Facelift surgery may take 1-2 weeks to heal enough to be able to put make-up on and go back to the office. Here are 11 tips to heal faster and to hide your surgery:
– homeopathic medications before and after surgery
– avoid blood thinners before and after surgery
– get optimal skin care before surgery
– body position right after surgery, including icing right after surgery
– control your high blood pressure before and after surgery
– use antibiotic cream
– change your hairstyle right after surgery, grow your hair longer, or get extensions
– use anti-bruising cream
– avoid vigorous exercise right after surgery
– wear makeup over the areas of bruising and swelling
Before you even have surgery, some people feel that Arnica, a homeopathic medicine, may help reduce swelling and bruising. You should take 1-2 tablets the night before surgery and several tablets after surgery, to help with healing. Arnica cream, right after surgery applied to areas of bruising, may also help to reduce pain and swelling.
Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and even certain foods and supplements may make your blood thinner, causing more bruising and swelling right after surgery. To get the fastest healing possible, you should consult with your Plastic Surgeon about what medications and foods to avoid, before and right after your facelift.
Optimal Skin Care includes mainly prescription medications, such as Retin-A, hydroquinone, glycolic soap and peels, and other lotions. Great skin care before surgery allows your collagen to be more organized and thicker, so that you can heal faster after your surgery. This should be started at least 1-2 months before your facelift.
Right after surgery, your body position should be optimized to reduce swelling and bruising as well. Your head should be elevated and above your heart level. You may also want your head to rest on pillows.
You should have ice packs or cold compresses available to place on your face, to reduce swelling.
Patients with high blood pressure should monitor and control their blood pressure before and after surgery. Do not forget your hypertension medications! High blood pressure may contribute to swelling right after surgery and lowering your blood pressure with medication will help.
You will probably be told to use antibiotic cream right after surgery to help your incisions heal. It is important to do this consistently, because this cream will help your incision heal faster and form less scar tissue.
Changing your hair style right after your facelift is a good distraction. Your friends and family will be visually directed towards a change in hair color, extensions, or a different cut. You may want to wear your hair longer than usual before surgery, since the longer hair after surgery can help hide your surgical sites. Longer hair over the forehead may distract from a forehead lift and hair over the ear areas may hide the ear incisions.
You want to avoid exercise for several weeks until your Plastic Surgeon says it is ok. Exercise increases your heart rate and blood pressure, which increases bleeding and swelling in your surgical areas. You should wait until your incisions have healed before working out.
Wearing makeup is also an alternative. Again, you should ask your Plastic Surgeon when you can apply makeup to your facelift areas, which can hide or camouflage your surgery.
Check with your plastic surgeon to talk in depth about your individualized plan to recover from your face lift surgery.