Recovering from a facelift surgery doesn’t always have to painful and uncomfortable. Some pain and swelling should be expected, but getting enough rest and taking care of yourself can help to reduce swelling and ease the recovery process. While the length of recovery may differ depending on the procedure and from person to person, here are a few facelift recovery tips for a speedy recovery.
Tips to Follow After a Facelift
Pay Attention to Post-Operative Instructions 
To avoid additional swelling, discomfort and pain, pay attention to your surgeon’s instructions. The aftercare instructions aim to help your incisions heal well and speed up the recovery process. Typical instructions often include:
- Eating foods that are easy to chew as prolonged chewing may result in extra swelling.
- Leaving the bandages alone unless you’re instructed to change or remove them. This helps to prevent infections.
Take All Medications as Prescribed
Avoiding vigorous activities or strenuous exercises as they can increase blood flow to the head leading to increased pressure and swelling. Activities to skip out on include bending over, heavy lifting and straining the body in any way. You can start walking, say, around the house to encourage good blood circulation — but take it easy.
Use a Cold Compress
Stay away from heat and apply a cold compress to your face and eyes during the first few days after the procedure. Cold helps to reduce swelling while also numbing the nerve endings in the area to reduce pain and discomfort. Heat, on the other hand, increases blood flow to the area that may result in increased swelling.
You also want to avoid direct sunlight for up to six weeks after surgery. When using a cold compress, make sure it’s tightly sealed so it won’t leak all over your face.
Keep Your Head Up to Improve Healing
Whenever you’re resting or before you sleep, make sure your head is elevated. The elevation will go a long way in helping to reduce swelling and draining fluid away from the facial area. Your surgeon will most likely recommend that you prop your head up using pillows as you sleep or when you’re sitting back in a chair to watch TV.
Rest as Much as You Can
Healing is a natural process that the body must do on its own. However, some activities can jumpstart the process and give your body the energy it needs to accelerate the healing process, by getting plenty of sleep, relaxing and resting, you empower your body to heal faster.
Consume Healthy Whole Foods
Eating solids after a facelift surgery may be difficult so consider purchasing some meal replacement shakes to drink while you’re recovering. If you can eat solids, soft foods that are easy to chew and digest may be the best.
Showering and Grooming Precautions
Be sure to check with your surgeon before resuming normal grooming activities. You may want to avoid combing or washing your hair or applying makeup for at least a few days after the surgery.
Bottom Line
Typically, the outcome of your facelift will become evident after you’ve made a full recovery. That’s why it’s important to be cautious during the recovery process, to ensure that no complications can arise. We’ve curated this list of facelift recovery tips to follow to ensure that you’re moving towards a speedy recovery. For the best outcome, work with a competent surgeon with a track record of proven results.