Swelling - Ice or Heat for Fat Transfer/Bleph?

For about 48 to 72 hours after any surgical procedure, swelling will increase incrementally.  The swelling with fat transfer can exceed or extend beyond these limits. Use of ice is most helpful for the first 24 hours after a procedure.  Some patients experience relief with ice beyond this time frame, but there is no real science to support its use.  After this point, head elevation, strict avoidance of strenuous activity, and a tincture of time are most helpful

Maximum swelling is usually at about 5 days and goes away over a few months. You should sleep with your head elevated and cut back on salt to help the swelling.

It is normal to have swelling and be a bit black/blue after facial surgery.  We typically have our patients sleep with their head elevated for the first week.  We also have them apply ice for the first week.  Arnica, (herbal supplement), can also help sometimes.  Please check with your Plastic Surgeon.  Make sure he/she knows what is going on.

Please talk with your surgeon.  They performed surgery on you, know you much better than strangers will, and they are responsible for how you heal.  Here is the truth about full face fat transfer: it makes you look like you were beaten with a baseball bat for 12 days.  It will be that long before you can feasibly hit the fact that you just had surgery.  Cold compresses will not speed the resolution of the facial swelling.  Only time will do this.

Swelling is quite normal 5 days out as well as bruising you described.Ice could be helpful in soothing your face however you should be following your specific surgeons post op instructions as he/she is the only one who knows your specific case.

"Dr.D"