What is the average recovery time for a facelift? And are any special creams advised for scarring or just for general healing?

There are two aspects to consider in your recovery from a facelift.  1) Physical recovery: During this period you will encounter  some degree of swelling and bruising which requires head elevation and activity restriction.  I ask my patients to avoid all cardio exercise for 2 weeks with the exception of walking, and no weight lifting for 4 weeks.  A dressing is generally in place for 24-48 hours after the procedure, usually accompanied by some form of active or passive drain.  All drains/ dressings are discontinued at 48 hours in 99% of patients and all compression (including straps) are discontinued.  Sutures are typically removed on postoperative day 7.  2) Psychological recovery:  This represents the period of adjustment to your procedure or is defined by when you feel comfortable going out socially.  An appointment will be made for you at our Spa where one of our aestheticians will guide you in postoperative makeup; this usually occurs between 10-14 days after the procedure.  For the majority of patients, this allows social interaction without being overly self conscious. My website has some examples of early postoperative facelift patients. 

Thanks for the question. It takes 3-4 weeks for your body to recover and return to daily life without any problems. I wish you all the best.

Dear MBGThank you for your question.There are many different techniques for Facelifts this days. You can have it performed under local or general anaesthetic or sedation. Some practitioners use absorbable stitches, some uses removable sutures and require you to were garments or bandages for weeks.For the Concept Facelift which I have developed, the downtime is minimal. The procedure is very much like a Traditional Facelift as it focuses on the SMAS muscle as well as the skin. It also has the same longevity as a Traditional facelift.There are however many differences. , It is usually performed under local anaesthetic, the theatre time is only one and a half hours or two and a half hours if you combine a neck lift for optimal results.Also I use absorbable sutures at the incision site so you do not have to have these removed.Usually downtime is just over 1 week with bruising and swelling completely subsiding by week two.You would need to come in for a follow up at 1 week, however you will be able go about your normal daily routine the day after surgery. We normally advise not to go to the gym for two weeks post surgery.In terms of creams we typically recommend cosmeceutical creams which are targeted to specific skin types and can help maintain the longevity of the skin