I had a facelift with fat transfer a week ago. Can I still ice my face? (photos)

Thanks for your question. Fat transfer can
increase the bruising and swelling normally seen in a facelift. That being
said, fat grafted cells need small blood vessels to vascularize the newly
transferred fat cells; icing will constrict the blood vessels and decrease the
chance of fat cell survival. I do not recommend my patients to use ice after
fat cell transfer. For those combined procedures involving fat grafting,
sometimes bromelain (a supplement available at most health stores) helps, along
with sitting upright and sleeping with 3 pillows, with the head elevated. On
the other hand, for patients undergoing a facelift without fat grafting, icing
can be done in the first 24 to 48 hours. Any time you use ice after a facelift,
it's important to avoid direct contact with the skin because it is numb and
there is a risk of damaging the skin itself. Whether ice is useful after a week
is a question for your plastic surgeon. Surgeons have their own protocols for
the recovery process. I'm sure you can get a quick answer from the surgeon's
practice regarding your question. Good luck and stay positive!

I recommend that my patients apply light ice packs or swiss masks to the exposed
areas of the face to reduce the swelling after facelift and eyelid surgery. It is important to
ice for the first 72 hours after your surgery, but can be continued for as long as necessary and
comfortable. Please see your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for post-op cooling
instructions.

Hello, Thank you for your question. I'd follow your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon's post-operative recovery/care protocol. I'd recommend booking a follow-up appointment with your Plastic Surgeon to discuss your concerns. Take care.