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Can ice be applied on facial swelling after 4 days?

Slept with face unelected causing enhanced underage swelling on one side only.

Doctor Answers 16

Ice Post Facelift Swelling

April 1st, 2016
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Apply light ice packs or Swiss Therapy eye masks to the exposed areas of the face to reduce swelling. This is critical for the first 72 hours after your surgery, but can be continued for as long as necessary. The degree of swelling varies from patient to patient. All swelling takes time to subside, but you should see steady progress over the course of days,weeks, and months.
Rod J. Rohrich, MD


Dallas Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 67 reviews

April 1st, 2016

Ice Post Facelift Swelling

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Apply light ice packs or Swiss Therapy eye masks to the exposed areas of the face to reduce swelling. This is critical for the first 72 hours after your surgery, but can be continued for as long as necessary. The degree of swelling varies from patient to patient. All swelling takes time to subside, but you should see steady progress over the course of days,weeks, and months.


Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Will icing help 4 days after a facelift?

March 29th, 2016
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The swelling around the face peaks around day 3 after a facelift.  In my practice, I have found that icing during the first 7 days after surgery is beneficial.  So I think that the answer is yes, it may help you.
Make sure to do so as directed by your surgeon (there are correct and incorrect ways to ice the face).

Web reference: http://med.stanford.edu/facialplastics/aesthetic-services/procedures/facelift-necklift.html

Sam Most, MD

Sam Most, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 65 reviews

March 29th, 2016

Will icing help 4 days after a facelift?

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The swelling around the face peaks around day 3 after a facelift.  In my practice, I have found that icing during the first 7 days after surgery is beneficial.  So I think that the answer is yes, it may help you.
Make sure to do so as directed by your surgeon (there are correct and incorrect ways to ice the face).

Learn more: http://med.stanford.edu/facialplastics/aesthetic-services/procedures/facelift-necklift.html

Sam Most, MD

Sam Most, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 65 reviews

Application of ice to the face days after a facelift.

March 28th, 2016
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Ice will favorably influence swelling only if it is placed immediately after the operation. After four days it will have no therapeutic effect. Make certain that you don't inadvertently freeze your skin as it may be temporarily insensitive after the facelift.

Web reference: http://www.zubowicz.com/procedures/facelift/

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
March 28th, 2016

Application of ice to the face days after a facelift.

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Ice will favorably influence swelling only if it is placed immediately after the operation. After four days it will have no therapeutic effect. Make certain that you don't inadvertently freeze your skin as it may be temporarily insensitive after the facelift.

Learn more: http://www.zubowicz.com/procedures/facelift/

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Can ice be applied on facial swelling after 4 days?

March 22nd, 2016
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Do not put ice directly on skin at your surgical site.  Instead, consider a cool compress.  Be sure to check with your surgeon regarding specific recommendations.  Good luck.

Web reference: http://www.farrismd.com/face-procedures-dallas/facelift/

Zachary Farris, MD, FACS
March 22nd, 2016

Can ice be applied on facial swelling after 4 days?

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Do not put ice directly on skin at your surgical site.  Instead, consider a cool compress.  Be sure to check with your surgeon regarding specific recommendations.  Good luck.

Learn more: http://www.farrismd.com/face-procedures-dallas/facelift/

Zachary Farris, MD, FACS

Can I apply ice to my facelift skin after

March 22nd, 2016
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It's dangerous to apply ice to your neck or face skin (especially behind the ear) after facelift surgery.  DON"T do it.  Your skin circulation is more precarious AND  your skin is numb.  Avoid salty foods and keep your head elevated while wearing any compressive garment that your doctor gave you.
Good luck and regards to Vietnam.

Jon A Perlman MD FACS
Certified, Am Board of Plastic Surgery
Extreme Makeover Surgeon ABC TV
Beverly Hills, Ca

Web reference: http://www.perlmanmd.com/face-lift-and-neck-lift

Jon A. Perlman, MD

Jon A. Perlman, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 31 reviews

March 22nd, 2016

Can I apply ice to my facelift skin after

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It's dangerous to apply ice to your neck or face skin (especially behind the ear) after facelift surgery.  DON"T do it.  Your skin circulation is more precarious AND  your skin is numb.  Avoid salty foods and keep your head elevated while wearing any compressive garment that your doctor gave you.
Good luck and regards to Vietnam.

