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How Much Bandaging from Facelift?

asked 2 years ago by iluvchicago in chicago
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 3,117 times
Tags: age 45-54, face, female

I am an older mom (48). How much facial bandaging would be required for a face lift? Would I scare my children if I had too many bandages on my face? I would like to do this procedure while my husband is out of town and my kids are in school. I can hire a babsitter to pick them up, but they of course they would still see me bandaged. Please advise.

39 answers to How Much Bandaging from Facelift?

+1

Bandaging after a face lift varies from surgeon to surgeon.

 The dressing after surgery is bulky and is replaced with a smaller dressing in 24 hours. This is removed 2-3 days later. You will having swelling and bruising for 1-2 weeks but can be covered with makeup in 4-5 days.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+2

Bandaging after facelift

This varies from no bandaging at all to heavy bandaging. The important thing is that your family should know about it and support you during your recuperative period. Trying to hide this from your family is usually a mistake and can significantly detract from you overall experience.
Barry H. Dolich, MD

Bronx Plastic Surgeon
+2

Bandages following Facelift

The type and extent of bandages you will require following Facelift surgery will depend in large part on the extent of your surgery. For a full Facelift I would leave the bandages on for 24 hours and the day after surgery change the dressing to something smaller and remove any drains that were placed. The second part of your inquiry is a little more difficult to answer. Any trauma to your face that your children see will likely be disturbing to them. You may want to wait until your... more
Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do I need a bandage after a facelift?

Do I need a bandage after a facelift? Not necessarily. There is no one right answer whether or not you will have a huge bandage or none at all. The same goes for the presence of drains. I have done both and don't seem to see a huge difference between the two. I like the gentle support of a bandage but in patients that are claustrophobic I do not use them and have not seen problems as a consequence. Because the decision is individualized make sure to discuss this... more
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift dressings

There are a variety of philosophies regarding post-operative bandaging for facelift surgery. Rarely, will bandaging choice have an impact on the overall outcome of your surgery. I prefer to place a compression dressing for the first 24 hours along with a drain. In my opinion it expidites the healing process. After removal of the compression dressing we give our patients garments that they can take on and off. I recommend that they wear the garment at night fot 10-14 days. It is important... more
Todd C. Miller, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandages after a facelift

I personally do not use bandages after a face-lift, but the slight swelling and bruising can also be disconcerting. I think in general, if you are concerned about your appearance after the surgery, best to avoid all of the people you are concerned about for at least 5 days.
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

+1

Facelift bandages

The bandaging after a facelift is surgeon dependent. Some use more bandaging than others. Of course, your choice in surgeon or the type of surgery should not depend on the type of bandaging. The goal of the dressing is to apply pressure to the areas treated with the facelift to minimize any chances of getting a blood clot under the skin after surgery which usually happens the first night. The bandaging can scare very young children and even pets if they don't... more
Mike Majmundar, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging after Facelift

For the first twenty four hours after surgery I use a padded wrap to provide comfort and stability. This is removed the following morning and replaced with a smaller gauze wrap and then further in the week it is replaced with a small chin strap. We have many "mom" patients with the same concerns and it is best to have someone to assist the children for the first twenty four hours. Many of my patients stay in our private after care facility and are taken care of by our nurse who will return... more
Michael Elam, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

How much bandaging after facelift

For the first week after your surgery, you will likely have a lot of swelling, some bruising, and wear a bandage that goes around your chin, over your ears and over your head like a head band.  If you are concerned you may scare your children, you may be able to ask your plastic surgeon for an identical head band prior to your surgery and test it out.  I'm not a child psychologist - so it's just an idea, not a recommendation.  But, you may be able to see how your... more
Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging after facelift

I typically apply a compression dressing consisting of gauze pads that are held in place with an elastic type bandage.  This helps decrease the risk of hematoma and it also helps decrease the swelling afterwards.  This stays in place for 24 hours after surgery at which time the dressing is replaced and then left in place for another day or two.  I feel that this helps with the overall recovery, because it decreases the amount of swelling that occurs.  As you can see... more
P. Daniel Ward, MD

Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Postoperative car after facelift

As you can see from my colleagues answers, there is a wide variance in the postoperative care/management after facelift surgery.  But there are some common themes such as no heavy lifting or strenuous activity.  I generally keep a light dressing for 1 -2 days.  Bruising should be minimal but I do prepare patients (particularly those with very fair and thin skin) so see some bruising for 5-10 days.  This can be covered up with mineral based makeup.  It good... more
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

It depends on the type of facelift and your surgeon technique

The bandage used after surgery will depend on the surgical procedure and the surgeons technique for dressing changes. Face lift procedures vary widely as to the aggressiveness.  Acomplete face lift which include eyebrow lift eyelid and a lower facelift/necklift.  this is a long procedure and usually requires a bandage around the neck for light compression to prevent bleeding nd to reduce swelling. If a lower facelift is done only, a dressing is worn but the bruising is... more
Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.dr-delgado.com

