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A facelift is cosmetic surgery that combats the visible signs of aging in the face and neck. It is a good option when you have unwanted wrinkles and sagging skin since it helps achieve a natural-looking, youthful appearance.
When considering a facelift procedure from double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kailash Narasimhan, you should understand what happens during the surgery and what you can expect in the days and weeks to come. We encourage you to call and schedule your consultation to learn more about facelift recovery and results in Tampa.
Each person’s recovery depends on several factors, such as age, underlying health, and the type of procedures performed. However, you can expect to follow a general pattern in your recovery. While it can take several months to see the final results of the surgery, your initial recovery does not take long.
You will receive detailed instructions on how to care for yourself and your incisions after surgery at your pre-op appointment. You must follow these instructions, as they reduce the potential for complications, including infection. You will probably feel unsteady and groggy during the first one to two days after surgery. Although a facelift is typically an outpatient surgery, you cannot drive yourself home.
You should have a trusted friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours. Dr. Narasimhan will prescribe pain medication, which we encourage you to take in the first one to three days to relieve discomfort. You will have a follow-up visit on the second or third day so Dr.
We recommend you rest comfortably for the first one to four days. Each day, you should start feeling better and moving around more. Bruising and swelling are usually at their worst on day three or four. Most people no longer need pain medication at the end of the first week, and you should start to see the swelling go down.
We recommend that you rest and sleep sitting up to reduce swelling and discomfort. You should avoid turning your head or bending your neck. When you must turn, move your shoulders and head as one unit.
During the second week, your swelling and bruising should begin to recede. However, you can expect it to take another one to two weeks for the bruising to completely disappear. The swelling and bruising may cause some numbness and tightness in the area.
This is common and should not cause you any concern. At the end of the second week, you will likely feel ready to return to work, depending on the type of work you do. You should still avoid heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity until your sutures and underlying tissue have completely healed. This includes straining to have a bowel movement.
Your sutures will be removed at the end of the first month. The exact timing depends on the procedures you had and how quickly your healing progresses. You may still have some residual swelling, but you will look and feel more like yourself. The incisions will look fresh and have a pinkish-red hue, but this fades over time. Stay out of direct sunlight and wear sunscreen to protect your skin and scar tissue.
You can return to normal activities once you have passed the first month. You may notice some minor swelling, tightness, and numbness for six months to one year after the surgery, but this is typically not noticeable by anyone else. By now, you have fully recovered from your facelift in Tampa, and the final results are apparent, and you can enjoy a refreshed and more youthful appearance.
Removing excess skin, tightening tissue, and redistributing fat deposits are permanent procedures. However, while these changes do not revert, plastic surgery cannot stop the aging process. For most people, the results of a facelift in Tampa and St. Petersburg can last five to 10 years after recovery.
You can help prolong this by caring for your skin and overall health. We recommend using sunscreen to protect your skin from sun exposure, including if you work in an office next to large windows. Eat nutritious meals packed with vitamins and minerals and stay well hydrated. We also recommend choosing high-quality skin care products to nourish and protect your skin.
Choosing a facelift procedure is a personal decision, and you should be as prepared as possible. We recommend that you call today to schedule your consultation and learn more about your facelift recovery and results in Tampa.
