When can I color my hair after a facelift? Is there any way to help speed up weakness after surgery?

Question

Hi , i may not color my hair 8 weeks after a FL but is it ok to color it 2 days before? When I had my TT 2 years ago the first days were really tough. I felt weak and down. Was this due to the medicine used gor putting me to sleep and the long surgery. Maybe it takes 3-4 days before the medicine to leave the body? Can I do anything to speed up this? I will have a FL soon..

Mark Hamilton, MD · Answer

I let my patients color their hair up to 48 hours before surgery and ask them to refrain from coloring it again for 4 weeks. I would, however, discuss this with your surgeon as all of us have our own guidelines.Lethargy after cosmetic surgery is not uncommon. It seems to be related both to anesthesia and the recovery process. Discuss this with both your anesthesiologist and your surgeon. Anesthesia can be adjusted. Also, your surgeon may have recommendations such as decreasing pain meds, increasing supplements and more movement after the first 48 hours of recovery. All of these things may be beneficial to improve your recovery.

Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS · Answer

I generally advise folks not to color their hair for 4-6
weeks postoperatively following a facelift.In my opinion, no problem to color your hair several days prior to the
operation.I wish the best of luck.

E. Ronald Finger, MD · Answer

Yes, you may color your hair two days before surgery, providing no harsh chemicals are used that will irritate your scalp. If you are healing normally, you may color your hair a month postoperatively. It's best to ask your plastic surgeon, since he is responsible for your surgery and recovery.Regarding the weakness that you felt following your TT, that was a big operation and is tough to ambulate soon after surgery. Also you are generally in a slightly bent over position for the first 3 to 4 days. With a facelift you may be "down" for a different reason. You will look at yourself and wonder if you ever look normal again. You will have bruising and swelling. The maximum swelling is usually the second day, so consider yourself forewarned.Once you order through the swelling and bruising stage, I feel certain you will be delighted. I strongly suggest you seek a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Good luck.

Francisco Canales, MD · Answer

In our practice we allow patients to color their hair 48 hours before surgery and have them wait at least 6 weeks after surgery. Everyone has their own opinion, so please ask your surgeon for his/her advice. Best wishes.Below is a fully healed facelift patient.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

You can color your hair 48 hours before surgery and then again two to three weeks after surgery depending on how you feel. The chemicals in hair color will not adversely affect any healing incisions at that point.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In our practice, patients are able to  color their hair up to a few days prior to the surgery. We ask the patients  to wait at least 3 weeks after the surgery before applying any further hair color, to give the incisions time to heal.

Sohel Islam, MD · Answer

Coloring your hair 2 days prior to the facelift should be ok. You should check with your surgeon to make sure he/she approves. It is common to feel weak or less energetic following surgical procedures. This is usually a result of your body undergoing the anesthesia and surgery. You should pay attention to eating right and exercising prior to surgery. There is no evidence that supplements help speed up recovery.

Robert T. Buchanan, MD (retired) · Answer

As long as you have no reaction to the hair coloring, it should be safe to color it up to about 2 days before surgery. I usually let people color it after surgery about a week after the wound becomes completely healed and closed. This generally takes about 1-2 weeks. Any surgery and anesthesia will make you weak post operatively. Since a tummy tuck is a much bigger operation with more area needing to heal, you should have less problem with a facelift and be back to most light activities within several days. The best way to get back to normal is to eat a protein rich diet for the several days before the procedure and continue it for a week or two afterwards. If you know of any drug that used problem last time, discuss it with your anesthesiologist before surgery.

When can I color my hair after a facelift? Is there any way to help speed up weakness after surgery?

Answers (8)

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