How long does it take to heal from a Facelift and Necklift?

There are a couple of ways to answer your question. I tell patients that they will be out and about in public in 7-10 days, with cover-up make up. I call this social recovery. It takes an additional six months or so to completely recover to the point that there is no tenderness or swelling

Every patient heals at their own pace. On average, I find that most of the visible signs of surgery have resolved in the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. This may vary based on patient medical issues, the type of face/neck lift performed, and how well patients follow the pre and post-op instructions. The healing that takes place underneath the skin can take up to a year.  That being said, it is worth a visit to your surgeon to take a look at any underlying causes of the soreness that you are feeling such as inflammation of the incisions. 

Thanks for the question. It takes 2-4 weeks for your body to recover and return to daily life without any problems. I wish you all the best.

Thank you for your question. Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. In facelift surgery, the costs vary quite a bit from a mini facelift to a complex facelift with forehead lift, eyelid surgery and perhaps an implant or laser resurfacing. Please see our Payment Options page under About Us.

We always present our plastic surgery consultation patients with a “fee quote.” This fee includes:

Surgeon’s professional feeFacility feeAnesthesia feeIt does not include any laboratory tests, preoperative examinations, garments or postop prescriptions. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

Usually, tenderness, tightness, and soreness will resolve within 2 months. I do not know if you had open wounds with delayed healing, but I would consult with your surgeon. This is unusual. With time, your symptoms should resolve, but when they are this prolonged, the process will be slow. I have seen several patients for a second opinion with prolonged symptoms. Sometimes massage, ultrasound, physical therapy, or other treatments can improve the situation. Although it is a difficult problem, symptoms have always improved with time in my experience.

Thanks for your question. The localized tenderness you're feeling is quite normal, even 4 months after facelift surgery. The incisions and surrounding areas are usually the last part of the face to fully heal after surgery. As long as the pain is not severe enough to prevent you from enjoying your regular activities, there's no cause for alarm. If you still don't feel an improvement after another month or so, though, please reach out to your surgeon. Best of luck to you.

Healing following a facelift involves multiple stages, and it can take 6 months to a year before short-term side effects completely disappear. Swelling, bruising, and numbness typically resolve earlier in the healing process. The areas behind the ears may remain tender, sore, and tight for 6 months or more. The recovery process is gradual, and it can be difficult to be patient. If the symptoms persist for several more months without any noticeable improvement, you should consider contacting your plastic surgeon. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

Thank you for the question. At four months, the majority of the healing should be done. Depending on the approach that was used and the exact type of surgery performed, you may have some small areas that are not yet "finished." If the soreness is specific to a certain area, especially if this area is inflamed or irregular, it should be examined by your surgeon. Best of luck and take care.

Thank you for your question. Healing after a facelift is usually pretty straight forward.  There is a process of swelling and bruising that peaks at 3 days after surgery and then undergoes the first stage of major resolution in the first 2 weeks after surgery.  The later phase of healing takes place over the 2-3 months after surgery where everything really settles and softens.  It is after this time that we are getting close to the final result, though this varies patient to patient. 

Hello and thank you for your question. Every patient heals different.  At four months, you should be back to normal.  I recommend returning to your surgeon and having an evaluation.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon