A Guide to Facelift Recovery: Timeline, Tips, and Pain Insights

Year after year, the popularity of facelifts grows. As of 2023, the number of facelifts increases by 8% yearly, making it one of the most popular plastic surgeries today, according to plasticsurgery.org. Also called rhytidectomy, facelifts are designed to improve the appearance of your face and neck by addressing sagging skin, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

This cosmetic procedure involves going under anesthesia, where the plastic surgeon makes incisions around the ears and hairline to remove skin from the underlying tissue. The muscles underneath are tightened and repositioned to create a more youthful appearance. Excess fat may be removed, and the skin is “redraped” over the newly positioned tissues and muscles. Any excess skin is then trimmed away, and the incisions are closed.

This type of surgical procedure requires a healing process and some recovery time, which we’ll explain below.

A Facelift Recovery Timeline

The time to recover from a facelift surgery will vary depending on the extent of the procedure and the cosmetic surgeon’s techniques. Here, we’ve outlined a typical timeline for a standard facelift procedure. For mini facelift procedures, the recovery period will be shorter with less downtime required.

Immediate Post-Op (First 24 Hours)

The first 24 hours up to three days after surgery is the most intense recovery time. During this time, swelling and bruising are common with pain or discomfort, so pain medication will typically be prescribed. Resting as much as possible and having help is essential, as you’ll be drowsy from anesthesia. Your head will be bandaged, and you will need to have someone drive you home (and, better yet, help take care of you during this period). Follow your surgeon’s instructions diligently, elevate your head, apply cold compresses to the area, and rest.

First Week

After the initial 24-72 hours, the pain, bruising, and swelling will start to subside, but it’s still important to rest. You may experience some numbing or tightness in the face, and at this point, your surgeon may remove your bandages and sutures with a follow-up appointment. Continue to follow your surgeon’s instructions diligently throughout the facelift recovery process, avoid strenuous activity and excessive exposure to the sun or heat, and rest.

Weeks 2-4

In the second week and beyond, you can start to return to your daily life as normal (under your surgeon’s instructions). There will be significant improvement in any swelling or bruising, incisions will start to heal and become less noticeable, and most of the numbness and tightness should resolve. During this time, you may gradually start to return to normal activities, except strenuous exercise or contact sports.

One Month and Beyond

As you continue to heal, your facial plastic surgery side effects will start to subside — incisions will continue to heal and swelling and bruising will continue to fade away. Depending on your incision sites and overall recovery, your doctor will let you know once it’s time to return to strenuous activity or contact sports. It’s important to stay diligent post-surgery around your healing instructions to get your final results more quickly. Stay patient, rest, and get excited for a more youthful looking you!

Tips for a Smooth Recovery

In addition to following your care instructions precisely, there’s extra steps you can take for a smoother, speedier recovery.

• Elevate your head: Sleep and rest with your head elevated and propped up with pillows. This helps reduce swelling and discomfort.
• Hydrate and eat healthy: Drink plenty of water to aid healing and eat a diet rich in whole proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid salt, as that may contribute to swelling, and limit alcohol.
• Be gentle with your skin: Your board-certified plastic surgeon will give you specific skincare instructions. In general, avoid too much time in the sun and wear sunscreen. Use gentle soaps and skin products without harsh ingredients as your face heals.
• Rest, rest, rest: Avoid strenuous activity, too much stress, or too much on your schedule. It’s better to err on the side of caution so you can feel better faster. Say “no” to plans more often during this time.
• Be patient: Enlist the support of family and friends during this downtime process. It’s important to be gentle with yourself and your healing, not getting discouraged.

Possible Complications and When to Seek Medical Attention

While surgery is typically entirely safe, you should be aware of the risks:

• Infections: Signs include warmth, pain, drainage from wound, fever, redness, or swelling.
• Hematoma: A collection of blood under the skin that appears as a bruise or lump.
• Scarring: While scarring is a part of the healing process, excess scarring may occur.

Are Facelifts Painful?

The pain experienced post-op will vary in severity from person to person — some may feel minimal discomfort while others will feel more. In the initial 2-4 days following your surgery, this is completely normal. Afterward, pain should significantly subside. Initial pain can be easily managed with prescribed pain medication from your surgeon.

Pain Management Strategies

Your surgeon may prescribe you pain medication and then switch to OTC pain medication to manage discomfort. Other pain management strategies include:

• Rest and minimizing activity
• Ice
• Elevating your head
• Eating healthy and hydrating regularly
• Deep breathing exercises and meditation
• Essential oils

How Brevard Cosmetic Surgery Group Can Help

Our team here at Brevard Cosmetic Surgery Group is experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of facelifts to ensure each patient is comfortable throughout the entire process. We also provide personalized post-operative follow-up care so you can get back to feeling like yourself again. Schedule a consultation with one of our experts to learn more.