If you’ve already read our in-depth Facelift 101 Guide and you’re here for more details about facelift (rhytidectomy) recovery before you book your consultation, this in-depth resource will fully prepare you for the best possible experience.
Our Plastic + Hand team has the most qualified facelift and neck lift surgeons in Maine. From consultation to your final beautiful results, we’re committed to providing the results you seek with the respect and compassion you deserve every step of the way.
In the meantime, let’s detail facelift recovery.
Facelift surgery and immediate post-op
During your consultation, you will work closely with your Plastic + Hand surgeon to create a facelift plan before surgery, including your expectations and realistic goals. Your surgeon will also help determine the specific facelift or neck lift procedure that is right for you, which we outline in our Facelift Procedure Guide.
While we detail the actual facelift procedure in our Facelift 101 Guide, here’s the basic steps of facelift surgery:
- It is usually performed using general anesthesia.
- It will take about 2 to 4 hours, depending on how many areas of the face are involved. During the facelift surgery, your surgeon will remove excess fat, tighten underlying muscles, and re-drape the skin of your face. Structural fat grafting and skin resurfacing may also be recommended to achieve the best results.
- You will likely have small drainage tubes placed within your tissue to keep fluid from accumulating. These are typically removed at your post-op appointment within the first week. Your surgeon will advise on next steps for your sutures.
- Immediately after surgery, you will wake up and recover in the recovery room where your progress will be monitored and most discomfort you’ll feel can be controlled with medication. After a few hours, a friend or relative can drive you home.
- After surgery, you’ll have bandages on your face, and you’ll be placed into a (surgeon-provided) face bra to provide support and comfort, manage swelling, and help your skin adapt to its new contour.
- You will also head home with specific post-op instructions that are tailored to your individual procedure to ensure the most successful at-home recovery.
Immediate post-op rhytidectomy recovery
Immediately after surgery, your body will start healing. This presents as inflammation and swelling. Your surgical drains will help drain fluids, and you’ll wear your (surgeon-provided) face bandage 24/7 (except bathing) for the first two weeks to manage swelling and help your skin adapt to its new contour.
While your priority is rest, you should take short walks to promote good blood circulation. You will use two pillows at bedtime and keep your head elevated. You should also not bend forward from the waist during this time.
Easing into resumed activity
It’s important to listen to your body cues in your recovery process, and not do too much, too soon.
Here are some general recommendations for resuming activity after your facelift:
- At 2 weeks: You can resume most sedentary activities.
- At 4-6 weeks: You can likely resume everyday activity and light workouts, without strenuous exercise.
- At 6+ weeks: You can likely resume all regular activity but listen to your body cues as you increase activity. Work your way up to your usual activity by 9 weeks.
If you have specific questions about resuming activities after a facelift or neck lift, please discuss it directly with your surgeon.
Facelift sun protection
It’s important to avoid direct sun exposure for the first 2-3 weeks after your facelift procedure. This sun exposure could increase swelling, cause inflammation, and alter the new scar pigmentation.
While your surgeon will provide specific recommendations post-op, here’s some general recommendations:
- At 2 weeks: Keep covered with protective items like wide hats, face shields, scarves, and sunglasses.
- At 3+ weeks: Diligently apply and re-apply sunscreen, avoid direct sun exposure, and wear protective hats and clothing. Apply silicone gel to your scars. To best protect your skin, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day, even in the winter.
Final facelift results
Before surgery, your surgeon will help you visualize your facelift outcome and agreement on realistic post-op outcomes.
Shortly after surgery, you’ll get a good sense of how your face will look, but swelling is expected and normal for several weeks. Because the healing process is gradual, you may not see the final result for up to three months. It may also take up to six months for incision lines to fade, which can easily be concealed by your hair or makeup in the meantime.
A facelift gives you a fresh and youthful appearance that you can enjoy for years. It’s important to note that no facelift can stop your face from aging indefinitely. Once your skin loosens and sags again, you might want to adjust your look with a secondary facelift procedure.
Protecting your facelift results
A facelift is an important investment to protect.
As part of your Plastic + Hand facelift procedure, you will receive a free consultation with our skincare practice, Skin Solutions. You will learn about the treatments, products, and regime that are specifically tailored to bring out the best in your skin.
And, if you’d like to maintain your youthful look with injectables, our Plastic + Hand team has the most qualified experts in facial aesthetics in Maine.
I’m ready for facelift surgery; what’s next?
While there are many reasons to seek facelift and neck lift procedures (notably achieving a fresh, youthful appearance that you can enjoy for years), our leading facelift and neck lift surgeons in Portland, Maine, will work with you on realistic expectations prior to the surgery.
As part of the largest and most trusted plastic surgery center in Northern New England, our Plastic + Hand surgeons have successfully completed the most facelifts in the region.
We also want to take this moment and thank you for considering Plastic + Hand for your facelift or neck lift. Our work and our dedication is about you. We’re committed to providing the results you seek with the respect and compassion you deserve.
It’s time to discover the results you’ll love. The first step begins here. Call us at 207-775-3446, or submit this request form, to schedule your consultation with our Patient Care Coordinator to determine whether a facelift or neck lift is right for you.
