While the facelift surgery recovery time varies depending on what procedure you underwent, it generally has the same pattern.
The First Week Of Recovery
During this time, follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully and care for your incision carefully to avoid complications later.
Day 1
The procedure is generally done under anaesthesia, meaning you won’t feel a thing while it happens. Once it happens, the next course of action is to help your body heal.
You might notice some swelling and bruising immediately after the surgery has happened. Don’t worry much about it, as it is a normal reaction of your body to indicate that it has started healing. Your facelift surgeon might wrap your head in a bandage and place small drains near the incisions to ensure that there is no fluid buildup.
During the first 24 hours, you should have someone to stay with you. Additionally, you should rest and stay on top of your medication.
Day 2
Your facelift surgeon might schedule a follow-up on this day. They will take off the bandages and assess the incisions. If everything looks fine, they will rebandage the spot and send you on your way back home to recover.
Day 3
On the 3rd day, all you need to do is rest and allow your body to heal. The swelling and bruising will peak during this time, but this only means that your body is doing a good job at healing. You might also face mild to moderate pain that can be handled by the painkillers your surgeon will prescribe.
Day 4-7
By the end of the first week of your facelift surgery, you’ll start noticing small improvements. The discomfort will slowly begin to wane, and most people don’t require prescription painkillers by then. Your bruises would start fading, but there still will be some discolouration. Start light chores to improve blood flow while avoiding anything strenuous.
The Second Week Of Recovery
During this week, you’ll feel more like yourself. While there is still some time left for you to recover completely, the worst is behind you. While there will still be some bruising and swelling near the incision spots, you will see gradual improvements in the way you look. There might be some lingering numbness and tightness because of the swelling, but it is completely normal and nothing to worry about. You can gradually start venturing out while still avoiding anything too extreme.
The Third And Fourth Week Of Recovery
By the end of the first month post your facelift high SMAS technique surgery, you’ll probably be able to get back to your normal routine. Your desired face has almost made its appearance, making you feel more comfortable than ever. Your sutures will be removed anywhere between the end of the first and third week, depending on the intensity of the procedure. While there still might be some swelling and tightness, it would have largely disappeared. Your scars will continue fading and will become less noticeable over time. During this time, stay healthy, exercise and stay hydrated.
The Final Stretch – After Day 30
After the first thirty days, your facelift results should be fully settling in, making your face appear refreshed. You can go about your life flaunting the face you’ve always wanted. It looks natural and well-rested, with no signs of surgery. While it can take up to one year for minor swelling and bruising to heal, these symptoms aren’t very obvious and can only be noticed by you.
While this is the general timeframe, it can vary from person to person and also depends on the intensity of the surgery. For instance, the facelift surgery recovery time between mini facelift & full facelift varies drastically. With the former, you can go back to your normal life within a week of the surgery. With the latter, you might need about 2 weeks to recover.