Is There a Facelift in Your Future? Read These Important Tips for Recovery!

Sunday, 30 August 2020 14:55

Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center

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Even with the advancement of nonsurgical modalities to rejuvenate the aging face, we continue to see a strong interest in facelift surgery. Refinements in surgical techniques over the years have made it possible for people to undergo a facelift on an outpatient basis. No hospital stay required. The results that can be achieved with facelift surgery have also improved. Patients who receive care from an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon have little worry about looking “done.” Where patients do sometimes worry is in the area of recovery.

A facelift is a surgical procedure and, as such, comes with some degree of risk. These are minimized by surgical experience and by practicing good post-operative care. Patients may understand these risks and know that they will experience some degree of swelling and bruising after their procedure. Most expect to feel pain. This is usually overestimated and patients are surprised at how good they feel. Still, it is important that we not be vague about what is necessary to recovery exceedingly well from a facelift.

What Not to Do After a Facelift

One of the biggest mistakes that a person can make after undergoing any surgical procedure is to forego their pain medication. We see it too often, and it nearly always leads to unnecessary stress for the patient. Here’s what you need to know. Facelift surgery is performed under anesthesia. One of the things that anesthesia does is block the transmission of pain signals for several hours. This means that there’s a good chance that you’ll feel better than expected once you’re back home after your procedure. It is still necessary to take your pain medication as prescribed. Don’t wait it out to see how much discomfort you can tolerate. Doing so could lead to the continual chasing of pain rather than a smooth walk through recovery.

What to Do After a Facelift

One of the biggest challenges that patients can face after undergoing surgery is to prioritize their rest. We’re not taught in our society to value rest. To that end, many people find themselves feeling impatient to get back to their normal activities even while their body is still recovering from the physical stress of surgery. After a facelift, expect this to be more of a challenge than you had anticipated, and do not give in to the guilt or pressure you may feel. Continue to nap. Continue to catch up on your favorite shows or read that book that’s been on the shelf for months. Remember, rest is the fastest way to heal well.

The benefits of a surgical facelift are worth a few days of downtime. To learn more about this procedure, contact our Hazleton or Pottsville office today.