Getting any surgical procedure can be scary, but facial surgery comes with its own set of qualms since the results are so prominent and visible. This means it is best to fully educate yourself before you go on the operating table. While it is of course necessary to research the procedure itself, another part you want to understand is just how the recovery process goes. When it comes to facelifts, there are four main stages of recovery.
Stage One
This stage usually lasts about a week, and consists mostly of getting a lot of beauty sleep. Your body has undergone quite a bit of stress and needs time to adjust. Make sure you sleep with your head up to keep swelling down and take any pain medication prescribed by your doctor.
Stage Two
During stage two, you may experience bruising, swelling, tightness, or tingling. Do not fear if this happens! This stage lasts less than a week, and these symptoms are entirely normal.
Stage Three
After the first two weeks, you will begin to feel completely normal again. You can start to get back into your daily routine and go about your schedule. You may actually return to full, strenuous activity.
Stage Four
Once you have reached this stage, the side effects will have worn off, and you can go out and show the world your natural, beautiful new look for years and years to come.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Phillip Garcia at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Garcia is a double board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in just faces, so you get the best, most specialized care when you get your procedure done. He has been North Florida’s Face Expert since 2001, and he has performed over 10,000 cosmetic and reconstructive facial procedures. He is the co-author of Just Faces, A Guide to Facial Plastic Surgery, and his affiliates include AAFPRS, AAOHNS, FSFPS, ABFPRS, and ABOTO. You can find Dr. Garcia at his locations in Jacksonville/Town Center, Julington Creek, Fleming Island, Avondale, and Palm Coast. For more before and after pictures of Dr. Garcia’s facelift work, visit his Before & After Gallery.
