Facelift Recovery
Conveniently located to serve Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, and Redmond
During your consultation, Dr. Daniel Liebertz will prepare you for your facelift recovery in Bellevue. Following Dr. Liebertz’s instructions as closely as possible will help to ensure a comfortable recovery process with a minimized chance of complications. This will go a long way towards providing optimal facelift results.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)
Discomfort and pain may be experienced during rhytidectomy recovery. Traditionally, these issues have been addressed with narcotic medications (opioids). However, the side effects involved with narcotics are far from desirable; confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and breathing issues may occur. Opioids can also be incredibly addictive.
To avoid these issues, we provide an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. This avoids the side effects of narcotics to provide an even more comfortable recovery process. Narcotics are minimized during the facelift, and non-narcotic pain relievers are used during recovery.
Before their facelift, patients take celecoxib (anti-inflammatory pain reliever), gabapentin (nerve pain reliever), ondansetron (anti-nausea medication), and acetaminophen (central-acting pain reliever).
For three to five days after the facelift, they continue use of celecoxib, gabapentin, and acetaminophen, along with ondansetron and tramadol as needed.
Swelling, Bruising, and Infections
Expect swelling and bruising immediately following your facelift procedure. These will fade over the coming weeks. To treat these issues, cold compresses are recommended. A light compression dressing will also be in place for the first night, ensuring minimized swelling.
Another way to prevent exacerbated swelling is keeping your head elevated at all times for around two weeks. Using pillows to prop up your head while you sleep will help with this.
Antibiotics will be prescribed to help avoid infections during your rhytidectomy recovery process. Incisions always carry an increased chance of infection, so taking proper care of your incisions is vital.
Activity Restrictions During Facelift Recovery
Activity restrictions must be followed closely during facelift recovery. These restrictions prevent infections, trauma to incisions, and exacerbation of swelling and bruising.
Arrange for time off from work in advance. Typically, around two weeks away from work will be necessary, depending on the specific facelift technique performed.
Patients can resume washing their hair two days after their facelift. They must avoid applying makeup for at least ten days.
Physically taxing activities like cardio exercises, lifting heavy objects, heavy exercise routines, and sports should be avoided for four weeks.
It’s best not to use steam rooms, steam face masks, or saunas during recovery. This will prevent exacerbated facial flushing.
Do not take any blood thinners for at least two weeks. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), vitamin E, fish oil, and alcohol. Supplements that contain niacin, niacinamide, or niacinamate should also be avoided.
Post-Facelift Follow-Up Appointments
Post-operative appointments are an incredibly important part of the facelift recovery process. It’s vital that you attend all required follow-up appointments with Dr. Liebertz to ensure a safe and healthy recovery.
Follow-up appointments allow Dr. Liebertz to evaluate the incision healing process and to address any post-surgical complications quickly and effectively. If you are experiencing any complications, make sure to write them down to be discussed and addressed.
You will come in for your first follow-up appointment the day after your facelift procedure. Dr. Liebertz will change your bandages, remove any drains, examine your incisions, and evaluate swelling.
In around five to seven days from the date of surgery, you will return for another post-operative appointment. At this time, sutures will be taken out, and incision healing will again be evaluated.
Subsequent follow-up appointments will be necessary to ensure proper healing and reduction of swelling. These appointments will allow Dr. Liebertz to clear you for a return to certain activities and to evaluate the full results of the facelift procedure.
Find Out More About Facelift Recovery
The best way to learn more about facelift recovery in Bellevue is by meeting with Dr. Daniel Liebertz. Set up a consultation by contacting Liebertz Plastic Surgery at Yarrow Bay today.