What is the recovery time for face/neck lift?

Thank you for your question.  It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes to recover from facelift surgery varies greatly between individuals. Elevation of the head is extremely helpful in reducing the initial Postoperative swelling. You may also be advised to use ice packs intermittently.

You should avoid Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for the first few days after your surgery. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke should be avoided to prevent delays in the healing process.

Once the dressings and drains are removed, puffiness and discoloration may be more pronounced in some portions of the face than others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry. This is normal. Most swelling is usually noted in the first 24 to 48 hours, and most bruising resolves within two weeks. Concealing makeup is usually permitted after the first week. You may experience numbness to the face postoperatively, which usually resolves within several months.

Some patients find that mild swelling persists for many weeks. Most stitches are removed within a week of the surgery.

Of course, many of our modern mini facelifts, such as the MACS facelift, allow patients to literally be back in public or work in as little as three days with little or no bruising!

Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the early postoperative period as these activities may predispose you to bleeding.

We will give you specific instructions that may include caring for the dressings and incisions, directions for your analgesics and other medications, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up in the office to monitor your healing process. It may take several months for the swelling to fully resolve, and up to six months for the incision scars to fully fade. Avoidance of factors that could reduce the benefits of the surgery, such as excessive unprotected sun exposure and cigarette use, is vital. Best of luck!Dhaval M. PatelDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

there is almost no bruising nor swelling after neck lipo since we use special foam pads to prevent this. Most patients go back to work in 24 hrs.

Typically, patients who undergo a facelift or neck lift
procedure can return to normal activities after two weeks. During this time you
may experience side effects such as bruising or a tight sensation on the neck. Scarring
can take months to recover depending on where the incision is made by your
surgeon. At my practice I have created a Rapid Recovery Face and Neck lift that
has a 7 day recovery period and virtually no visible scars by the 2 week mark.
In most cases your stitches are removed 7-10 days after surgery and you can
start wearing makeup 7 days after surgery.