Jon A Perlman MD FACS
Certified, Am Board of Plastic Surgery
Extreme Makeover Surgeon ABC TV
Beverly Hills, Ca

Learn more: http://www.perlmanmd.com/face-lift-and-neck-lift

Jon A. Perlman, MD

Jon A. Perlman, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 31 reviews

Ice after Facelift

March 22nd, 2016
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Thank you for your question. I would not put ice directly on any area that was operated on.  A cool compress may be a better option for comfort.  The reason for this is that direct ice can reduce the bloodflow to the operated tissues.  Also, the tissue could actually freeze, without your knowledge, because the sensation in this area is diminished.

Be sure to consult with your surgeon for their preference, as well. 

I hope that this helps!
-David Gilpin
David Gilpin, MD

David Gilpin, MD
Nashville Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

March 22nd, 2016

Ice after Facelift

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Thank you for your question. I would not put ice directly on any area that was operated on.  A cool compress may be a better option for comfort.  The reason for this is that direct ice can reduce the bloodflow to the operated tissues.  Also, the tissue could actually freeze, without your knowledge, because the sensation in this area is diminished.

Be sure to consult with your surgeon for their preference, as well. 

I hope that this helps!
-David Gilpin
David Gilpin, MD

David Gilpin, MD
Nashville Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

Ice after a facelift

March 22nd, 2016
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This can be helpful , even after 4 days. Just be gentle and protect the skin from direct ice. The goal is to cool, not freeze the skin.

Best of luck!

Web reference: http://www.miamiplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery-services-miami/facial-procedures/facelift/

Michael E. Kelly, MD
March 22nd, 2016

Ice after a facelift

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This can be helpful , even after 4 days. Just be gentle and protect the skin from direct ice. The goal is to cool, not freeze the skin.

Best of luck!

Learn more: http://www.miamiplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery-services-miami/facial-procedures/facelift/

Michael E. Kelly, MD

4 days postop facelift: ice of any value?

March 22nd, 2016
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I don't see any value in ice or cold packs 4 days postop after surgery. It may provide symptomatic relief but otherwise will likely not reduce swelling much. 

Be be careful of applying directly to your face a cold product though as it may cause injury such as frostbite. 
Taha Shipchandler, MD

Taha Shipchandler, MD
Indianapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

March 22nd, 2016

4 days postop facelift: ice of any value?

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I don't see any value in ice or cold packs 4 days postop after surgery. It may provide symptomatic relief but otherwise will likely not reduce swelling much. 

Be be careful of applying directly to your face a cold product though as it may cause injury such as frostbite. 
Taha Shipchandler, MD

Taha Shipchandler, MD
Indianapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

Ice on skin

March 22nd, 2016
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Ice can be dangerous because if you do not have normal sensation in the area you might not realize you damaged the skin. Plastic surgeon for years have used frozen peas in a zip lock bag instead of ice. Peas are not as cold, contour well to area applied, and thaw before they could really do any harm.
Stephen Lovich, MD

Stephen Lovich, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 2 reviews

March 22nd, 2016

Ice on skin

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Ice can be dangerous because if you do not have normal sensation in the area you might not realize you damaged the skin. Plastic surgeon for years have used frozen peas in a zip lock bag instead of ice. Peas are not as cold, contour well to area applied, and thaw before they could really do any harm.

Stephen Lovich, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

Can ice be applied on facial swelling after 4 days?

March 22nd, 2016
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Hello Aninka,

I don't recommend ever putting something directly from the freezer on your skin as it can lead to frost bite and skin loss, especially in the numb areas.  I do have my patients use cold compresses.  At day 4 they wouldn't do much.  The cooling helps to minimize the swelling from coming on but it likely won't help it go away any faster.  

Make sure you follow up with your surgeon for any specific recommendations.  

I hope this helps and good luck.  

Web reference: http://www.DrGuyFacialPlastics.com/face-lift

William Marshall Guy, MD
March 22nd, 2016

Can ice be applied on facial swelling after 4 days?

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Hello Aninka,

I don't recommend ever putting something directly from the freezer on your skin as it can lead to frost bite and skin loss, especially in the numb areas.  I do have my patients use cold compresses.  At day 4 they wouldn't do much.  The cooling helps to minimize the swelling from coming on but it likely won't help it go away any faster.  

Make sure you follow up with your surgeon for any specific recommendations.  

I hope this helps and good luck.  

Learn more: http://www.DrGuyFacialPlastics.com/face-lift

William Marshall Guy, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.