Facelift surgery can make a massive difference in the youthfulness of your face. However, even if you choose a highly talented plastic surgeon like Dr. Garramone for the procedure, optimal results are never guaranteed. To ensure that your face heals correctly and that you’re satisfied with the finished product, it’s imperative that you maintain excellent post-operative care. Fortunately, as long as you’re committed to the healing process, facelift recovery doesn’t need to be overly tricky.
Follow Dr. Garramone’s Instructions
After your facelift procedure is finished, Dr. Garramone will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions. You must follow all of his advice closely. With numerous successful facelifts, Dr. Garramone knows precisely what’s necessary to ensure a smooth, quick recovery.
Get Plenty of Rest
When you’re recovering from any significant surgery, getting lots of rest is important, and a facelift is no exception. For the first few days after the procedure, you should be resting nearly all the time. Ideally, you should arrange in advance for a friend or family member to help care for you for two or three days after the surgery. You can start to resume light activity after that, but you should make a point to give your body plenty of rest for at least two weeks.
Sleep With Your Head Elevated
You’ll probably be sleeping quite a bit during your facelift recovery, but if you’re frequently lying with your head flat on the bed, it may worsen your facial swelling. However, if you sleep with your head elevated at an angle of at least 30 degrees, you can minimize the amount of swelling and fluid buildup. It’s especially important to do this for the first few days, but we recommend sleeping with your head propped up for a full week after the surgery.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Eating lots of nutritious foods can help ensure that your facelift recovery goes smoothly and that you heal as quickly as possible. Recovering from surgery is tough on your body and requires quite a bit of energy. One effective way to make sure that your system has the energy it needs is to maintain a healthy diet. For example, you should try to eat plenty of foods that contain antioxidants, which directly help the body fight inflammation and heal wounds.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
When you’re recovering from facelift surgery, you may start to go a little stir-crazy while sitting around at home. You will probably be tempted to get some fresh air, but if you go outside, you must be careful about direct sunlight exposure. Your facial skin will be very sensitive after the surgery, making it much more susceptible to burning. Going outside should be fine, but you need to apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher when the sun is shining.
Why Choose Dr. Garramone for Your Facelift Surgery?
Dr. Garramone is a board-certified plastic surgeon known for his exceptional skill and compassionate care. A respected member of the Fort Myers medical community for over 20 years, Dr. Garramone works closely with every patient to provide them with a personalized treatment plan. If you’d like to schedule a consultation, simply contact our office today.