Facelift Recovery, Week by Week
A facelift recovery runs to two to four weeks before most patients return to ordinary life, with swelling continuing to settle beyond that. This page sets out what happens on the day, in the first week, the second week and at one month.
Recovery from a facelift is measured in weeks for daily life and in months for the final appearance. Knowing which is which prevents a good deal of unnecessary alarm in the first fortnight.
The day of surgery
Expect grogginess from the anaesthetic and a distinct sensation of tightness across the face. Drains may be placed and are usually removed within one to two days. Bandages are applied to limit swelling and bruising. Both swelling and bruising are normal and expected — nothing about the face on day one indicates what the result will be.
The first few days
Swelling and bruising begin to reduce. Numbness in the treated areas is normal. Keep the head elevated, sleep on your back with pillows, and avoid bending and straining. Incisions are cleaned twice daily with soap and water. No make-up or lotion until your surgeon says so.
Most of the swelling resolves within two weeks, though complete resolution can take up to six.
Week one
Energy improves and the face begins to look like itself again. Bruising and swelling subside, but this is not the result — it is too early to judge anything. Light activity such as walking is encouraged. Cool compresses help with both discomfort and swelling.
Week two
Most patients return to work at this point, provided the work is not physically strenuous. Bruising and swelling are minimal, and bruising can generally be covered once your surgeon confirms it is safe to apply make-up. Tingling in the skin is normal. The scars are still visible and are still healing.
One month
Strenuous activity and exercise can usually resume. The result becomes apparent as the remaining swelling settles. Tingling and a sense of tightness are still common and still normal. Scars continue to fade, and full fading can take up to twelve months.
Preparing before the operation
Practical preparation removes friction from the first week: meals prepared and frozen in advance, comfortable clothing that does not need to be pulled over the head, and a comfortable place set up to rest with pillows to hand.
Looking after the incisions
Stay hydrated and eat well — healing is a metabolic process and it needs fuel. Keep the head elevated. Keep the incisions clean and dry. Keep them out of direct sunlight; UV exposure on an immature scar causes pigmentation that is difficult to reverse. Take any supplements your surgeon has recommended, and no others without asking.
Throughout, the instructions from the surgeon who operated on you take precedence over anything written here. They know what was done and how much.
The procedure this relates to
Rhytidectomy — surgery that addresses the descent of the face and neck by repositioning the deeper tissues, tightening the underlying muscle and removing the skin that is left over. Results typically last up to ten years.
Before you act on this
Everything here is general. What applies to you depends on your anatomy, your history and what you are trying to achieve, and none of that can be assessed from a page. If a question here is yours, bring it to a consultation.