5 Aftercare Tips for Facelift Surgery

Signs of aging start gradually and increase over time, with fine lines turning into wrinkles and skin laxity progressing to sagging. If these changes affect how you feel about yourself and your interactions with others, it may be time to consider facelift surgery. This procedure is the most effective way to restore your face to its youthful, rejuvenated appearance. Whether alone or in combination with other procedures, a facelift provides powerful anti-aging benefits that help you look and feel like yourself again.

What is Facelift Surgery?

The medical name for a facelift is rhytidectomy, which most simply means “a procedure to remove wrinkles.” However, it does much more than that. While wrinkles are one sign of aging, others include an increase in skin laxity, loosening of the muscles and underlying support structures, and loss of facial volume. Facelift surgery addresses these concerns by lifting and smoothing the skin and underlying structures for a refreshed, youthful look.

How is a Facelift Performed?

At Specialty Aesthetic Surgery, your facelift will be performed by one of our two facial plastic surgery experts, Dr. Grigoriy Mashkevich or Dr. Anna Frants. Both specialize in facial procedures and perform facelifts with an eye for natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing results.

Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you will not feel any discomfort. Your surgeon will use incisions around the ears and hidden within the hairline to lift and restore your skin, smoothing away wrinkles and tightening sagging areas. Advanced surgical techniques allow them to sculpt natural-looking results that never look tight or overdone.

A facelift is often combined with a neck lift to address the entire lower face, jawline, and neck for a more sculpted look. People also choose to combine their facelifts with other procedures, such as eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty.

5 Aftercare Tips for Facelift Surgery

The recovery time after rhytidectomy can have a significant effect on your final results. Your surgeon and surgical team will review the details of your recovery instructions with you and are always available to answer questions.

You will receive pain medication for the first few days, after which most people manage well with over-the-counter medications. You will receive instructions on how to clean your incisions and when to return for your follow-up visits. Most people can return to work within one to two weeks and their usual activities, including exercise, after four to six weeks.

These tips will make your recovery more comfortable and let you focus your energy on healing:

Enlist Your Support System

During the first 24 hours, you can expect to spend a lot of time resting and little else. It can be helpful to have someone stay with you during this time so they can help, especially if you have children or pets that require care. You may also not be able to drive while taking pain medication.

Listen to Your Body

Each person heals differently, so some may have more energy than others or feel better more quickly. We recommend listening to your body and giving it the rest it needs. Resume your regular daily activities as you feel comfortable, as long as they follow your surgeon’s instructions.

Get Enough Nutrition

Your body needs plenty of nutrients to heal, so even if you do not have much of an appetite for a few days, ensure you are eating sufficient healthy food and drinking enough water. You can prepare foods before your procedure and freeze them to make eating well more convenient while recovering.

Keep Moving

After about 24 hours, most people feel comfortable getting up and doing light activities around the house. Moving around will promote circulation and reduce swelling, so while rest is important, try to spend some time walking around the house after the first day. Do not lift anything heavy or exert yourself too much.

Avoid Overdoing It

One common mistake is trying to return to work, exercise, or other tasks too quickly. It can be difficult to prioritize healing time for yourself, but pushing too hard can affect your results and even your health. Your surgeon will assess your progress and tell you when you can return to various activities.

Am I a Good Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

Rhytidectomy is a highly customizable procedure, allowing your surgeon to achieve your desired results with as few incisions as possible. Good candidates for the procedure should be generally healthy and have realistic expectations. There is no “best age” for a facelift since lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity occur at different ages for different people. The typical candidate is bothered by loose or sagging skin, wrinkles, and other signs of aging that no longer respond to non-surgical methods.

Take the Next Step – Request a Consultation

Want to learn more about facelifts? Schedule your consultation online or by calling Specialty Aesthetic Surgery at (212) 737-8700. We look forward to working with you!

Specialty Aesthetic Surgery serves the greater NYC metro area.

About Our Surgeons

Bruce Moskowitz is an experienced and board-certified oculoplastic surgeon. His practice encompasses all areas of oculoplastic cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has a well-known reputation for revision surgery, and a large portion of his practice comes from other colleagues to revise sub-optimal outcomes.

Grigoriy Mashkevich is an experienced and double-board certified facial plastic surgeon. He belongs to a highly select group of surgeons with a focused specialization in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose, face, and neck.

Dr. Anna Frants is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who is experienced in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Her areas of expertise include surgery of the face, neck, nose, eyelids, eyebrows, and ears.

*Individual results may vary