+1

Bandaging stays on just overnight

My patients have a light dressing which is held in place with light compression for the first night after surgery only. I see all of my patients the next morning and remove the bandage at that time. I use the bandage mostly to protect the surgery sites from accidental manipulation by the patient, who every now and again, can be a little groggy after sedation/anesthesia. Although I understand your apprehension, the bandage has never ended up being a real issue for my post-op Facelift... more
Haresh Yalamanchili, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Light Bandages Overnight with Facelift

Facelift bandages I believe serve the purpose of keeping the patient's hands away from the suture lines and drains overnight while the patient is initially recovering.  I apply a light bandage to serve this function and always place drains overnight that exit behind the hairline.  The light dressing and drains are removed the next morning, allowing the patient's hair to be washed in my office.  For patient safety and comfort, I like my facelift patients to stay... more
Daniel Shapiro, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

shapiroplasticsurgery.com

+1

Bandaging after Facelift

The amount of bandaging for a Facelift and the number of days in bandages varies according to individual surgeon's preference. I currently use a few absorbent pads secured with elastic netting the first night, then switch to an elastic facial support for a few days, thereafter. Your concerns about managing your home situation during recovery are very important. A good operation can be ruined by a bad recovery. A Facelift (or any surgical procedure) is an important life event.... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandages after a facelift

I usually palce a light head wrap on after the procedure which I then remove in 24-48 hours.  After that the dressing is removed and all you have remaining are some sutues that are removed within a week to ten days.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging following a facelift is mainly to protect you from yourself

Bandaging following a facelift is mainly to protect you from yourself early following surgery.  This is especially true following general anesthesia.  Surgeons do not want patients to scratch or pull at their skin or drains if used.  Most surgeons do not use bandages for 'compression'.  Bandages are usually removed the first or second day postoperatively.
Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorgrover.com

+1

Scary Bandages Following Facelift Surgery

As you can see from the multitude of answers, some surgeons use bandages and some do not. I think a majority of surgeons, however, do use a bandage in the first 1-2 days. Thereafter, I happen to use a much lighter compression wrap that patients can take on and off themselves. Given how unusual the bandages look, your children would most certainly notice something unusual that might even frighten them. Even when the bigger bulkier bandages come off, you will still look like you have had a... more
John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Faclift bandage and dressing

When I perform full facelifts, I typically bandage the patients with a wrap-around dressing for the first 3 days. With midfacelifts, the dressing is usually on for just 2 days. I advise patients that by the 6th to 7th day, they are for the most part presentable perhaps with a bit of makeup as indicated to conceal bruising.
Jeffrey Epstein MD, FACS

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging Needs to Be There

During a facelift procedure, the face is lifted and swelling can occur.  In order to minimize swelling and avoid a hematoma, a simple pneumonic to help remember some of the basic steps can be helpful called RICE. Rest Ice Compression- This is the Bandage which is applied to the face Elevation The bandage serves to minimize swelling and hematoma.  Placement of the size and type of bandage is at the discretion of the surgeon.  I place an cotton dressing with... more
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift bandages

I personally use a head dressing over the first night and a velcro chin strap for the rest of a week.  I'd suggest that you have this done when your husband is in town so you have the maximum support necessary for a great recovery.   This is real surgery, not just a little procedure so set up your optimal recovery.  Most times, when kids see that you are fine, they don't really worry much about the rest of the healing process.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging after Facelift

Bandages after a facelift are bulky for 24 hours. In our practice, patients stay in a recovery facility the first night, so your children will not see this. Another smaller dressing is in place for2-3 days; sutures are removed 6-7 days post-op. Our aesthetician teaches patients how to camouflage the bruising after the bandages are removed.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging no longer needed for a facelift

Bandaging is no longer needed for a facelift. That went out over ten years ago and is no longer used except on plastic surgery shows on television. The bandaging is used for T.V. drama. We do place two Jackson-Pratt drains underneath the skin in the neck, which stays in for two days after the surgery. It is important that you have some help in your postoperative recovery phase for the first one week since it is not a good idea to be driving back and forth to your postoperative... more
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Facelift bandages

The dressing applied after a facelift is surgeon dependent, and for the most part continuously evolves over time. I have not yet met a surgeon who has not changed the way they bandage a facelift over time. For the most part, the bulky and functional bandages are there for the first 24 hours. Also depends on whether drains were used. My concern is your family situation; I am an advocate that your spouse should be aware of your decision to face a facelift and be there to help. Depending on the... more
Edmon Pierre Khoury, MD

Dubai Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facial Appearance After Facelift Not Suitable for Young Children

The bandage after the facelift can be bulky and all around the face. There can be bruising around the face too. It is best to avoid interacting with young children for the first two days after the surgery. Usually after the first 48hours a bandage is not necessary and face looks presentable in most cases. It also helps to prepare children by talking without too many medical details. Regards see video
Tanveer Janjua, MD

Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandages after Facelift vary with the surgeon

Hi there- There is a lot of variability between surgeons in the way they prefer to apply bandages after any procedure, but generally the initial dressing should be expected to be fairly bulky (think of the bandages people used to wear for the Mumps). In my practice, we typically would change these to much less bulky elastic bandages that you can don and remove yourself to wash, etc at your first postoperative visit. Ask your surgeon what he/she prefers. 
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Preparing your children for your facelift

