Recovering from a face lift will take a week or two, at least. You will probably have some initial discomfort, but this pain should be relieved by the pain medications prescribed by your surgeon. Your face will be swollen and you may have bruises. If you experience any severe pain or sudden swelling, you should contact your surgeon immediately.
You will probably go home the same day as your face lift surgery, but you will not be able to drive yourself home. You will need to arrange a ride. Your surgeon will give you a list of instructions to follow in the hours after you go home and in the days after your face lift. You may be instructed to place cold compresses on your face at regular intervals and sleep with your head elevated for a few days. This can help with the discomfort and will minimize bruising and swelling.
If you experience a fever over 101 degrees, sudden swelling or discoloration, bleeding, or redness or tenderness at the incisions, contact your doctor immediately.
You may also be told to avoid strenuous exercise for at least 2 weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to work and to your normal activities. He or she will also tell you when you can wear makeup again. You will probably be told to wear a good sunscreen whenever you are outside.
Face lift patients may experience a temporary loss of sensation in the skin around the incisions and the areas where tissue was moved. This is normal. You do not need to worry about this unless the numbness persists beyond the initial recovery period.
Do not expect to have your face look normal for a couple of weeks after your rhytidectomy surgery. As the bruising fades and the swelling goes down, you will start to see the results of your procedure. But it will take a few weeks for your face to heal enough for you to see the improvement.
