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How to Manage Swelling During Facelift Recovery

  • Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
  • The Lasky Clinic, Beverly Hills
Mature woman touching her face

Facelifts are the gold standard of facial rejuvenation, but facial swelling can make recovery more challenging than it needs to be. This blog provides helpful tips on how to reduce facial swelling after a facelift, why swelling occurs, and when patients can expect to see their swelling improve over time.

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Post-Facelift Swelling

Facial swelling after a facelift or mini facelift is a completely normal part of the healing process, but it is also one of the most common causes of residual concern and is generally a reason patients don’t feel like themselves during recovery. 

Swelling after a facelift is typical and expected, and it gradually resolves on its own. But the sooner swelling resolves, the sooner facelift patients can start feeling and looking like themselves again.

What Causes Facial Swelling After a Facelift?

After undergoing a facelift or any other cosmetic surgery, the body triggers an inflammatory response, which can lead to increased fluid and lymphatic accumulation in the treated area. To repair the tissues, the body sends blood, lymph fluid, and other healing agents to the treated area, resulting in swelling. 

How to Reduce Facial Swelling After a Facelift

  1. Head Elevation

Your surgeon will likely recommend that you sleep with your head elevated by sleeping on a recliner or using a stack of pillows for the first two weeks after surgery. This allows the lymphatic fluid to drain from the surgical area, improving swelling early on in the healing process. 

  1. Stay Hydrated & Eat Well 

Drinking water and consuming nutrient-rich foods can help reduce inflammation and support overall health and well-being. While you may be nauseated the first day after surgery, you can supplement with protein shakes and other liquids like bone broth until you’re ready to eat solid foods. After that, focus on healthy, nutrient-dense foods like: 

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Lean proteins like chicken and fish
  • Low-fat dairy products
  1. Cold Compresses

Using a cold compress, such as an ice pack, especially within the first 48 hours, helps control swelling by constricting small blood vessels and slowing blood flow to the area, as well as easing inflammation. While some swelling is normal and beneficial for the healing process, reducing it in the early stages can help minimize some of the temporary discomfort and disfigurement.

For safe use of cold compresses: 

  • Use a soft gel icepack that can mold to the contours of your face
  • Wrap the icepack in a towel; do not place ice directly on your skin
  • Place it gently on the swollen area for 20 minutes max, then remove it
  • Repeat several times a day

Always check with your surgeon and be mindful of incisions and sutures to ensure proper healing. If your skin feels irritated or too cold, discontinue use.

  1. Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions

It’s essential to follow your surgeon’s aftercare and downtime instructions, particularly those related to physical activity. Strenuous activities put stress on your body and can cause trauma to the skin and incisions. It’s best to allow your body to rest. Start with slow walks around the house, and as you regain your strength, gradually incorporate more movement. 

What Will My Face Look Like as I Recover From a Facelift?

It’s natural to be concerned about your appearance after aesthetic surgery—after all, you’ve just invested a lot of money and energy into it! Swelling and bruising are the primary detractors of your facial aesthetics during recovery, as the dark bruises and puffiness can cause your face to appear distorted and disguise your facial contours. 

This leads to another aspect of facelift recovery: the emotional toll. Many patients feel discouraged by their facial appearance in these early days of recovery, with feelings of anxiety and even regret surfacing. While this is completely normal, it’s essential to remember that these feelings will pass, and your face will heal. Facelift results continue to improve dramatically for the first few weeks, and then, minor details are refined over the next few months. 

Swelling After Surgery Timeline

Days 1–3: Swelling peaks in the first three days after surgery. Your face may also feel a little tight.

Days 4–7: Swelling will slowly reduce. This is the period of time when cold compresses and elevating your head can significantly help reduce swelling.

Week 2: Swelling should be improved enough that you feel confident going out in public to run errands or meet friends at a restaurant. While your results are not totally apparent, your facial skin is notably tighter and smoother.

Weeks 3–4: The majority of swelling and bruising should be gone at this point. This is the point at which most patients feel more energetic and start to look more like themselves.

Months 2–3: Only subtle swelling remains. Most people (other than you and your surgeon) will not be able to notice. This can continue to improve for another 3 months or so.

When Can I See the Final Results of My Facelift?

Final results can take about 3 months to a year after a facelift. Usually, around the 6-month mark is when all major swelling dissipates and you can finally see the more detailed results of your facelift:

  • Your jawline will be more contoured
  • The skin around your mouth and cheeks will be lifted
  • Wrinkles and creases will be smoothed

You can also begin some scar care once your incisions are healed. After about 6 months, your scars should be smoother, flatter, and lighter in color. Continue to protect your scars from the sun with a strong SPF to ensure they lighten as much as possible.

Schedule Your Facelift or Mini Facelift Consultation in Beverly Hills, CA

Reveal a renewed, more youthful you with a custom facelift from Dr. Leslie Stevens. To learn more about facelifts or to schedule an appointment, call (310) 556-1003 or fill out the contact form here.

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