Lite cardio after mini facelift?

Thank you for your question.  We perform facelift's under local anaesthetic, I would typically suggest after one week you can start light exercise, and gradually each week you can increase until by week 3 you can return to your normal work out.  Please do check the protocol of your surgeon however.  All The Best 

What a great question!  Please understand that just because something is classified as "mini", it does not mean that it wasn't surgery.  Presuming that a "minilift" is a jawline lift (because there is some debate as to what a minilift is...most feel a jowl lift is a minilift), then it's reasonable to assume that you will take it easy for the first week post-operative.  For my patients, I advise them not to get their heart rate elevated, or to sweat, during the first 7 days after surgery.  During that second week (after day #7), I advise them to start taking long walks (ie 20-25 minutes) outside.  After two weeks, I advise them to return to the gym in a "light" fashion.  At that time they are advised that they can sweat, do cardio, and perform resistance exercises with light weights.  Obviously it is the ultimate call of the operating surgeon, but hopefully you find this input helpful.Best, Doc L

I strongly advise that you contact your Plastic Surgeon and abide by his/her guidelines for post-op exercise, however, in my practice, I am comfortable with very light cardio (walking) 2 weeks post procedure.

Hello Sandy, thanks for your question! I always advise my patients to refrain from any exercise/heavy lifting for 1 month after their procedure.  Exercise or lifting will increase your heart rate, which then increases blood flow and creates more swelling.  This then prolongs the healing process and causes persistent swelling to the affected area.  I recommend speaking to your plastic surgeon for his or her post op protocol.  Hope this helps! 

Dear sandy 7217,every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Every surgeon has different requirements. I suggest you speak with your surgeon to find out what exactly he recommends. I am comfortable with a patient doing light cardio (walking) 3 weeks post surgery.Hope this helps!

 Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  We recommend avoiding any strenuous activity for 1 month after the procedure.  
 Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.
 A weak chin creates an imbalance making the nose appear larger, the mid face top heavy and the lower face look short that de-emphasizes the lips and allows early formation of a double chin.  Chin augmentation using a chin implant will add projection to the chin creating harmony and balance to the lower face.  I have found placement of a silastic chin implant, through a small curved incision under the chin (also allows excess skin removal) to be very safe, quick and highly effective.
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
no incisions within the hair = no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
Hope this helps.