A facelift can dramatically enhance your appearance by removing excess skin to create a more youthful look. Dr. Matt G. Chhatre strongly believes in patient education, and in making sure that you understand the entire facelift process, including recovery. Full recovery time can vary, and primarily depends on your procedure type and your body’s unique healing response. Dr. Chhatre will help guide your facelift recovery at his Kansas City, MO-area practice, as you return to your normal routine. Contact the team at Summit Plastic Surgery & Med Spa to learn more about what to expect during your facelift recovery.
Procedure Details
A full facelift targets sagging skin and wrinkles in the lower half of your face. The surgery can reduce deep smile line folds, marionette or chin lines, and excess skin on your jaw. A full facelift can be performed through an incision that begins at your ears and extends to your hair line.
Dr. Chhatre may perform a brow lift in conjunction with a full facelift. A brow lift addresses the upper portion of your face, particularly frown lines and deep, horizontal wrinkles. This procedure involves creating a single incision along your hair line, or making several smaller incisions for an endoscopic brow lift.
Estimated Recovery Timeline
Recovery from a full facelift can take one week to several weeks. After your surgery, you should expect to take about two weeks off from work. During the first week, you will need to get plenty of rest, wear your compression bandages, and avoid getting your head and face wet. Typically, your stitches will be removed during the first week.
While you will want to steer clear of strenuous activity, you should also avoid being overly sedentary immediately following your procedure. Taking a walk around your house every few hours will help prevent blood clots and stimulate blood flow.
Recovery is an important part of your facelift procedure, and can greatly impact the overall success of your treatment.
Many patients are able to return to work during the second week. During this time, you should continue sleeping with your head elevated. You should also avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise. Dr. Chhatre will talk to you about when you should resume your normal exercise routine. Following his post-operative instructions can significantly reduce discomfort, as well as lower your post-surgical risks.
Expected Side Effects
Although facelift surgery involves very little risk, there are some temporary side effects that most people can experience, including:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Skin discoloration
Dr. Chhatre can provide medications and tips to help minimize these side effects. He may also prescribe topical treatments for your incision sites. Topical products, combined with Dr. Chhatre’s precise techniques, should result in scars that are virtually invisible. Choosing an experienced surgeon like Dr. Chhatre significantly helps minimize side effects and potential problems.
Contact Us Today
Recovery is an important part of your facelift procedure, and can greatly impact the overall success of your treatment. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more about what to expect after your facelift.
