When can I return to the gym after a facelift?

I have a routine of seeing my patients the day after a facelift, then at 5 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months.  Provided all is well, I let them hit the gym after the 3 week check.  I have seen bad things happen when they go back sooner.Take it easy.  The gym will be there when you are ready.Good Luck!

Thanks for the question. After 3-4 weeks your operation area is totally healed and yes you can go back to the gym. I wish you all the best.

After a facelift, you can
usually go back to cardio exercise after two weeks and progress to more
strenuous activity at 3-4 weeks.Each
surgeon has a different preference so it is important to listen and follow the
directions of your surgeon.

Itypically tell my patients that they have to wait two weeks to return to thegym, then to only use elliptical or bicycle. After that, we encourage waiting four weeks beforebeginning most other exercise, and then by six weeks they can return to Pilatesand Yoga. Initially during the first phases of healing, an increase in bloodpressure caused by too much activity can result in bleeding under the skin, orwhat is called a hematoma. Also, the incisions are still not approximated andcan come open. It’s very important to follow your surgeon’s directions forthis.

I tell my patients they can exercise after 1-2 weeks, but you have to ask your plastic surgeon his/her preference for you.

Hello! Thank you for your question! After any surgical procedure, you should be careful with incisions as well as avoidance of direct UVA and UVB rays in order to lessen the chance for hyperpigmentation of the skin and scars, which can take several months to resolve, if it ever does. The ability of the affected area to heal has been slowed and you should try to avoid additional swelling to the area. The area will likely be numb for several weeks to months and will be difficult to feel when sunburn is coming on. Typical recommendations include wearing a hat and/or sunblock to the affected area for at least 6-12 weeks following the procedure. It takes up to one year for scars to fully mature. You should also avoid trauma to the area for several months to protect the refinements made during the procedure. Also, avoidance of pools/lakes/jacuzzis/etc for 4-6 weeks is usually recommended to allow adequate healing and protection from stagnant water, that could potentially harbor bacteria. Light activities are able to be done safely after just a few days.  Lifting/exercise restrictions with vigorous activity are common for at least 4-6 weeks. This is done to reduce swelling and allow the contouring to settle as easily as possible, allowing the best results. Certainly during the first week or so, limitations with activity are very important in order to decrease the possibility of bleeding/fluid accumulation. After this time, I allow a gradual increase in exercise and cardiovascular activity. Certainly discuss the postoperative instructions with your surgeon, as thoughts differ among surgeons. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

After a week of recuperating at home, it's
understandable that you're eager to get back to the gym. However, I typically
advise my facelift patients to avoid strenuous exercise, including cardio, for
at least 2 weeks. There are several reasons for this. Vigorous exercise raises
your blood pressure. Although this isn't an issue for most people, those who
have had recent surgery may experience unnecessary swelling, discomfort, and even
bleeding or the development of unsightly scars. It's also important to keep
your incisions clean and dry, so excessive sweating is inadvisable. At this
point, you should be able to take some short, easy walks around your
neighborhood. I realize this isn't quite the level of exercise you're used to,
but it's vital to give your body the time it needs to heal fully. Before you
resume any activity, be sure to check with your surgeon first.

It all depends on how you are healing but you would not want to raise your blood pressure significantly at this point as it could still cause you to bleed. You also would not want to get too sweaty as your incisions are likely still partially open and could get infected. In general I like my patients to wait at least 2 weeks before doing moderate cardio and 4 weeks before weightlifting or intense cardio. You could probably start walking leisurely at this point but it's best to speak to your own surgeon before starting any exercise. Best of luck!  

This is a question for Your plastic surgeon. I like to wait 2-4 weeks before increasing activity. It all depends on how the patient is healing. 

Thank you for the question. In general, activity restrictions are meant to help patients avoid complications (e.g., wound breakdown, bleeding/hematoma). In my practice, I counsel patients to avoid any activity that is more strenuous than brisk walking for a minimum of two weeks. After this, we slowly add in exercise -- typically light stretching or elliptical, then allowing more over the next few weeks.