I'm getting a lower face/neck lift. How long before I can resume exercising like upper body lifting, Pilates and hiking?

Good question!Firstly, I would recommend consulting with your specific surgeon on what they have for their post-operative protocol. Before returning to light activity such as prolonged walking or using light weight, I would recommend waiting at least 2 wks. Hiking, pilates, and heavy lifting will likely require longer. Possibly up to 6 weeks.In the immediate post-operative phase your body will be recovering and it will be important to limit your risk of infection. After the risk of infection has been minimalized, you will still likely be swollen and high level activities can increase the swelling. As stated, it is best to consult your surgeon to see what is best for you specifically. Best of luck!

For unique cases where a variety of modalities could be used to treat the condition, I would suggest an in-person or virtual consultation to develop a custom and effective treatment plan. It is difficult to precisely define the best option without collecting the same information. I suggest reaching out to an expert for a consultation with surgical and non-surgical methods to get a comprehensive option. Best, Dr. Emer.

I would defer to your surgeon's post-op instructions, however, in my practice, I require my mini facelift patients to be fairly inactive for the first two weeks after surgery. We do not want any spikes in heart rate or blood pressure that could cause a hematoma and a return to the OR. At 2 weeks post op, I allow my patients to begin light cardio (just walking at first) and increase intensity and duration as tolerated. I would avoid any extremely strenuous hikes and weight lifting until 4-6 weeks post op (as tolerated).
Best of luck with your procedure.