Facelift Recovery Timeline in Scottsdale: When Will You Look Normal Again?

Early facelift recovery can be scary, especially when you see a bruised and swollen face in the mirror. This blog discusses normal recovery milestones, including when patients can resume normal activities, like going out to dinner with friends, and when bruising improves, so patients can get through recovery without stress or anxiety.

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What Will I Look Like During Facelift Recovery?

Facelifts offer transformative results by combating signs of facial aging, such as jowls, loose skin, creases and wrinkles, as well as loss of facial contour. But in order to achieve to those results, you have to get through and complete the facelift recovery process.

While surgery is never fun, facelift recovery is not as bad as it seems, and many patients start feeling like themselves again after about two weeks. To make this process clear and manageable, we’ve detailed what you can expect from facelift recovery week by week, including aesthetic healing milestones and helpful tips for maintaining your facelift result for the long run.

Facelift Recovery Progress Week By Week

Immediate Post-op Results

Immediately after your facelift, you won’t be looking your best, but that’s to be expected. You will wake up from surgery with gauze and bandages around your cheeks and neck. Also, you will become swollen and may have some bruising especially if you had eyelid surgery at the same time.

Most patients will recover the first night at our state-certified overnight recovery center. You will most likely sleep the rest of the night. The staff will keep you comfortable and be certain all of your needs are met.

Day 1 Post-Op

The next day, your responsible caregiver will take you home. Instructions will include sleeping elevated with several pillows which reduces swelling and can make you more comfortable.

You’re likely feeling more discomfort now that the anesthesia has fully worn off. Any persistent pain can be improved with over-the-counter pain medications or prescriptions from your doctor.

You will soon have a follow-up appointment during which your surgeon will remove your drains, replace the gauze with a compression strap, and check your sutures and early healing progress.

Bruising will likely progress, and your face may look slightly odd or disfigured due to swelling. This is nothing to worry about—your facial aesthetics will continue to improve over time—but be aware that bruising and swelling, and thus your discomfort and appearance, will peak around days three to four, but should improve after that.

Week 1 Post-op

Throughout your first seven days of facelift recovery, you’ll experience some changes to your appearance and feelings of discomfort. After swelling and bruising peak around day three, your bruising will start to change color, appearing more yellow-green than purple. Although this doesn’t look the best, it’s a sign you’re healing. Your skin may feel tight, as well, and some temporary numbness is also normal.

It’s important that you be patient with yourself and avoid rushing the healing process. Your first week of recovery might be challenging for a few reasons. In the first half, you may feel very tired, groggy, and weak, while in the second half, you might start to feel like yourself—but your activities are still strictly limited! Most patients start to feel antsy around the end of their first week of recovery.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Balance light, daily movement like walking around the house with plenty of rest; maintaining some light movement improves blood circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots.
• It is normal to tire easily; rest when this happens.
• Eat plenty of nutritious foods and stay hydrated.
• Be patient with your healing.

Week 2 Post-op

During your second week of recovery, you’ll likely hit some major healing milestones. Your surgeon will remove the sutures, which should make your recovery a little more comfortable. Most of your bruising should be healed, with some possible lingering marks that can easily be hidden by makeup, and swelling should be greatly improved, but not gone altogether. Minor, subtle swelling can linger for a few weeks or months after surgery.

At the end of your second week of recovery (day 14), you might be feeling confident enough in your appearance to go out to dinner with friends or run some errands, especially with a bit of makeup. Take it slow, but enjoy time out of the house. While you might not look “normal” and your final results are still a ways off, this is usually when patients start to feel like themselves again.

First Month Post-op

After four weeks, you are likely seeing some beautiful results: Your skin is no longer uncomfortably tight, but is smooth and taut; your jawline and chin are more pronounced; and wrinkles and creases are significantly less. In most patients, a large share of the swelling has dissipated, but a small amount may remain, which is typically not noticeable by others.

Numbness is also greatly improved, and you will definitely start to get excited about your new look.

Months 1–3 Post-op

This is typically the time when patients are ecstatic with their results. There should be no noticeable swelling or bruising, and you can really enjoy the full extent of your facelift. Once you’re back to full activities, including exercise, you can live your best life, feeling revitalized and beautiful!

How to Maintain the Results of Your Facelift

Once you’ve fully recovered from your facelift, you can perfect your results in a few ways, namely by improving your facial skin appearance. Gentle CO2 laser resurfacing can treat acne scars and dull skin, while microneedling promotes collagen production and dull skin for a glowing result, and a soothing HydraFacial® is an excellent way to maintain dewy, supple skin.

In addition to these treatments, there’s no substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding excessive drinking and smoking is essential, as is avoiding excessive sun exposure. Sun damage breaks down collagen and elastin, increasing your risk for advanced facial aging, so sunscreen is a must, daily.

Healthy, glowing skin is always a lovely complement to a contoured and lifted facelift result.

Want to Learn More About Facelifts in Scottsdale, AZ?

Dr. Robert Spies provides facelift results that turn back the clock without erasing your natural beauty and facial characteristics. With a compassionate nature and a gentle touch, Dr. Spies provides stunning facelift results with less trauma and a smoother recovery, so you can enjoy your results sooner. Call our office today at (480) 359-1019 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation and get started.