Plastic surgery is an investment in yourself. And one of the most popular plastic surgery interventions performed nowadays is the facelift. A facelift or a mini facelift can bring numerous benefits for patients worried about showing signs of aging. More than this, the results are long-lasting, and the procedure can literally erase several years off your face. With face lifting, we can eliminate sagging skin from the face and neck level, redefine the jawline, and achieve a refined profile, smoother skin, and a youthful appearance.

Before scheduling the plastic surgery procedure to rejuvenate the face, most patients want to know what happens after surgery is over and how is the recovery period. How long swelling lasts after a facelift is one of the frequently asked questions. But before answering this, let’s see what the facelift involves, how the surgery is performed and what patients can expect after the intervention.

Why patients choose facelift surgery?

The facelift surgery results can be stunning when the procedure is performed by a talented, experienced board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Essie Yates at the Yates Institute for Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale.

There are obvious aesthetic benefits when undergoing a facelift; however, there are also plenty of psychological benefits that are worth considering. In a vast majority of cases, people choose to get a facelift to:

• Boost self-confidence and self-esteem

As we age, we might be confronted with a body image that we find difficult to resonate with. Some of us can get to a point in life when we look in the mirror and ask ourselves when we got to look so tired and old. Some of us don’t feel the age, and the realization that we show the world a different image than what we feel inside can be a good reason to undergo plastic surgery. Some of us might have children late in life, or a new spouse, or a new, exciting life – and we’d like to look our best and even rewind time for a bit.

A facelift can erase some of the signs of aging at the level of the face. Saggy skin, the loss of facial volume, droopy jaws can all be corrected by recontouring the neck and lower part of the face. As a result, you will look younger, more attractive, and you’ll also notice improved levels of self-esteem.

• Be more successful

When you exude self-confidence through all the pores, and you feel comfortable in your own skin, this has effects in all areas of life. A facelift can improve more than your physical appearance, and it can also change how you interact in the social or professional field. Patients undergoing the procedure might find it easier to make new friends, go out more, and even be more pro-active and take on new challenges in their professional life.

And these are just some of the reasons why facelift surgery is so in demand nowadays. But what happens after the facelift surgery?

Recovery after the facelift

In most cases, the facelift surgery is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. There is a risk for the patient to experience post-operative pain, but it’s usually mild and can be easily alleviated with analgesic medication. Antibiotics can also be prescribed for five to seven days to avoid infections.

The patient should check in with the plastic surgeon who performed the procedure a couple of days after the intervention. Several post-op consultations can be scheduled at two weeks after the procedure and then after three and six months. This allows the plastic surgeon to monitor the patient after the procedure and ensure the healing process is going smoothly.

How long swelling lasts after a facelift?

The swelling and bruising can be pretty obvious in the first days after the surgery is performed. These are just natural side effects of undergoing surgical intervention. The tissues were injured during the surgery, and they need time to heal. The swelling can last to two weeks or even more in some cases. To minimize the swelling and bruising, patients are advised to wear the compressive bandages recommended by the plastic surgeon. This helps with the skin retraction on the new contours and also reduces swelling.

More than this, the plastic surgeon will also advise you to keep the head up and not bent forward after the intervention is performed. Don’t lift any heavy objects for at least two weeks and avoid intense physical activities so the swelling can subside quickly.

Sleeping with your head elevated on a few pillows can also be efficient in reducing edema. You should do this as soon as you get back home from the medical facility where the procedure was performed. Also, applying ice packs or compresses with cold water on the face and neck can help reduce swelling and bruising in the first days post-op.

To avoid unpleasant side effects after the surgery, avoid touching, hitting, or bumping your face and neck, as well as hot baths and showers for at least a week or two.

Final words

A facelift is a plastic surgery intervention that can lift and pull the saggy skin on the face and neck for a smoother, youthful-looking appearance. When the intervention is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon, the results can be spectacular and long-lasting. The recovery period after a facelift is of two to four weeks, and the patient should follow a set of recommendations during this time to reduce the swelling and bruising.