I really wouldn't worry about scaring the kids, but I think its a great idea to be proactive and discuss it with them frankly.  First, I would recommend that you not try to influence your surgeon to modify or reduce his (her) typical dressing.  If there is still time, get some gauze from the pharmacy and wrap your head to show your kids what you will look like.  And keep your mood fun and upbeat.  Explain to them simply what is being done so you are... more
Joseph Rabson, MD

Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift bandaging is important to a degree

Plastic surgeons vary in terms on how much bandaging they do. I personally do not like to rely on bandaging to hold the skin down and prevent fluid accumulation. When your bandages are too tight, you can create a situation where your skin doesn't get blood flow as easily and readily. This can put your skin at risk for having problems like skin partially not surviving. I usually use drains to do this, and they have been scientifically proven over many studies to benefit decreasing blood... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandages are required for facelift surgery, but only for a short time

Every surgeon bandages patients differently. In general, facelift dressings are large and soft to absorb drainage from the incisions and to provide gentle padding to support the delicate tissues which have been operated. The dressing usually comes off within a day of the surgery, but bruising and swelling may persist for several days up to 2 weeks, depending on how you heal and on what surgery was done. This might also be frightening to children who are unprepared. I believe it is important... more
Elizabeth Lee, MD

Bay Area Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging from facelift

It is a personal preference of the operating surgeon. You should discuss this issue in your preop evaluation. I personally wrap for 24 hours. Than I see the patient the next day to wrap. Regards.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

The bandage after facelift is just for one night

After facelift it is important to relax and stay quiet, minimal visiting or telephone time, to reduce the swelling and risk of bruising. In our practice we use a wrap over the cheeks and neck which cover the whole head. By doing so the padded dressing will stay in place and be comfortable to lay on. The very next day the dressing is taken off in the office, and our patients are allowed to go home and shower and gently begin to wash out their hair. There is no dressing needed after day one,... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging after Facelift

The thing you should be concerned about is not the bandaging, but your postoperative recovery. Granted, at your age, a facelift can be an outpatient procedure and has a rapid recovery. However, do not expect to come home and do anything except lay down with your feet up and rest. Even if you feel great immediately after surgery, we do not want you active, since anything you do can possibly increase your risks of bleeding under the surface. I would, therefore, highly recommend that you do... more
Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift dressing

As others have said, most surgeons will use a bulky dressing. However, it can be covered with a scarf, preferably something the kids have not seen which is upbeat and will take their attention to the scarf. Before the surgery, tell them you will be seeing them next with a funny thing on your face. They will have the expectation of looking for that and not the dressing. If they are young, bring something home for them (small gift) to get involved with so they quickly go onto something else... more
Nathan Mayl, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

The bandage is a bit dramatic for the first day or two

Dear Iluv The dressing that is typically used is called a turban. It wraps around the top of the head, around the side of the face and chin and down the neck. This allows light compression on the areas that have been operated on. In addition, your surgeon may also place a drain with a large bulb that sometimes gets safety pinned to the turban.  The drain is generally removed in 24 or 48 hours.  I personally take the dressing down after 24 hours, inspect the face and replace it with... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging from facelift

Most surgeons will use a bulky dressing that gives a moderate, even compression to the areas of the face that were lifted.  In many cases your head is wrapped like a mummy.  This bulky dressing also helps minimize the ability to move the head, which decreases the chance of the wounds shearing and causing bleeding. Please realize that you will need help post operatively. Having no one home with you (ie, your husband is out of town), is not recommended. Remember, you've had surgery... more
Ricardo Izquierdo, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after a Facelift

The bandages used after a facelift surgery will vary based upon the surgeon performing the facelift. However, most surgeons will use a light compression dressing afterwards for at least the first 24 hours, if not for 48 hours. In addition, some face lift specialists will use drains for the neck. We tend to only do this a small percentage of the time. In the video below you will see one of my patients after her facelift with the bandage on. see video
Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

No bandage after facelift

You may need no dressing after your Facelift depending on the type of Facelift you have. With the use of Fibrin glue which is like a crazy glue made for the human body we use no dressings after a Facelift because the glue keeps the skin flaps sealed down which prevents fluid collections. The reason we use pressure wraps is to keep the skin flaps sealed down so there will be no fluid collections but the use of fibrin glue will serve the same purpose as the bandages.
Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Bandaging after a Facelift

The extent of bandaging after a Facelift varies with each surgeon and with the TYPE of Facelift performed by the surgeon. Commonly, the initial dressing is bulky and is meant to apply gentle pressure and support over the areas which were undermined to promote adherence and reduce swelling. It is usually replaced with a much smaller dressing or strap in 24-48 hours. As to the "scaring little children" part of your question - it is safe to say that every facial surgery results in... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Face lift dressings

Every surgeon varies their dressings and even among the same surgeon dressings will vary based on the extent of the procedure. Generally speaking, most surgeons apply a bulky dressing for the first 24 hours. After this dressings will be changes and typically transitioned to a smaller elastic garment and sometimes no garment. Drains are usually removed at the first visit. The worst swelling is for the first 3-4 days. Bruising may last for 3 weeks.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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