Some doctors do not recommend icing after mini facelift. Why the disagreement?

Ice packs in the very early postoperative period may indeed decrease swelling until the injured tissues Seal. After this icing is primarily for comfort.

Extreme cooling procedures can injure the tissue causing death of tissue. I would follow the instructions given by your surgeon. 

Choose a surgeon you trust and follow their postoperative directions.   The recommendation for using ice or not is usually based on experience, nothing really scientific.  Also using ice could cause a freeze burn of the numb skin.

Each surgeon has a slightly different protocol for after a mini facelift.  This is based on their unique technique, what was done after surgery, and personal experience.  Something such as icing after surgery does not really affect the quality of your outcomes.  There is no scientific study to say icing or no icing results in a superior result.  This is a minor point and you need not worry much about it.

I am not aware of anyone that doesn't support cold compresses after facelift. It definitely cuts down on any discomfort and can help reduce swelling and bruising. Will it be the end of the world, if you didn't ice? Not if the procedure was performed correctly and you were properly counseled about how to prepare for surgery and care for yourself afterward. However, most people do feel better and heal faster with generous use of cold packs. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon