Facelift Recovery

    HOUSTON, TX, January 31, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the drawbacks to any surgical procedure is that it does require time for your body to recover from the procedure. Facelift recovery can be difficult, and it's important to understand what to expect when making a decision about whether a facelift is right for you.

The Day of Surgery

Most facelifts are performed under general anesthesia. This means that when you awake from the anesthesia, you will be closely monitored to ensure that you have not suffered any of the serious adverse consequences sometimes associated with general anesthesia. Once you have met all the discharge criteria, you will be released into the custody of your driver. Your driver should be a responsible adult who will stay with you for at least the remainder of the day. You will be given specific, detailed postoperative instructions verbally and in writing. Because you may still be groggy and have difficulty understanding the instructions, they will also be given to your driver.

When you get home from the surgeon's office, you should focus on resting. You can eat soft foods if you feel like it, and you should drink liquids to avoid dehydration.

The First Week after Recovery

In most cases, you will have an appointment on the day after surgery to have your dressings changed. Your surgeon should also look you over to be sure healing is progressing.

During this first week of recovery, you should count on staying home from work and engaging in only light exercise. You should take all your medications as indicated and care for your incisions and dressings according to your surgeon's instructions.

Bruising, swelling, and significant discomfort is normal. Many people also experience a significant depression a few days after surgery. They often believe they have made a serious mistake and feel they will be deformed as a result of surgery. This is normal, but the truth is that you will recover just fine. If you need additional support during this time, have friends over for short pick-me-up visits, but don't let them wear you out.

Be on the watch for signs of serious complications. Watch out for:

- Elevated heart rate and chest pains
- Fever or areas that are hot to the touch
- Foul smell or colored discharge from your incisions

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your surgeon immediately or go to the emergency room.

Full Recovery and Final Results

At the end of your first week you will have another visit with your surgeon. At this point, you will likely be cleared to return to many of your normal activities. Others, like exercise, you will have to gradually work up to.

You will likely have some bruising and swelling still at this point, but you can cover it with concealing makeup. Bruising should go away within the first month, but some swelling may persist.

You are likely to see close to final results about three months after surgery. However, your results will continue to refine subtly over time, become final at about one year after surgery.

To learn more about facelifts, please visit the website of Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Haresh Yalamanchili today at www.houstonfacialsurgeon.com.

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