Recovery from a facelift can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be with the proper guidance and preparation. You might have been told to “take it easy” for a few days after your surgery, but have you ever stopped and wondered why? Here is a guide to help you through the process and ensure a smooth recovery.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Follow Doctor’s Post-operative Instructions
Even though you are paying your surgeon to perform the surgery, they say you should be responsible for post-operative care. This means following all of their instructions down to the letter. Be vigilant about rest and recovery to allow proper healing time for all the facelift challenging areas.
Your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic like Keflex or Bactrim that you need to take for the first several days after surgery. This is to prevent infection and reduce swelling. If you don’t know how to take this medicine, call your doctor and ask how. You mustn’t alter any aspect of treatment without first checking with them.
Avoiding Painful Stretches And Sit-Ups
Your face will be covered in bandages, and you should not disrupt it. You can stretch your neck muscles safely but avoid overstretching. Do not strain to reach the ground or anything that would put pressure on your face.
If you are recovering from a neck lift, sit-ups also need to be avoided for the first few days after surgery. This is because the muscles in your neck are already strained, and sit-ups would place unnecessary pressure on them. Let your doctor know if you think you might need to do crunches or other ab exercises for core strength, as they will be able to provide alternatives that use different muscles.
Avoid Showers And Swimming For The First Five Days
After surgery, your face will be red and swollen. You should avoid taking showers during the first five days after surgery to prevent this from becoming worse. If you need to wash your body, do so with a wet washcloth and by patting dry instead of rubbing vigorously.
If you want to go swimming or take a bath for pleasure or comfort, you should wait five days after surgery to do so. Do not go swimming for exercise until you can do so without worrying about your bandages being submerged in water for too long.
Stay Away From Stressful Situations
This is especially important during the first few days after surgery, but it will still be necessary even as you recover. Staying away from situations that will cause you to get upset can promote proper healing, and it prevents overstretching of the muscles in your face. This means avoiding arguments or emotional conversations during recovery.
Protect Your Eyes And Ears
You should avoid making sudden movements that could disturb your bandages. This includes jumping up suddenly when startled or jerking your head around. Do not allow children to play with you, and keep contact with pets to a minimum.
Everyone has some degree of ear wax in their ears naturally. However, this is not the case after surgery. It would be best if you took care to avoid allowing water or any other foreign object from entering your ears during your recovery period for this reason.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated And Moisturized
When you are recovering from surgery, your skin is likely to be very dry. This is because your face will change drastically after surgery, with the swelling and inflammation dehydrating the surrounding tissues. Keeping your face moisturized throughout recovery is essential to reduce this side effect. You can do so with coconut oil which has natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Avoid Touching Your Face And Going Out In The Sun
As you heal, it is essential to avoid touching your face or putting pressure on it in any way. It would be best if you also stayed out of the sun (or any other UV source) because this will cause hyperpigmentation that may last for weeks after surgery.
Touching your face and going in the sun without protection can also cause bruising and changes in resistance because your hands will be covered with bacteria. This is why it is best to use a cotton swab or glove when touching your face while recovering from surgery.
Exercise Regularly But Slowly
Recovery is not the time to begin a new exercise regimen after surgery. However, it is still essential to keep your body healthy and strong. Even if you are restricted from doing sit-ups or running for several weeks, you can still do crunches that safely work out different muscle groups. Start with medium-intensity exercises like walking or swimming, and avoid high-impact activities like running.
Exercise will also help you stay positive and focused throughout your recovery process, resulting in better healing.
Avoid Eating Large Meals Right After Surgery
It would be best to work with your doctor to avoid overeating right after surgery for two reasons. The first is that it prevents bloating and excess gas accumulation, putting pressure on the tissues surrounding the surgical site. The second reason is that overeating will result in you needing to go to the bathroom more frequently, impacting wound healing.
Try To Get As Much Rest As Possible
Resting your body is an integral part of recovery after surgery. It would be best if you tried to sleep as much as possible during this time for two reasons. First, it helps to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting up, which prevents problems like blood clots. Second, it gives your body time to heal and regenerate.
Take It Easy And Do Not Overdo Your Recovery Process
Recovery is not a race. You can go as fast or slow as you want with your recovery process, but pushing yourself too hard during the first few days after surgery will be harmful to your progress. If you are careful, it should only take around two weeks to recover from surgery. However, there is no limit if you want to continue your recovery after these basic guidelines are satisfied.
Healing after surgery is an ongoing process, and there are no universal rules for everyone. Every person’s body responds differently to surgery, so there is no “one size fits all” solution for recovery. Follow these guidelines as closely as possible during the early stages of your recovery, but follow your surgeon’s instructions above all else.