Facelift recovery is surprisingly mild, with most patients only needing over-the-counter pain medication at most. This blog discusses what causes facelift pain and how to minimize it for a comfortable recovery process.
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Is a Facelift Worth the Pain?
A facelift is the ultimate anti-aging procedure, providing a comprehensive rejuvenation for moderate to severe facial aging concerns. A facelift is designed to restore the face from the following concerns:
- Sunken cheeks
- A hollowed appearance
- Sagging skin along the jaw and chin
- Deep wrinkles and creases
- Fat deposits throughout the face
- Loose, weakened facial tissues
A good facelift can provide transformational results, turning back the clock 10 years or more. Despite the benefits of a facelift, many prospective patients are afraid of the facelift recovery period and the potential for pain. But even for deep plane facelifts, the post-operative recovery pain is mild to moderate—most patients don’t even need prescription pain medication, as pain typically peaks on days 1–2 and then greatly improves.
Below, we’ll discuss what facelift surgery entails, why recovery may hurt, and how to make the healing process as painless as possible.
How Does Facelift Surgery Work?
The primary goal of a facelift is to lift and/or rearrange loose or sagging structures of the face to restore a more youthful appearance in a natural-looking way. Any pain that is associated with a facelift has to do with the process of surgery; because the procedure involves manipulating skin, tissues, and muscles, as well as surgically tightening, trimming, and removing skin and fat, there is bound to be some level of recovery pain. The facelift procedure varies from surgeon to surgeon, as each uses their own distinct technique that they prefer and tailors specifically to the patient. Dr. Diamond’s facelift steps are generally as follows:
- Small incisions are made in discreet locations, usually hidden in the hairline
- The underlying facial tissues are lifted to a more youthful position
- The muscles are tightened for a more sculpted contour
- Excess skin is trimmed, and the remaining is draped in a natural way
- Incisions are carefully closed
Why Does Facelift Recovery Hurt?
Despite Dr. Diamond’s impeccable skill and ability to minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues, some small amount of pain is natural after this procedure. This is in part due to the body’s healing responses, which include swelling. As the tissues and skin swell, some amount of pressure is applied to the sutures, which can cause pain at the incision site. Additionally, the face, in particular, is sensitive, with many nerve endings contributing to post-surgical discomfort.
However, the patient never feels any pain during surgery itself, as surgeons use general anesthesia in most cases, with local anesthesia in others.
How to Help Facelift Recovery Pain
The most common facelift recovery symptoms include pain at the incision site, swelling, and tightness. Even though pain is usually minimal, there are still some things you can do to reduce discomfort even more.
Tips to minimize facelift pain:
- Take medications as prescribed. You may not need a prescription for pain medication, as over-the-counter medications are often sufficient, but be sure to follow the guidelines that your surgeon provides you.
- Use cold compresses to reduce swelling. Swelling is one of the main contributors to post-surgical pain, as it puts pressure on the incision site and sutures and can make the skin feel tight. Swelling is 100% a normal and healthy part of healing, but reducing its effects can increase your comfort early on.
- Sleep with your head elevated. Again, this will help with swelling, which improves comfort overall.
- Avoid bending, lifting, or any strenuous activity. Your surgeon will provide you with a facelift aftercare timeline of when you can safely resume more strenuous activities, but it helps to know why this is not allowed. When you do an activity like jogging, for example, the repetitive movement and bouncing that occurs can put stress on your incisions; as the skin is pulled, this can cause more discomfort, more trauma to the area, and set you back in your healing process. If you cause microtears in your incision, your body is going to have to repair it all over again. This can also increase your risk of creating a dark scar, so it’s very important to avoid stressing your body at all costs.
- Lastly, just follow your surgeon’s instructions. Pushing yourself or “cheating” a little will only make your healing process longer and can increase your pain. Rest is key, as it allows your body to dedicate energy to simply healing!
A facelift is not as painful as you may expect. By following these guidelines and those of your surgeon, you’ll be on your way to an easy and comfortable recovery.
Want to Learn More About Facelifts in Beverly Hills, CA?
You deserve the best for your facelift, from results to recovery; call the Diamond Face Institute today at (310) 859-9816 or fill out the form to request a consultation with Dr. Diamond.