When can I go out in public without looking like I just had facelift surgery?

Recovery from a facelift takes many forms. Physical recovery. Social Recovery. Recovery of sensation. Because it is your face, the interruption in social activities is often the hardest part of the recovery.

Pain:

Most patients have only mild pain after a facelift and it is usually gone in one or two days. I give only Tylenol #3 since stronger medications are not needed.

Driving:

I allow patients to drive after 4 days if they are off pain meds. Before this, some mild neck stiffness may make driving safely more difficult since you may not turn your head as far to look for cars.

Swelling and Bruising:

Recovery from a facelift involves bruising (usually down low along the neck) and swelling which increases some each day for the first 4 days after surgery. On the 5th day after surgery this begins to improve rapidly and usually by the 7th or 8th day after surgery makeup can be applied. Patients often tell me with a scarf and some sun glasses they can run quick errands. At this stage they would not necessarily want to run into a close friend if they are trying to be discrete.

Dinner With Friends:

For a patient to sit down to dinner with friends and not be asked any questions, I believe it takes about two weeks. Occasionally a very dark bruise may not be completely gone but can be effectively covered with makeup. About 80 % of the swelling is gone so the remainder is hard to detect. Sometimes a slight change is hairstyle can be used to help explain away any differences a close friend might notice.

Exercise:

I ask patients to wait on exercise and heavy lifting until 3 weeks after surgery. Otherwise I don't limit their activities

Numbness:

Mild facial numbness seems to always go away completely but takes about 9 months. Fortunately this does not bother most patients especially once they realize its temporary.

Hi there!
Most patients are "socially presentable" 2-3 weeks after their facelift surgery. This is when the obvious swelling and bruising should subside. It is important to consider that incisions may still be obvious during this time and take time to heal/fade, however, if you have longer hair they are easily covered.

Hello, hope you are well. This is a very common question! Generally speaking, most patients feel publicly 'presentable' around 2 weeks after surgery. In my practice, surgical drains are removed 1 day after surgery, and sutures are removed 1 week after surgery. After that, bruising becomes the most visible sign of recent surgery. In most cases, by 2 weeks bruising is gone or only traces remain that can be easily concealed. Patients may begin wearing makeup at 2 weeks postop if they wish. Keep in mind that everyone is different in terms of their personal comfort level and the severity of bruising/swelling that occurs after surgery.
Best,Dr. Tower