How important is sleep position after a facelift? How can I learn to sleep on my back?

The sleeping position after facelift surgery is very important.  The ideal position is on your back with your head elevated above your heart, typically accomplished with 2 pillows or about 30 degrees of elevation from the plane of the bed. The issues with sleeping on your side is that the "down" side will incur more swelling (called dependent edema).  Also, sleeping on your side can potentially disturb the suture line.  To maintain the position on your back sleeping in a recliner or placing additional pillows to the side of your head or body often helps.  Additionally the pillows behind your head should extend to the area between your shoulder blades to help keep your chin mildly extended.I hope this helps.

You shouldn't sleep on your face for a while after surgery. After about 2-4 weeks, you can start to sleep in this way. In case of any problems, you should contact a Board Certified Surgeon.

You want to sleep with your head elevated to help with swelling. Use extra pillows or sleep in a recliner chair. Some patients find it helpful to put a pillow under their knees.

you need to get proper rest after a facelift. you must sleep with your head elevated for any drainage to happen. try to rest as much as you can if you find maybe sleeping in a recliner may help as well to keep you upright.

I find that sleep position after a facelift is important. In general, one wishes that the head be elevated higher than the heart. This reduces swelling and promotes healing. Although it is difficult to sleep on one's back if one is not used to it, sleeping on the side could cause some problems especially in the early postsurgical days. Rubbing your cheek into a pillow could cause mechanical forces that could affect your incision, cause bleeding and by having one side down, that side will swell more than the other and could cause asymmetries.

It is very important to maintain
elevation of your head, for the first 2 weeks post
operatively. This will maximize wound healing and minimize bruising.

I also recommend that all my patients sleep with their head elevated after surgery.  I feel that this allows the swelling to decrease more quickly and evenly with the restriction.  However, sleeping on your side as you recover shouldn't effect the long-term results.  You simply may have swelling that lasts longer than normal and/or it may be more swollen on one side relative to the other.    

It is very important to keep your head elevated after facelift surgery for less bruising, discomfort and swelling.I recommend a reclining chair and airplane pillow for comfort. Like on a long airplane ride most patients are able to fall asleep in that position.

In my own practice I asked of patients to sleep with the head elevated by a couple of pillows. However I would prefer that they get a good nights sleep.

Thank you for your question. Elevation of your head above the level of your heart is extremely important throughout the post operative recovery period to aid in minimising your swelling. It is very clear during followup appointments those patients that follow their post operative instructions and those who do not. It is not easy to sleep on your back but the use of wedge and u-shaped pillows that can support and stabilise your position are often helpful. If you are using regular pillows it is best to layer 2-3 and then place a sheet over the top of them so movement throughout the night is less likely to disrupt the elevated position. It will be a challenge for you but the results are worth the effort. Best of luck!RegardsDr Guy Watts