Facelift Recovery Tips From An Expert Plastic Surgeon in Dallas, TX

With aging, the body goes through a natural process to develop thinning skin, wrinkles, and loss of volume. Patients seeking a more youthful look should consider a surgical facelift in Dallas, TX to address these issues and improve their self-confidence. 

During a facelift, an experienced plastic surgeon examines your facial anatomy, the condition of your skin as well as the laxity, and the skeletal structure to determine the best way to move forward. Dr. Phillip Dauwe is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX who offers facelift procedures to produce a result that is natural to you. At Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery, Dr. Dauwe rejuvenates your appearance by focusing on areas such as the lower face, including the jowls, marionette lines, and nasolabial fold, as well as other facial features including the neck, brow, and the upper and lower eyelids. 

Facelift surgery addresses loose skin and wrinkles, along with the volume loss associated with age. A facelift can be performed on individuals as young as 40 or those who are in their 70s or 80s. Good candidates for this procedure should be physically healthy, at a stable weight, and refrain from smoking before and after the surgery. Recovering from a facelift in Dallas, TX takes time, patience, and a little extra work, but the process is worth it. Below, we have compiled a list of tips you can put into place at home to ensure you get the best results possible from your facelift procedure.

About Short-Term Recovery 

Often, our practice can recommend one or several aesthetic treatments to be used in combination so you can achieve better harmony among your features as part of your overall facelift procedure. This makes the end result look more natural. For example, it’s common for patients undergoing a facelift in Dallas to also receive a brow lift, eyelid lift, facial fat grafting, or laser skin treatments to complement their look. For this reason, short-term recovery from a facelift can look different for every individual. 

Based on the type of facelift you had, the staff at Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery will monitor your progress while you rest. As you wake from anesthesia, you may feel tight, swollen, and sore. You may also experience some nausea. Dr. Dauwe recommends that his patients sleep with their head elevated to reduce the swelling. Dr. Dauwe will keep you in the overnight surgery aftercare hotel for one night following surgery. A responsible family member or another adult will then care for you at home and Dr. Dauwe will see you at regular follow up visits. 

At this time, it’s essential to follow Dr. Dauwe’s instructions for aftercare carefully, or you may risk prolonging your recovery or altering your results. It is normal to experience discomfort, which can be managed with prescription pain medication. Dr. Dauwe may have you avoid activities that naturally raise your blood pressure for several weeks to minimize bruising and swelling. After several weeks, we will schedule a follow-up appointment so we can assess the area and make suggestions as needed. 

About Long-Term Recovery 

Easing back into your normal routine can take some time. After the first week of recovery, you may be able to stop your pain medication and start being more active around the home. To avoid blood clots, you should try some light walking and exercise, but do not push yourself too hard yet. You may still have some bruising, but that should subside soon and can be treated with cool compresses. Do not, however, apply any heat to the face or incisions. Once you are off the pain medication, you can begin to drive again. 

After two weeks, you’re past the most difficult part of the facelift recovery period. You should be able to return to your job as long as it is not too physically strenuous. Any leftover bruising can be covered easily with makeup or other cosmetics. In fact, many patients can go out in public without any issues or negative consequences. It is normal to experience some tingling sensations in the skin, but if you are worried about a symptom or side effect, please reach out to the team at Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery in Dallas, TX. 

Once you are completely healed from facelift surgery, there are several steps you can take to pamper your skin moving forward: 

• Use mild, hypoallergenic skincare products and soaps to keep the skin clean and moisturized. 
• Be diligent about sun protection. Opt for a sunscreen with a higher SPF to block the harmful rays of the sun. Dr. Dauwe recommends a physical blocker sunscreen with zinc or titanium as the main active ingredient.
• Let any superficial wounds heal. You may be tempted to peel or pick at the skin, but this may cause infections or scars. 
• Stay hydrated. With any procedure, you need to drink water to help rejuvenate the skin and flush out any toxins.
• Limit sodium intake. Salty foods can worsen swelling, so try to limit foods that are high in sodium.

For Questions About a Facelift, Contact Us 

While some patients worry that a facelift will make their appearance look too tight, board-certified Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. Dauwe has the experience necessary to make your results as natural as possible. During every consultation, Dr. Dauwe listens to your goals and concerns before creating your personalized treatment plan. For men and women in Dallas, facelift surgery can make you feel and look younger if you suffer from wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. To learn more, call the professionals at Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery in Dallas, TX, for your consultation appointment.