Is There Anything That Can Speed Up Reducing Swelling After A Lower Face Lift and Neck Lipo?

Thank you for your question.  This is my aftercare protocol I will give to my patients to advise you, however please ask your plastic surgeon to guide you:Aftercare in the first 24 Hours post procedure

In the first 24 hours post procedure it is important to follow these simple steps



Sleep with your head up as much as possible. This can be done be propping yourself up in bed with 2-3 pillows. This will allow any residual fluid to drain away and will ease the feeling of facial Fullness.Drink plenty of fluids and eat well the evening of your procedure.Avoid showering until the morning after your procedure. We then encourage you to shower and wash your hair as normal. Once you have done this, you can then gently blow dry your hair and the area around your ears with the hairdryer on its cool setting.Avoid putting any cosmetic products including cleaners, moisturisers and make up on or around the incisions.You may require some mild painkillers in the first few days post Concept Facelift, We would recommend a combination of Ibuprofen and Paracetamol- providing you are not allergic to either of these medications.You will have been provided with some protective pads which are to place on your pillow case at night and will absorb any residual oozing.Some oozing is common in the first 24-48 post procedure and we provide you with some sterile gauze so that you can dab any drips. Mild oozing is nothing to be alarmed about and is a normal part of the healing process.After care in the following days and weeks post procedure



You will already have received your follow up Consultation appointment for approximately 5-7 days post procedure. However it is important to continue to follow the subsequent “Do’s and Don’ts”.

Do use a cool pack on the incisions as this will help reduce any residual fullness.Do continue with painkillers if required, as around 5% of patients will have some ear pain which will settle within a week or two. Do shower and hair wash daily.Do resume normal activities however avoid vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for 2 weeks post procedure.Don’t apply any make up, moisturiser or oils to the incision line until advised by us. Don’t allow pets of any variety to share a bed with you and avoid allowing pets near your face for the first four weeks after your procedure. Allowing pets near your face has the potential to result in an infection. However being vigilant will help reduce this risk.Do be vigilant with hand hygiene.Do notify us immediately if you have any concerns or notice any increased redness, heat around the incision or if you have any discharge from around the ear.Once we have seen you at your follow up Consultation, we will then advise on when you can start massaging the area around your ears and the best technique to use.

We recommend the use of scar improvement oils such as Bio-oil.

Cool compresses with elevation of your head on pillows can be beneficial initially, followed by pressure. Lymphatic drainage massage has also been helpful. It's also important for patients not to be too active and to allow time for the swelling to resolve. The major swelling should fade after a week or 2. If it lasts longer, contact your surgeon.

Thank you for your question.  Yes the surgeon can be gentle with the tissues and also drains for two or more days or as necessary  as will as the use of ultrasound early after surgery.

It seems that your recovery after surgery is going okay. After two days, the swelling is at a maximum and then starts getting better. 
To answer your one question, yes usually it is not uncommon for things to be swollen after a facelift or neck lift or liposuction. Usually it's worse the first week but gets better every week. I know it's hard to be patient after surgery. In general, keep your head elevated as much as possible and sleep with several pillows under your head and shoulders. Avoid salty foods as they will make you retain water, and keep hydrated. Some people recommend certain supplements but I have not really found that these aid significantly in recovery.
If it does not settle, you can undergo corrective surgery with additional surgery.  I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of facelifts if you want a second opinion and of course, make sure you follow up with your own surgeon and talk about this if you have concerns that linger. 
I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.  

Usually a compression dressing is used for 1-2 weeks after surgery.  Resting with your head elevated above the heart is also recommended.  

Thank you for your question for sharing your concerns with us. Swelling and firmness in the tissues will return to normal as time passes by. Between the first and second week, much of your swelling and bruising will dissipate. It may take more than a month or two for your tissues to fully soften and any residual swelling to resolve. Lymphatic massage maybe an option to help clear the swelling and firmness at a faster pace. I would make sure that you continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon during this period of time.

Keep the head elevated as much as possible and sleep with several pillows under your head and shoulders. Avoid salty foods as they will make you retain water, and keep hydrated. VitaMedica has great supplements with Bromelain and Arnica that aids in recovery. Good Luck!

For our patients we recommend cold compresses 15 min every hour for the first 3 days. After that, our patients switch to warm applications. In addition, all of our facelift patient are scheduled to have a lymphatic drainage massage with additional benefit. Homeopathic products such as arnica montana do not hurt either - how much they help is unclear. Lastly and most importantly, patience is necessary. 

There are a few things that can assist in improving modestly the rate of healing after facelift. Number one avoid high salt intake. Modest compression garments may help the neck. Elevation can also make a difference.

Thanks for your question. Try to avoid looking down and keep your head propped up. Sleeping on a wedge or pillows is helpful. Avoid salt and maintain hydration. I do not like to bandage because I think it can impair lymphatic drainage. I do agree that Arnica tablets are helpful. Best of luck!