Face Lift, Care After
The following information offers guidance on how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
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Swelling.
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Mild to moderate pain.
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Bruising.
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Numbness.
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Drainage from the incisions.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
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Apply your antibiotic ointment as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if your condition improves.
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Do not take any other medicines without first telling your health care provider.
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Ask your health care provider if the medicine prescribed to you:
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Requires you to avoid driving or using machinery.
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Can cause constipation. You may need to take these actions to prevent or treat constipation:
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Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
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Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
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Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as beans, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried or sweet foods.
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Incision care

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Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incisions. Make sure you:
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Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
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Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
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Leave stitches (sutures), staples, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
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Check your incisions every day for signs of infection. Check for:
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More redness, swelling, or pain.
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More fluid or blood.
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Warmth.
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Pus or a bad smell.
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Keep the dressing clean and dry until your health care provider says you can remove it.
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Do not immerse your face during a bath. Do not swim or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers and wash your hair.
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Avoid direct sun exposure to the incisions for 3 weeks. After that, use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling
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If directed, put ice on sore and swollen areas. To do this:
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Put ice in a plastic bag.
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Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
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Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
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Remove the ice if your skin turns bright red. This is very important. If you cannot feel pain, heat, or cold, you have a greater risk of damage to the area.
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Keep your head and neck raised (elevated) while resting or sleeping.
Activity
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If you were given a sedative during the procedure, it can affect you for several hours. Do not drive or operate machinery until your health care provider says that it is safe.
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Return to your regular activities gradually. You should be able to do most activities in about 2 weeks.
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For 4 weeks, avoid activities that take a lot of effort, including exercise that causes your heart to beat faster (aerobic exercise).
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Rest as told by your health care provider.
General instructions
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In the weeks right after a face lift, you will want to avoid:
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Coloring, bleaching, or perming your hair for at least 6 weeks.
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Wearing clothes that are pulled over your head. Instead, wear clothes that fasten in the front.
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Using makeup.
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Excessive pressure or pulling on and around the incisions.
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Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. These products include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping devices, such as e-cigarettes. These can delay incision healing after surgery. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if you have:
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Pain that does not improve or gets worse.
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Bruising or swelling that lasts longer than 14 days.
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More redness, swelling, or pain around an incision.
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More fluid or blood coming from an incision.
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An incision that feels warm to the touch.
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Pus or a bad smell coming from an incision.
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A fever.
Get help right away if you have:
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Chest pain.
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Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
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Irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
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Severe pain on one side of your face or neck within 24 hours of surgery.
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Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away.
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Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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After this procedure, it is common to have swelling, bruising, and mild to moderate pain.
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Follow your health care provider’s instructions about activities, incision care, treating pain, and when to return to your regular activities.
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Check your incisions every day for signs of infection. Watch for more redness, swelling, or pain, more fluid or blood, warmth, or pus or a bad smell.
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Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes or other vaping devices. These can delay incision healing after surgery. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
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Get help right away if you have chest pain or trouble breathing, or if you have severe pain on one side of your face or neck within 24 hours of surgery.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.