Is it recommended to put warm pads to help with swelling after a facelift?

This is a question that should be discussed directly with the surgeon performing your facelift. Every surgeon will have postop instructions that  help them achieve the results that you have seen in the before and after photos and in friends of yours who have had surgery with that surgeon.
When it comes to my patients, lukewarm, warm, hot, or microwaved compresses ARE NOT allowed. The risk of injury/burn to the skin is increased because of numbness (decreased sensation of the skin) that all patients experience after a facelift. 

Hello,
Thank you for your question. After facelift surgery ,we usually recommend arnica cream and cold pad rather than warm pad for subsiding of swelling and bruising 
Best Regards. 
Bora Ok, MD - Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon

I have my patients use ice packs intermittently (to avoid cold injury) after surgery to help reduce swelling and bruising.  Warm pads (or heating pads) can encourage bleeding in the immediate postoperative period and potentially cause burns in numb areas. Your operating surgeon should give you specific advice as to what he or she recommends.
Best wishes! 

While most patients prefer the feel of warmth over ice in the postop period, warm compresses are not recommended.  As with most surgeries or injuries, icing is the treatment of choice.  This will help reduce swelling and aid in recovery, as will keeping your head elevated.  Be sure to explicitly follow the instructions from your board certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon and your recovery should be uneventful.

Icing is the recommended treatment for swelling after facelift surgery. Check with your surgeon for instructions. Also, sleep with your head elevated and avoid salt. Good luck.

Most cosmetic surgery of the face produces some temporary swelling.  Cool packs help to reduce swelling and warmth can make the swelling worse.  Sitting up and keeping your head higher than your chest when sleeping will also help to reduce swelling.  

Thank you for your question.Warm pads will not do anything for the swelling after surgery. You also need to be careful because the sensory nerves are disrupted and you may not realize how hot the pads are, which could cause a burn. The best thing to help with swelling is lymphatic massage, keeping the head elevated, and wearing your garment.

Warm pads would not help with reducing swelling, only contrary they could increase the amount of swelling. Applying cold presses to the swollen area can help with swelling. Applying warm pads on an area would cause more blood flow to there, so if that is not the intention, you should refrain from this. If your surgeon suggested doing this, you may want to ask him why as he may have a different reason.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey 

HI Bonita,  generally warm packs do not reduce swelling. You have not stated how far out you are from your facelift. Cold packs can reduce swelling, but if your skin does not have good blood flow, this would be not be a good thing to do. You need to discuss the issue with your physician and have him/ her follow you along in order to give the best advice. Hope this helps.Best,Dr. Christine Rodgers

Many surgeons use cold packs for the first 48-72 hours after surgery to help decrease bruising and swelling. After that time, the cold does not provide much benefit.  Switching to warm can then increase blood flow and help speed up healing.  Your skin is often numb after a facelift, so make sure you don't use anything that is too cold or too hot or you can give yourself a blister.