How can facelift be done for side sleepers?

Question

Hi Doctors, I have sleep apnea that I cannot sleep on my back. I usually put pressure on my ear of face when I sleep. I'm wondering how facelift can be done on patient like me. Is is possible to do facelift on for one side. Then when it recovers, do it for the other side? Thanks

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. Sleeping on your back with your upper body in an elevated position is recommended for 1-2 weeks (or as directed by your surgeon). Experts recommend sleeping with your head and torso positioned at a 45-degree angle for at least a week. Using a reclining chair or pillow can help you sleep more comfortably. You may also surround your body with pillows to prevent you from rolling over during your sleep. You may also use a post-surgical neck pillow. After two weeks or so, you may sleep on your side again. If you have more concerns, consult with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon. He/she should be able to answer all your questions to ensure the smoothest recovery process possible.

Kristopher Day, MD, FACS · Answer

The short answer is: of course. For the first day or two you would have a gentle compression garment on your face in my practice, and I check my facelift patients the next day typically. There is no long-term effect from sleeping however you'd like in facelift.

Kerem Sami Kaya, MD · Answer

Hi, it's a good question. Only for the first week after faceliift surgery, you may need to lie in a semi-sitting position while sleeping. In the following days, you can sleep as you wish by supporting your head with pillows. In addition, after your dressing is done the day after the surgery, only an elastic bandage is applied and you have to use the elastic bandage for a while after surgery and also ıt may support you when you are sleeping in side position. Besides I recommend you polysomnography before the surgery because of your sleep apnea problem. Best wishes.

Edwin F. Williams, III, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. We recommend that you sleep elevated for the first few days, so people can usually tolerate not laying on the side of their face (sitting up in a recliner, for example). After that time, it is okay to gently put pressure on the side of your face with sleeping. Best of luck!

Gilbert Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions. In general you are not able to sleep on your side. The face needs to heal prior to laying on it. Both sides must be done at the same time to achieve symmetry. When recovering from a facelift it is advised to sleep with your head elevated. This may work for your sleep apnea also. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon. They will want to review your entire medical history and possibly have medical clearance from your doctor. In our office we offer 3D imaging to give our patients an accurate idea of what their final result will look like.Good luck!

Gokhan Temiz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question. There is no different treatment plan for the side sleepers. The procedure is the same. During the recovery period, it is very important to not laying down on the side because of the stitches and healing process. There is special pillows that you can use during the aftercare.

How can facelift be done for side sleepers?

Answers (6)

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