I tell my patients to expect about 10 days for physical recovery including heavy house work, and about 9 days for social or public eye recovery (going back to work). Your dressings are removed the next day after surgery. The sutures are removed at 7 days. You are able to move about the house during your recovery. This includes eating, bathroom, watching TV or reading a book. We ask that you do nothing during the first 3 days. As a general rule, the more procedures one has done at the same time, the greater the chance that an increase in bruising and swelling will occur, and thus a little longer healing time. For a lower facelift and fat grafting, 10 days is generally enough time to heal and be back out in public, but full activity like exercising requires 4 weeks of wait.
In general, I tell my patients to wait two weeks before they resume any heavy liftings (more than 10lbs), exercising or bending over after facial surgery. I reevaluate my patients the day after, then a week after and at the week check up- I am better able to suggest the post surgery activity recommendations based on how they are healing and looking. Your surgeon will have her own suggestions so its best to follow those.
