Facelift recovery: types and how to heal faster

Aging is a natural process, most of us start to notice it on our face at the age of 30, But what you should know is that there are different treatments available to modify these unwelcome changes. If you don’t want to go under the knife, there are many options available such as facial botox injections, which you can get from a professional botox clinic. If you are looking for something more permanent and fast, one of the most effective is facelift (Invasive and Noninvasive facelift) or rhytidectomy.

A rhytidectomy (facelift) seeks to smooth deep wrinkles, contour your face and define certain facial characteristics. To improve results there are treatments like MLD that also help you to heal faster and have long lasting results. You can consult experts like Ageless Skin Rejuvenation for additional guidance.

Let’s start with the basis.

What is facelift?

It is a surgery that lifts and firms sagging facial tissues to restore naturally your own youthful facial appearance. In other words, this procedure helps the patient look like a younger version of him/herself.

As all surgeries, face-lifting must be performed by a certified plastic surgeon. She/he will remove excess and sagging skin, smooth deep folds, and lift and tighten the deep facial tissues. 

How is facelift performed?

During the surgery a flap of skin on each side of your face will be pulled back, and tissues below your skin will be surgically altered to return the contour of your face to a more youthful shape. Before the flap is sutured closed, excess skin is removed. In addition, for some cases a neck lift (platysmaplasty) is often done too, in order to reduce fat deposits and sagging skin on your neck.

Keep in mind that not all of you may need the same type of facelift for that reason there are two types of these surgeries. Let’s have a look.

Types of facelift: 

Mini facelift

In this procedure, your surgeon may use local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia; she/he will recommend the best option according to your needs. The main objective is to address the annoying signs of aging before they become too pronounced. In addition, it avoids the need for more extensive surgery for many years.

Standard facelift

Your surgeon will make incisions just behind your hairline, starting near the temples, and around the front of your ear. These incisions will be hidden in your natural folds. Your surgeon will reposition the deeper tissues beneath the skin and remove excess skin to smooth creases, eliminate sagging skin under your cheeks and chin, and give you back the naturally youthful contour to your face and neck. This kind of surgery can last 3 hours.

Facelift recovery 

The recovery process is fast for more patients (2 to 4 weeks).

Follow all your surgeon’s instructions for aftercare and returning to activity.

As every patient heals differently, you may need different techniques to heal faster and have better outcomes.

Keep in mind that people (family, friends, coworkers) may notice this surgery because bruising and swelling are completely normal after this procedure. The peak will be 2 days after surgery and it will take 10 to 14 days for swelling and bruising to disappear. So, to heal and get rid of  swelling and bruising faster, you should start your MLD sessions as soon as possible.

If you want to hide bruises, you can wear camouflage makeup, ask your surgeon for advice.

It is key to keep your face protected from the sun. You will be more vulnerable to sunburn for several weeks after surgery, besides, when you avoid sun, scars heal fast. If you want to spend some time out, always wear a  hat and apply sunscreen regularly.

How to have better, faster and long-lasting results?

It is normal after any plastic surgery procedure to  notice hardness, water retention, swelling, hematoma or lumpiness on treated areas. In addition to the aftercare you do at home, book your post-surgery aftercare treatment as soon as possible to get better, faster and long lasting results.

Our  Post surgery treatment for facelift is based on MLD. It helps you to:

• Reduce swelling, bruisers, lumps.
• Ease pain.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.
• Drain excess fluids or avoid fluid retention.
• It will give you a sensation of calm and comfort. 
• Shape your face.
• Speed up the recovery process. 
• Increase wound healing.
• Have better and long lasting results.
• Reduce fibrosis

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) helps to move the fluid by gently pumping it back into the lymph vessels, reducing the swelling, retention of fluids and pain after the surgery. 

Without Lymph Massage (MLD) the inflammation can evolve into fibrosis (a permanent hardening of the tissue) or a seroma (pocket of serum).

What you should look for…

Take into account that your body is different from others, so what works for others may not work on you. Also, each person is different and responds in a different way to each treatment; for this reason, our treatment is tailor made session by session. All what we do is based on your needs and the evolution you have. 

To tailor your treatment:

• First, the professional should observe what your body/face needs. 
• Then, evaluate the condition of your recovery process in each session.
•  Finally, evaluate how you respond to any appliance used on the treated area. 

According to this evaluation, the professional will decide what works best on you and how to continue with your treatment. If you are far away from our Clinic and can’t visit us, seek a clinic near that creates your treatment based on your needs not on what they want to sell. Last but not least, the place you choose must treat you as you deserve! Always look for what treats you better!

A final word

You may not feel like “normal” for a couple of weeks. However, with proper aftercare treatment, you may love how your face looks after this procedure.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. If you like this blog, please share!

We are always happy to help.

https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/face/facelift-guide/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/face-lift/about/pac-20394059