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What Can I Do During My Facelift Recovery at Home?

The recovery phrase can be frustrating for some patients. It can take a while before you get to see your full results after a facelift, and in the meantime, you might see bruising and swelling when you look in the mirror. Given that patients also have to take time off work and avoid strenuous activity, it’s natural that most people want to recover as quickly as possible. Here are some of our top tips for recovery:

Sort Out The Logistics

When you walk out of the doctor’s office after a facelift, the first thing you’ll need is someone to give you a ride home. During the first week after surgery, many patients highly appreciate having a friend or family member around the house, keeping them company and helping out with cooking and cleaning. It can be daunting to face such ordinary tasks all alone when you’re recovering from surgery! Another useful approach is to tick off as much of your to-do list as possible before going into surgery.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated (both before and after surgery) is one of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take to help your recovery. Maintaining normal, balanced fluid levels will help your skin heal as quickly as possible. Try to eat plenty of water-rich foods, since these help you retain the water you consume.

Reduce Sun Exposure

Particularly after a facelift, you should try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. The sun’s rays can cause scars to permanently darken, making your results less subtle than they would otherwise be.

Avoid “Blood Thinning” Medications

Anticoagulants, or “blood thinners” such as aspirin and Vitamin E, can increase the likelihood of bleeding after your surgery. You should avoid them when possible. (If your doctor has prescribed a drug, however, you should never stop taking it without checking first.)

Stay Healthy

Although you should avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for about two weeks after your facelift, mild exercise is perfectly fine, and actually helps with the recovery process by alleviating stress. Eat whole foods, minimize your alcohol and caffeine intake, and try to get plenty of sleep. After your sutures have been removed, your doctor may allow you to massage your scars with Vitamin E to relieve pain or itching.

Use Cold Compresses

Cold compresses, which can be made at home, are often a great way to reduce eventual swelling during the first few hours after your facelift. You can continue to use them after the immediate postoperative period – but after some time has passed, they’re only really useful for making you more comfortable.

Don’t Let The Mirror Bring You Down

Nobody enjoys looking in the mirror a day (or sometimes even a week) after their facelift. You’ll inevitably experience some bruising or swelling, but you shouldn’t judge your results until your doctor has told you that your recovery is complete.

Dr. Siegel is a specialist facial plastic surgeon. If you’d like to find out more about facelifts, feel free to make an appointmentwith him today!


People travel from across the US and the world for an improved look by Dr. Siegel, but many are right here in the Houston area. We often see patients from Cypress, Spring, Bellaire, Sugar Land, Fulshear, Humble, Katy, and other nearby communities. We also see many patients from other areas in Texas, including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, Midland, Odessa, to name a few. Wherever you are, we look forward to helping you achieve your best look.

July 1, 2021 Update:

Our office is open and we are following the recommended guidelines for maximum safety.

  • To make this transition as safe as possible, and to comply with physical distancing, we will be limiting the number of people in the waiting room to only one person.
  • To prevent having multiple people in the waiting room, we will space out appointments.
  • To minimize personal contact please be punctual for your appointment.
  • Please be on time for your appointment. If you are early, please wait in your car. If you are running late please call the office at 832-900-4818, so we can make proper arrangements.
  • For new patients, please fill out all your new intake forms at home. We will send you a link for registration when you make an appointment.
  • Patients must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth when in the waiting room or walking back to the exam room.
  • If you are wearing gloves, please remove them when you arrive, we will provide you with hand sanitizer.

Please contact our office with any questions you have!

-Dr. Siegel & Staff

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