This is the fifth day of my facelift. I'm swollen and a little pulled & bruised. My question is, is it normal to feel tired?

Question

This is the fifth day of my face lift. Im of course swollen and a little pulled and bruised but my question is is it normal to feel tired ( very hard to sleep upright).? It seems i have discomfort breathing too. Feels heavy. My insides feel beat up. Is this natural. When will i notice a significance difference in my looks. Fifth day...what is expected? Thank you for your time. Any cream I should use on face?????

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

It is normal to be tired post surgical procedure.  However, because you mentioned discomfort while breathing, I recommend you consult with your surgeon for his/her guidance.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

After any significant operation such as a facelift the body invests its energy in the business of healing. Patients commonly feel lethargic and occasionally even feel depressed. This passes within a week or so.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

It is normal to feel tight and uncomfortable.  If you had general anesthesia you may still feel pretty tired.  It would be unusual to have difficulty breathing.  Some people just have a hard time sleeping with the head elevated. YOu should check with your surgeon and  your medical doctor about the breathing.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

It is perfectly normal to have some swelling and bruising 5 days after a facelift and the swelling can cause the face to appear pulled.  It is also not uncommon to have some fatigue after surgery, but this can also depend on the type of anesthesia used during the procedure. The discomfort in breathing is not something that normally occurs, so I would contact your surgeon to let him or her know about that and see if he or she would like to evaluate you. The swelling and bruising you have should begin to gradually resolve at this point and you should start to see some improvement in your appearance as this occurs.  I would also ask your surgeon about any creams to use on your face, since he or she is directing your care.

Michael Petrosky, MD · Answer

Feeling tired five days after facelift surgery is not unusual.  Our bodies spend more energy healing after surgery than people realize.  Your energy level will return to normal but this can take several weeks.More concerning to me is your complaint of difficulty breathing.  A serious complication after any surgery can be pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs).  This needs to be evaluated urgently in any post-op patient.  Your plastic surgeon needs to be aware of this promptly and don't wait until your next scheduled visit.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Yes, it is pretty normal to be tired after a surgical procedure. Patients do not realize that their bodies expend a lot of energy healing.

Scott Shadfar, MD · Answer

Hello Ihtak46, Thank you for your question.Without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of any further treatments it is difficult to be comprehensive.You are still very early in the postoperative period. The fatigue is expected as your body tries to heal after the surgery.  The discomfort in breathing is not something that would be expected after a facelift, and I would contact your surgeon to evaluate you.  In terms of the swelling and bruising this should begin to come down over the next week and you will start to see the benefits of the surgery.I wold continue the wound care regimen your surgeon has recommended.Best of luck, DrS

This is the fifth day of my facelift. I'm swollen and a little pulled & bruised. My question is, is it normal to feel tired?

Answers (7)

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