How long does it take to recover from a facelift? Will a facelift leave scars?

Nowadays, there are more and more beauty and skin care projects, all of which are designed to keep people looking youthful. Facelift surgery is one of them. So how long does it take to recover from a facelift surgery?

1. Swelling will subside within 5-7 days after facelift

After the facelift, the periosteum around the orbit is peeled off, so within 24-48 hours after the operation, the upper and lower eyelids will be severely swollen, and the palpebral fissure may not be completely closed. However, the swelling will begin to subside 3 days after the operation, and will basically disappear after 5-7 days.

2. Remove stitches 7-10 days after facelift

The dressing will be changed on the 3rd day after the operation, and the wound will be cleaned with alcohol. The sutures of the scalp incision will be removed intermittently on the 5th day after the operation. If there is an incision behind the ear, the sutures can also be removed intermittently. On the 7th day, the sutures in the scalp can be removed intermittently again. Normally, all sutures can be removed within 10 days after the operation.

3. Recover to the best condition 4-6 months after surgery

After the facelift, new collagen continues to be produced, and the skin will improve every day. Due to the different conditions and degree of skin aging of each person, more significant and satisfactory results can be achieved about 4-6 months after the treatment.

4. The effect can last for 6-10 years after surgery

According to incomplete statistics, most people can look about 10 years younger after a facelift and wrinkle removal surgery, and the postoperative effect can last for 6-10 years. For a few people who take proper care of themselves, it can even last longer.

Scars will be left. Scars are inevitable with any surgery, but when doing a facelift, the doctor will carefully design the incision so that it is in a hidden location, and use precise suturing with small needles and fine threads, as well as lightening drugs after the surgery, so that basically no obvious scars can be left. But no matter how you look closely, there will still be scars.

1. Avoid direct sunlight

Ultraviolet rays will stimulate the secretion of melanin, so after surgery, before the stitches are removed, avoid sun exposure to avoid leaving darker scars.

2. Reduce facial expressions

Do not make a lot of facial expressions after the operation to avoid tearing the wound and affecting the healing speed. Because the wound is more likely to leave scars during the repeated healing and splitting process.

3. Eat a light diet

In order to make the wound heal as quickly as possible after facelift surgery, do not eat spicy food, do not smoke or drink, and try to eat light, nutritious, vitamin-rich fruit and vegetable juices to help wound healing.

4. Do not get wet

After a facelift to remove wrinkles, be careful not to let the wound get wet, as this can easily cause infection. If infected, the possibility of large-area scars will greatly increase.

1. Pressure bandage

After the facelift, according to the scope of the operation, sterile gauze, cotton pads and elastic bandages are used to apply pressure to the neck, forehead, cheeks, etc. to reduce hematoma and serum. In addition, the medication should be changed in time after the operation, and attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the wound area.

2. Try to keep a blank expression

Do not make too many facial expressions before all the stitches are removed to avoid moving the wound and causing bleeding. In order to reduce facial muscle movement, liquid food should be the main food for 3 days after surgery.

3. Sleep on your back

After the operation, you should sleep on your back to avoid compressing the wound and causing hematoma pain. In order to allow the patient to rest quietly, you can use analgesics reasonably and scientifically at night according to the doctor's instructions.

4. Prevent infection

After the operation, you must prevent the wound from getting wet. You cannot wash your face before removing the stitches. You can only wipe it gently with cotton cloth. When taking a shower or washing your hair, you must also absolutely prevent dirty water from flowing onto the wound.