When Can I Go Out In Public After Facelift Surgery?
Anand Patel • May 18, 2020
Question:
"I'm thinking about a facelift, but concerned about taking time off work. When can I go in public without looking like a freak (or like I just had facelift surgery!)?"
Answer:
Facelift recovery is not as bad as you think. For a traditional facelift, typical at-home recovery time is 10-14 days. For the mini facelift, neck lift, and neck liposuction, standard at-home recovery time is 7 days. Immediately after surgery, a compressive dressing for a couple of days. For the following one to two weeks, a chin strap is worn to protect the incision sites and resist the ever-present pull of gravity until the neck tissues heal and become stronger. By 7-14 days, all sutures are out, bruising has generally disappeared and makeup may be applied. Most patients feel comfortable being out in public at this point.
After that, here is what you can expect:
- One month of no heavy lifting and straining.
- Most of the swelling is gone in the first month, but residual swelling can take a few more months to settle. The less active one is after surgery, the faster the swelling seems to resolve.
- Patient's usually do not have pain, but more of a "tight" sensation that relaxes somewhat over the coming months.
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