The Expected Facelift Recovery Time

Facelift Recovery Time | Plastic Surgeon Northern Virginia | Manassas Facelift is a major plastic surgery procedure that involves lifting the skin off the face to tighten underlying muscles and tissue, and remove or reposition excess fat and skin. Recovery in case of facelift will differ from one patient to another, depending on the extent of surgery performed, the surgical technique adopted by the surgeon, and the patient’s own healing ability.

Dr. V is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing this procedure to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and other areas.

Key Aspects in Recovery

The recovery in case of a facelift procedure can have several forms, including physical recovery, emotional recovery, social recovery, and recovery of skin sensation. The procedure involves the face, which makes emotional and social recovery as challenging aspects of the overall process.

Basic recovery period can range between two and three weeks. The sutures will be removed within a week to 10 days, depending on the technique applied by the surgeon. Patients should allow themselves about two weeks at home, particularly if they are keen to keep their procedure discreet.

Minor residual swelling may show even after two weeks, which can be camouflaged with makeup. Bruising may occur in most cases, and will last for about one week. Patients with a thinner face will show the swelling as some kind of subtle fullness, which is acceptable. The treated areas will continue to mature and improve significantly going into the third week. Numbness of the skin near the ears can be expected, and will resolve over a few weeks. Areas with supporting sutures will have mild firmness, but it will usually not be visible.

The condition will continue to improve as the collagen matures in the new wound bed. The recovery does not involve much pain. Mild discomfort can be addressed with ice packs and Tylenol as per the surgeon’s advice. Dr. V will provide detailed instructions for care during the recovery period to his patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding communities.

Tips for Recovery

Patients should avoid driving for the first four to five days. They are likely to feel mild stiffness in the neck, which can make driving more difficult because the patient may not be able to turn the head as far to look for other vehicles on the road. Driving should be started only when the patient is off the pain medications. During the first independent trip, the patient should have someone accompany them so that if they feel tired while driving, the other person can take over.

Patients with high social life will have to take a call on when they wish to resume meeting outsiders. It can take about two weeks before the patient can sit down to dinner with friends and not get queried about the face. However, the swelling is mostly hard to detect after two weeks. A minor change of hairstyle and makeup can help keep the appearance more discreet.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/

Facelift Surgery FAQ

Facelift Surgery | Plastic Surgeon Northern Virginia | Loundon | Fairfax The facelift can be a complex plastic surgery procedure because a human’s face has several intricate features that must be handled carefully. Dr. V addresses various doubts and concerns during the initial consultation for patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding communities. Here is a list of facelift FAQ that should address some of the common queries of patients with regard to this procedure.

When is it suitable to go out in the sun after a facelift?

Direct sun exposure should be avoided for several months after a facelift. If the healing scars exposed to direct sunlight, it can cause darkening of the healing area or hyper pigmentation. The sun can cause damage to the delicate post-surgical skin on a long-term basis, creating deeper facial lines and a more leathery skin appearance. The patient should wear sunblock SPF 15 or higher for the first few months when going out in the sun.

What is the suitable age for a facelift?

A facelift is typically performed on patients in the age group of 35 to 65. The idea age to perform a facelift may be 35 to 50 when the skin elasticity is stellar. In this age group, patients usually opt for a combination of facelift and liposuction. Younger patients can benefit from a maintenance lift to delay the onset of conspicuous aging signs.

Will there the hairline be in a different location after a facelift?

This can depend on an individual case and the particular surgical technique employed by the surgeon. Dr. V usually ensures that the hairline does not change for her patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and other areas.

Will it be necessary to place drains after a facelift?

Drains may be placed in some cases to remove excessive blood and fluid after a facelift. If the procedure is extensive, and takes two to three hours or more, placing a drain may be necessary. Compressive garment can be used in many cases to help prevent the accumulation of fluid.

Is it possible to have a very minor facelift?

A mini facelift surgery can be recommended if the patient wants a maintenance procedure, and does not suffer from significant facial skin laxity. The mini facelift will usually involve reduction of excess skin, but not the lifting of underlying deeper tissue.

What is the expected recovery period?

Most patients will experience mild bruising and swelling for the first week. The patient may be able to go back to work within 10 to 14 days. After this period, regular activities and exercise can be resumed. However, heavy lifting and strenuous activities that cause a pull on the neck should be avoided for about four to six weeks.

What about the healing of scars?

An experienced plastic surgeon will place the incisions in discreet areas to keep the scars inconspicuous. Scars will mature within a period of six months to a year after the surgery. The healing of scars can vary from one patient to another, depending on individual healing characteristics.

Best Rhinoplasty (Nose Job Surgery) Recovery

Nose job surgery, clinically called rhinoplasty, is an intricate procedure. The nature and extent of surgery can vary from one patient to another in rhinoplasty. Therefore, the recovery process can also differ in each case.

Dr. V is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing rhinoplasty and other procedures to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations. Dr. V will discuss the recovery process with her patients during the initial consultation.

Initial Period of Recovery

Mild pain and discomfort around the treated area will be experienced for the first few days. Some patients may also experience a dull headache for a brief period. Unless the patient suffers from an infection, severe pain may not occur. Pain medications prescribed by the plastic surgeon can keep the patient comfortable. Nasal congestion is a typical occurrence following a nose job because of the internal swelling in the nose.

The congestion will disappear as the swelling resolves over the next few weeks. Patients with a complaint of breathing difficulty through the nostrils prior to the surgery will most likely experience immediate relief despite the swelling. In some cases, the surgeon may prescribe sleep aid drugs, if the nasal congestion makes it difficult to sleep.

Nose blowing should be avoided until the surgeon allows it. The extent of bruising and swelling in each case will also depend on what surgical technique was adopted for the procedure and how delicately the surgeon handled the nasal tissue.

Returning to Work

In most cases, the patients will be ready to go back to work within a week to 10 days after the surgery. Most patients will have a cast on the nose during the first week, which will be removed along with the stitches at the end of the first week. Mild bruising and swelling will still show during the second week, but the patient may apply makeup to tone down the appearance of the treated area.

Face should be washed and cleaned gently for the first few days. Jobs involving excess physical activity should be avoided for about two weeks. Dr. V will guide her patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and other areas about various aspects of the recovery.

Final Stages of Recovery

A large part of the swelling will get resolved by the end of the third week after rhinoplasty. The patient will be able to notice conspicuous improvements in the shape or size of the nose. However, more detailed outcomes will become noticeable only after about two months when nearly 90 percent of the swelling will have disappeared.

During the initial few weeks, the nasal tip may feel a little numb, which can make the patient more self-conscious. More natural effects will appear with the passage of time, and the complete natural feeling about the nose will return. Results in case of rhinoplasty will last for many years, and may even be permanent in several cases.

Need Areas of Skin Tightened for Summer? Try Ultherapy…

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The Expected Facelift Recovery Time

Monthly Archives: July 2014