It’s no secret that facelifts can be pretty brutal on your skin. The surgery pulls the skin, sagging after years of gravity and time, upwards to its original position. For some people, this may cause excess swelling, bruising, or both during recovery.
Luckily there are ways to speed up facelift recovery so you can get back to your life sooner! Keep reading for tips on how you can recover more quickly the day of surgery, as well as how to prevent unwanted side effects immediately following your procedure.
1. Activity
One of the fastest ways to recover faster is to get moving! Facelifts and procedures that involve extensive skin stretching can cause the body to build up lactic acid and other waste products after extended periods of lying-in bed. To avoid this, getting active as soon as possible is critical.
Lying in bed can make it difficult to move your arms and legs, which means you’ll be relying on your abdominal muscles more than ever. If you’re concerned about showing too much skin, you can pull your gown over your head. While it may be a little more embarrassing than usual, it’ll make all the difference in how quickly you recover.
2. Hydration
One of the most common side effects of facelifts is swelling and for a good reason. Your body needs to reabsorb most of the water that’s lost during surgery and recovery.
Luckily there are plenty of ways to keep your body hydrated so that you don’t experience the dreaded swelling! Make sure to drink a full glass of water upon awakening whenever possible. I know that drinking water after a filling night of sleep is the last thing on your mind, but it’ll make a world of difference.
3. Rest
You may have heard more than once that you need to take it easy after a facelift. However, this doesn’t mean you should be lying in bed the entire time between surgery and recovery. It just means that it’s essential to take breaks when needed.
Resting as much as possible is good for your body, but taking small breaks can make all the difference in how quickly you recover. If you’re able to get up and around, do so. You don’t need to move around too much since moving can cause pain, but try not to lay down if you don’t need to.
4. Alcohol
While water is your best friend when recovering from facelifts, staying away from alcohol can help speed up the rate of recovery. Alcohol itself isn’t bad for you, but it’s essential to know that many drinks contain sugar.
This sugar can disrupt insulin levels and cause your body to build lactic acid in the muscles. Lactic acid slows down the healing process by causing swelling that makes you look like a Michelin Man. Although your muscles will eventually be able to shed lactic acid after a period of rest, it’ll delay the process of recovery if you’re drinking alcohol.
5. Medication
I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself, “I paid good money for that surgery and I want to get the most out of it!” While several methods are available to reduce swelling and help relieve pain, they may come with unwanted side effects such as drowsiness.
The last thing you want is to be drowsy during recovery from your facelift procedure! If you use the medication after your procedure, make sure it’s non-narcotic and don’t take too much. If you want to learn even more about preventing swelling and swelling-causing drugs, click here for more information.
6. Sunlight
If you can’t be outside during recovery, you can at least try to get some sun. Just be sure to protect your face from the UV rays when possible. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and sunglasses when out in the sun.
When inside, make sure that you’re getting enough vitamin D. When it comes to facelifting, most doctors will prescribe a 10,000 IU vitamin D supplement every day before and after surgery to help boost recovery time.
7. Smoking
Due to the frequent fluid intake, smoking can increase the amount of water in your body by 25% each time you inhale. Unfortunately, this means that smoking can have a shorter recovery time than those who do not smoke.
So, as you can see, staying away from alcohol and cigarettes is key to speeding up your recovery time after a facelift.
8. Mirror
While it may be challenging to look at yourself initially, the quicker you can confront the new you, the faster your recovery will be. Facelifts don’t just improve your appearance; they improve how others perceive you as well.
While standing in front of a mirror may seem pointless at first, it’s far more critical than you realize. Studies have shown that people who can confront their new image sooner recover faster than those who wait longer. The sooner you can handle what you see in the mirror, the better off your recovery will be.
9. Food
You should avoid greasy or fatty foods during recovery, but there’s another food group that you should stay away from when it comes to a facelift: alcohol. You may have already learned that drinking alcohol leads to slower recovery times, but what about food?
Eating fatty foods right after surgery can lead to various problems such as nausea, vomiting, or even heartburn. While these side effects are expected after undergoing a facelift procedure, fatty foods can increase the chances of experiencing them. However, don’t completely cut out fat in your diet! Talk with your surgeon about how much fat is okay to eat during recovery.
To speed up the recovery process after a facelift, you have to take care of your body. While there are many ways to do this properly, the most important thing you can do is rest and drink lots of water. By staying away from alcohol, cigarettes, and fatty foods, you’ll ensure that you’re making the most out of your facelift procedure and can recover as quickly as possible.