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. 

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! 

Thank you for your question. You are asking if warm compresses are recommended during recovery from facelift surgery.
I can certainly help guide you with this question, even without a photo for reference, and without the benefit of a physical exam. As a facial cosmetic surgeon practicing in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years, I perform all types of facelifts regularly in my practice.
While I do recommend warm compresses after the first two days of eyelid surgery, I don’t recommend them after facelift surgery. Warm compresses are used to clear fluid that causes temporary swelling and bruising, but there shouldn’t be a lot of lingering fluid after facelift surgery. I perform facelifts with local anesthesia with LITE IV sedation, and patients don’t need drains after facelift surgery, and don’t need to recover overnight at our facility, so they can go home the same day after surgery.
After surgery, your surgeon will advise you on how to best manage your recovery and healing. I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for your question.