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Face and Neck Lifts -
Surgical Recovery
Length of surgery
Operation takes 150-210 minutes depending upon technique used.
Nights in hospital
Usually one night, occasionally two.
Dressings and stitches
You will wake up with dressings on the wounds and a head bandage. The bandaging is usually removed before your discharge home and exchanged for a compression garment. Any stitches will be removed at the day 5 visit.
Drains
The use of a small surgical drain under the face skin is common to remove any unwanted blood/fluid. This is usually removed the day after surgery.
Time off work and socializing
Allow 2 weeks. People vary in recovery. Most patients are very comfortable at one week and although feel they could return to work it is preferable to wait. You will be a little swollen and bruised in the first week but this is less marked than most patients expected. Most of this will have settled by the end of the second week.
Time to exercise
Walking a distance at 5-7 days, swimming by 10-14 days (if fully healed). Strenuous exercise (aerobics etc) should be avoided for 4 weeks.
Postoperative instructions
Day 1-4 You should be taking it very easy!
Day 5-14 You will be feeling much better from here onwards. The swelling will be settling and much of the bruising will subside. You can start exercising gently and build it up over the next 10 days.
Week 3-6 Should be back to work and doing anything you wish by 6 weeks.
Driving
Although you may feel able to drive by 7-10 days you need to be completely free of pain and restriction to be covered by your insurance. This may be in your second to third week.
Follow up
Wound check and dressing change a day 5. Then see Mr. McCulley at 3 months. NB There are no charges for any follow up appointment relating to your surgery.
