it is important to avoid strenuous activities or exercise until your surgeon fully clears you.

 

Recovery Timeline After A Facelift

The recovery timeline for a facelift lasts between four to six weeks, though the exact time frame depends on the unique qualities of the patient. The final results of a facelift will continue to settle until about the six-month mark after the procedure. Continue reading to find the various stages of the recovery process and what to expect during each.

 

Day of Facelift Surgery

The day of surgery will be the most intense in terms of your symptoms. However, you can effectively manage these through medication and rest. You will likely be drowsy due to the anesthesia, so you may not remember everything, though long-term memory complications associated with anesthesia are rare. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common, but they are entirely normal and will gradually get better over time. The first 24 hours are crucial for recovery, so you will need to focus on rest. Make sure to have someone there to take care of you during this first day.

 

Week 1 Post-Facelift

Your body is focused on healing during the first week. Surgery can be a lot on your body, so rest can help you recover with ease. You will experience tightness and discomfort in your face due to swelling. You can manage this discomfort with medication, but the swelling and bruising should subside within the first week. It is important to avoid strenuous movement during this period.

 

Weeks 2 and 3 Post-Facelift

Patients typically notice the most rapid improvement during this period. In fact, by the end of this period, your symptoms, including bruising and intense swelling, should completely subside. You will also be able to move around with significantly more ease at this point. It is still important to take it easy, but you should have more energy and feel better around this time. Your surgeon will likely recommend a postoperative follow-up appointment during this period. It is essential to attend this appointment so your surgeon can monitor your progress.

 

Weeks 4 Through 6 Post-Facelift

Most patients are back to their daily routine by the end of week four. You will have slight swelling, but your scars will have begun to fade. While you may need to take it easy, you should be able to get back to regular exercise around the one-month mark as well. Avoid strenuous exercise or other activities until your surgeon clears you. Your results will be clearly recognizable by this point, but it can take up to six months for your full results to settle in.

 

Facelift Procedure

The first step in moving forward with a facelift is scheduling a consultation with a celebrity plastic surgeon. Contact the team at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery today to schedule yours.

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How to Maintain Facelift Results

Let us look at how to maintain facelift results. A facelift procedure has the potential to give patients a very high level of renewed appearance by tightening and enlivening the skin and muscles of the face. This has made it one of plastic surgery’s most requested procedures since its inception. 

However, like most plastic surgery procedures, if you want to keep your results looking their best, then it pays to learn a little bit about the best ways to preserve your results.

How to Maintain Facelift Results

If you’re considering receiving a facelift or have recently received one, take a look at this overview that describes the best ways to preserve your results.

Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure

Exposing your skin to excessive amounts of sun can be very detrimental to your skin, and compromise your results before their time. You can protect yourself against the negative effects of sun exposure by wearing protective clothing, consistently wearing hats, and using sunscreen when you go outside. In addition, you should avoid venturing outside during peak daylight hours, when the sun is strongest.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is very hazardous for your health in several different ways, including in the way it impacts your skin. Smoking can reduce blood circulation and increase the risk of complications after surgery. Quitting smoking will inevitably lead to improved health over time and help you to preserve your results.

Employ a Thorough Skincare Routine

You can help extend your results by consistently employing high-quality skincare products. You can discuss with your physician what types of products would be most beneficial for you with your physician as you’re walked through the facelift procedure process. Exfoliation, moisturizers, and other techniques should be looked into.

Enjoy a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is also something that can benefit you and your facelift results. Packing your body with essential nutrients and vitamins can help reduce skin-damaging impacts from inflammation and sun damage. Fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can only benefit someone who’s attempting to preserve their results for longer.

Get Plenty of Rest

Sleep is another essential part of health that can help you preserve your skincare results. While you sleep, your skin and the rest of the organs of your body repair and regenerate. Getting plenty of adequate sleep should be considered essential for preserving your facelift results.

Research Cosmetic Injectables

Sometimes, applying injectable treatments from dermal fillers can help to enhance and maintain your plastic surgery results. Injectables have the potential to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and restore volume lost by the wear and tear of life.

Watch Your Weight

If you have excessive amounts of weight fluctuation, either in gaining or losing weight, it may affect the appearance of your face in the long run. Maintaining a steady weight through a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can help you to maintain your results for longer.

Follow Your Doctor’s Advice

As with any medical procedure of import, your surgeon will provide you with some detailed post-operative instructions that are crucial for ensuring that you maintain the highest level of quality for your results. Following these instructions and attending all of the follow-up appointments they instruct for you should remain essential.

In addition, you should try to schedule at least a couple of follow-up procedures with your surgeon just to receive some checkups. This will help to ensure that you stay on track with your recovery process.

What to Do if Your Results Start to Fade

A facelift can provide an individual with a major revision in terms of the vivacity of their appearance. Despite this, it remains important to remember that your skin will continue to age in its natural way. This may find you returning to the surgery clinic if the proper steps remain not taken to preserve your results.

Although this doesn’t have to be the end of the world, if your results begin to lose their freshness, there are options available. You should return to your surgeon to discuss the best path forward for preserving or restoring your results before they degrade too severely. By keeping track of the quality of your results, you can assist your surgeon in making a plan for restoring them.

The Beverly Hills Center for Quality Facelifts

Beverly Hills Center for Plastic Surgery is one of the best resources for receiving a facelift procedure. If you’re considering undergoing this type of treatment for yourself, contact us today to find out why we’re considered the best place for plastic surgery in Beverly Hills.