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My Face is Swollen After Deep Plane Facelift, When Will This And Bruising Subside? Worried About Returning To Work.

asked 5 months ago by swollen_and_bruised
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 403 times
Tags: 1 week post-op, bruising, deep plane, expectation, swelling

It's been 5 days since my facelift. My face is swollen and the chin area is swollen. And there is bruising. Brusing can be covered with makeup but not swelling. My plastic surgeon I could probably return to work in two weeks or maybe even sooner. He said that while I would be ready for "prime time" no one would really notice. I'm panicked because I'm reading the answers that my face will be swollen and bruised. I'll have to quit my job. I can't go back to work like this. Help!

20 answers to My Face is Swollen After Deep Plane Facelift, When Will This And Bruising Subside? Worried About Returning To Work.

Swelling after Facelift Surgery

Hello, Swelling after most facial surgeries takes a fair bit of time to completely resolve. I typically counsel my patients that after a lower lift, the most noticeable edema will resolve within the first few weeks. That being said, at six months there is still swelling which contributes volume to the cheeks which many patients find ideal. It is not until a full 10-12 months after surgery before I can confidently say that all of the postoperative swelling is gone... more

Christopher Kolstad, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

5 days post-op

5 days is still relatively early in healing process after your surgery. Swelling and bruising is common. There are still irritated nerves and tight muscles. Be patient and continue to follow up with your surgeon as directed.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift - Swelling After Deep Plane Facelift

It typically takes several weeks for most of the swelling to subside, and several months for all of it. Five days post-op is just about the worst time to have to make a judgment on how long it will take for things to settle down but I understand your concerns with this. You need to, of course, speak with your surgeon about any of the specifics. I usually tell my patients to plan on being out of work for 10-14 days, depending on exactly what they're having done. But... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Face lift swelling 5 days later with bruising

5 days is still really early. At this point you likely have around 10% of your healing. We usually tell people that they will have 60% of their healing / recovery complete by 6 weeks, 80-90% by 6 months. 100% can take as long as 2 years. This is based on wound healing studies and tensile breaking strength of a heal wound. The healing is actually a slower process that most people think but most of the healing will take place in a week and then one month. If you are swollen, steroids can... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Swelling after a facelift

The time that it takes for swelling to subside after a facelift is variable. Some factors are controllable like stopping Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, stopping Vitamin E and Green tea, and surgical technique and hemostasis. Sometimes, some patients just bruise and swell more than the average. Some things that I have found helpful are 1. Arnica Montana pills and cream 2. Vitamin C 3. Zinc Gentle facial massage Facial suspension... more

Raghu Athre, MD
Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.athresurgical.com

Facelift swelling is normal for up to 12 weeks

Most of my patients experience bruising and swelling for at least 4-8 weeks that is noticeable enough that they feel the need to camouflage and cover up. Between 8-12 weeks the signs are less noticeable, but some swelling still remains. To lesson your swelling AVOID any strenuous activity and bending over...and be patient, it will resolve soon enough. Best of Luck, Dr. Clevens

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drclevens.com

Swelling after face lift

At about 5 days out, you are at the peak of post-operative swelling. This is expected and normal, and will subside with time. I tell my patients not to schedule any big social events for the first month after a facelift. You can help it by: 1) keeping your head elevated, during the day and at night 2) using warm compresses 3) some physicians like arnica and bromelain supplements, although the data on these is a little weak. Check with your... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Swelling and Bruising 5 Days Post Deep Plane Facelift

The initial stage of healing which inclueds significant improvement in swelling and bruising usually takes about 2 weeks after a deep plane facelift. You can then resume relatively normal activities, but as your surgeon said you will not be ready for prime time for another 2-6 weeks. Don't quit your job, but talk to the surgeon who did your facelift.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift swelling and recovery

Facelift swelling and recovery time can be very significant concerns for any patient. What is of utmost importance, I believe, is during consultation provide a realistic description of what the recovery will be like. I like to do this by describing periods of recovery such as the immediate postoperative week when the patient is dealing with issues such as pain, wound care and sutures. The period of time after the sutures are removed and the following weeks are an anxious... more

James Wire, MD
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Healing

Thank you for your question. All healing occurs in the same stages but some of the stages take longer depending on the part of the body. Swelling and bruising in the face usually subsides (but does not disappear) rather quickly (within 2-4 weeks) but the healing process continues for 6 months to a year. The answer to your question depends on what type of work you do. If you are on TV or in the public eye, you may want to take off a significant amount of time, maybe even months. If you... more

Jacob Freiman, MD
Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon

Facelift healing time

A facelift can take up to 8 weeks and sometimes even longer to fully heal. Most of my patients are back to work with minimal surgical stigma after about 10-14 days. A deep plane facelift can take a bit longer. I would be patient, five days is far too soon to worry about swelling.

Todd C. Miller, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

My Face is Swollen After Deep Plane Facelift, When Will This And Bruising Subside? Worried About Returning To Work.

You'll need to ask the plastic and cosmetic surgeon that did your deep plane face lift. This is a very invasive face lift technique, IMO, with the possibility for prolonged swelling.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

My Face is Swollen After Deep Plane Facelift, When Will This And Bruising Subside? Worried About Returning To Work.

I agree with most of the expert posters. But in a "deep plane" FL I recommend a month to 6 weeks for full healing. There seems to be a miss understanding in healing time from your surgeon.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Lease see you surgeon for better answers

You are early post surgery and swelling will get better.The usual time for recovery is about two weeks .Please calm down and follow your surgeons instructions.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

5 days is a bit early to panic over bruising.

Presuming you have another 5 days or more. A lot of improvement will take place over the next 5 days or so. Ready for "Prime Time" no one is really ready for prime time 10 days after a facelift. We advise celebrity clients to put off TV appearances for at least 4 weeks and movie or photo sessions for 6 weeks. The camera will easily pick up traces of swelling. From most social situations that the average person will be dealing with, it really is... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Returning To Work After Deep Plane Facelift

If you have had a true deep-plane facelift, it is going to take much longer than you had hoped until you look reasonable in public. Keep in mind that it has been only 5 days since surgery and much improvement will occur by two weeks after surgery. But whether you will consider yourself presentable by then remains to be seen. Most patients will be able to return but not all will due to some persistent swelling. There is little you can do now other than to allow time and healing to take its... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Deep plane facelift and swelling

Swelling always subsides. deep plane lifts take longer. you can continue ice.. look into continous cooling systems , you can also ask your doctor about remedies such as medrol dospak

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.pacificcenterplasticsurgery.com

Deep plane facelift swelling may be more, but will resolve!

After only 5 days, any kind or type of facelift will cause swelling and varying degrees of bruising. By 2 weeks post-op, there will be substantial improvement, but each patient is individual in their amounts of initial swelling and bruising, as well as their body's abiity to reabsorb this. Here are a few things to do to help the healing process along: Avoid lifting, straining, or any strenuous activities that might raise your blood pressure or pulse--this could worsen the... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Swelling after a deep plane facelift

I prepare patients to be able to return to work after two weeks after a deep plane or composite facelift. However it will take longer for all of the swelling to resolve. Usually with deeper techniques there is less bruising but the more swelling. Be patient. Ask for help with make up in order to help change the hightlight areas of your swelling.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Swelling after a facelift

Please stay calm as it has only been 5 days and direct all your concerns back to your own surgeon. Getting your blood pressure up with anxiety will certainly increase your swelling, delay your healing and not help anything. So please let the doctor who did your surgery hold your hand through this process. You will probably look fine by 2 weeks but staying calm is vital.