Do you think it's a good idea to massage your face and neck after a facelift? What are pros and cons of massaging at 4 weeks?

In my practice, I encourage patients to not massage their faces and necks.  This is because the substructures under the surface of the skin are adhering to each other, and this “shearing” that is caused by massaging can undo your result!  So, in my opinion, massaging is the opposite of helpful!  The only exception is that I will sometimes prescribe a lymphatic-drainage massage administered by an operating-room nurse in my practice, as she was present during your surgery and knows exactly what was done.  For safety’s sake, I do not recommend that the lymphatic drainage massage should be performed by anyone outside my practice, as it is possible the masseuse or masseur is not aware of the complexities of surgery, and what to do to speed (rather than hinder) healing . A lymphatic drainage massage, when done correctly, will promote healing and decrease facial swelling. For best results, please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience.

I encourage my patients to massage after facelift as I feel this helps with swelling.  We treat patients to lymphatic massages in our skin care center to assist with drainage.  Each physician has different views and you should follow the postop instructions of your physician.

I do encourage massaging certain areas in an upward circular motion to help reduce swelling. No harm can be done.