Why Does One Typically Have to Stay Overnight After a Face and Neck Lift?

Since my Facelifts are performed under IV sedation which is rapid onset, rapid offset in effect, there is no medical reason to stay in a medical facility overnight.  The majority of my patients prefer to recover in the comfort of their own homes than to stay at my facility.  Overnight stay is an option on request, but is by no means required.  Out of town patients most frequently stay in a nearby hotel located 5 minutes from my office.  Having a responsible adult stay with you overnight is mandatory to help with medications and make a phone call if any problems arise.  Some of my patients prefer to avail of private nursing to assist with this process. In my opinion, hematoma prevention is most strongly rooted in thorough preoperative teaching.  I encourage patients to walk around their house in the days prior to the procedure and look for activities or items which could tempt them to stretch the limits on activity restriction or lead to bending over.

Almost all my facelifts are done under local anesthesia with oral sedation and do not require an overnight stay. However, it is important to have someone who can help you out the first night of recovery. They can help you take your medications, place ice on your face, and notify the doctor if a problem arises. The most common problem that requires immediate attention is a post operative hematoma of the face or neck. This will need to be drained right away to prevent damage to your facelift. So it helps to have somebody that can recognize this and call the doctor.

  An overnight stay is not mandatory after a facelift.  Hematoma is the concern here.  I typically start the facelift at 7 am and finish at 9:30 or 10 am.  The patient then recovers for 4 hours or so in the recovery room.  Patients typically go home the same day.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA