Face Lift Surgery (Rhytidectomy) - Recovery & Results

To ensure a healthy and steady recovery after face lift surgery, realize that getting back to normal make take some time (2-3 weeks or more) depending on the complexity of the face lift, your individual health, and other factors.

Immediately after surgery your face will not look exactly as you expected; you will be swollen and bruised. However, carefully following your doctor's post-surgery instructions, having realistic expectations and a positive attitude should ultimately pay off. In the end there is an excellent chance that you will be pleased with your face lift surgery results.

How Will You Look and Feel After Face Lift Surgery?

Several days after your face lift surgery, the small, thin tubes temporarily inserted during the surgery to drain blood and the bandages wrapped around your head to minimize bruising and swelling will be removed.

Be prepared to experience temporary swelling, bruising and other possible side effects following face lift surgery. Learn how to minimize these side effects by visiting the Mayo Clinic's website.

The degree of pain you may experience after the face lift surgery varies from patient to patient and depends on the complexity of the face lift, as well as individual pain tolerance. Most patients experience only a little discomfort after face lift surgery, but may require pain medications depending on the pain level. Read an article on "How You Feel Pain" and taking the Mayo Clinic's quiz on "Are You Fooled by Familiar Pain Myths?".

Educate yourself further about how you will look and feel after the face lift surgery.

How Long Will It Take to Recover from Face Lift Surgery?

Face lift recovery time is specific to an individual and may take several weeks to several months before you are fully recovered. To plan for recovery, find out how to set up a home recovery area (Once on the website, scroll down to "Home Recovery Guidelines").

Be sure to follow your plastic surgeon's post-surgery guidelines and adhere to them for as long as he or she advises. If you follow the guidelines that are set for you, more than likely you will be able to resume your regular activities in a shorter period of time. Find out when you can return to your regular activities. It is important not to rush into resuming your everyday routine because premature return to exercise and similar activities might lead to complications and even serious personal injury.

After the surgery, your doctor will monitor you for any complications. Make sure to follow up with your plastic surgeon regularly. Learn how frequently your doctor will want to see you after the face lift surgery. While the frequent follow-up visits might seem like an unnecessary burden, they are vital because they allow your surgeon to detect early signs of trouble. For example, persistent headaches and lasting fever can indicate brain infection and other types of closed head injury that require immediate treatment.

If you feel uncomfortable going out in public with a bruised and swollen face, there are several makeup techniques you can use to cover up your recent face lift surgery. Learn how to use camouflage cosmetics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

What Kind of Results Can You Expect from Face Lift Surgery?

Depending on your individual skin characteristics, exposure to the sun and other habits, you should be able to enjoy your new look for up to 10 years. However, face lift results are not permanent, and you should understand that your face will continue to age accordingly.

Be aware that the surgery may leave scarring from some of the incisions. During the recovery process, the scars should be hidden in your hair and tucked into contours behind your ears. Incisions made outside the hairline usually become less noticeable over time. Educate yourself about the long-term effects of face lift surgery.

You and your plastic surgeon may decide to have a secondary face lift some time down the road. A study conducted in 2002 suggests that a secondary face lift is as safe as the original surgery. However, the number of secondary plastic surgeries (or revision) is on the rise. This is partially due to patients' desires for touch ups as well as complications with original surgeries. You may be interested in reading the article After Cosmetic Surgery: The 'Do Over', which describes the trends in revision plastic surgery, published in August 2005 in The New York Times.

Other Plastic Surgery Procedure Recovery and Results

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