Deciding to rejuvenate your appearance with a facelift and neck lift is an exciting, personal choice. As you plan for this transformative procedure, it’s natural to have questions about the facelift recovery process and neck lift downtime. What will the healing process be like? When will you be back to your normal routine or showing off your refreshed new look?
At L&P Aesthetics, our world-renowned facial plastic surgeons, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti, have performed thousands of facelifts, helping patients from around the country look as incredible as they feel. Our Signature L&P deep plane facelift sets the gold standard in natural-looking facial rejuvenation, taking years off your appearance while maintaining your unique essence. People will never guess you had “work done,” but they’ll definitely notice how vibrant and youthful you look!
All of us at L&P are here as your expert guides through every phase of your transformation, from initial consultation through recovery and beyond. In this ultimate guide to your facelift recovery and neck lift downtime, we’ll take you behind the scenes so you know exactly what to expect as you heal. The best part? Our patients are consistently amazed by how easy and comfortable the recovery process is when under the care of L&P Aesthetics and The iO Clinic.
The Expertise Behind Your Exquisite Results
A smooth facelift recovery and the most stunning, natural-looking results start with choosing a facial plastic surgeon with specialized training and experience. Dr. Lieberman and Dr. Parikh are Stanford-trained and Double Board-Certified, having completed elite fellowship training exclusively in facial plastic surgery. Dr. Curti, medical director of the Los Gatos location is also board-certified and did his advanced fellowship in facial plastics with Drs. Lieberman and Parikh. Discerning patients fly in from around the country to experience their meticulous surgical techniques and concierge-level care.
Our surgeons have spent years perfecting the L&P Signature deep plane facelift, an advanced approach that lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissues to restore youthful contours. With a deep plane facelift, you’ll enjoy the most natural-looking results that last for years, without the “pulled” or “tight” look of dated facelift techniques. The deep plane approach also minimizes recovery time compared to more invasive traditional facelifts.
When you trust your face to Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh and Dr. Curti, you will feel completely confident that you’ll receive the highest level of care and expertise at every step in your facelift recovery process.
Your L&P Signature Facelift Recovery Timeline
While everyone’s healing process is a bit different, most of our facelift patients are pleasantly surprised by how manageable their recovery is. Let’s look at a general timeline of what you can expect after your L&P Signature Facelift:
- The Social Downtime Phase (Days 0-14) The first two weeks after a facelift encompass the initial healing period. Here’s how most patients feel during this phase:
Days 0-3:
- Rest is your primary focus. Keep your head elevated, apply cool compresses, and take short walks to encourage blood flow and circulation to the legs.
- Expect some mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising. We’ll ensure you stay comfortable with pain medication.
- Sensations of tightness are normal as your facial tissues adapt to their new, youthful positions.
- The day after your facelift surgery, you’ll most likely come in for a post-op appointment with your surgeon and at this time, we recommend starting your first of five hyperbaric oxygen dives to speed your recovery. L&P Aesthetics offers Hyperbaric Oxygen through The iO Clinic.
Days 3-7:
- Swelling and bruising typically peak around day 3-4, then start to improve.
- Continue with rest and very light activity, like short walks around your home.
- We’ll see you for your one week follow up visit to remove sutures and check your healing.
- If you did not have a laser procedure with your facelift and neck lift, you may want to consider starting LED LightStim red light sessions to enhance your healing and results.
Days 7-14:
- Most patients feel ready to run light errands or work from home at this point.
- Easily disguise any residual bruising or redness with camouflage makeup.
- While you’ll likely still have some mild swelling and numbness, you’ll start noticing initial improvements in your facial contours!
- The Ultimate Results Phase (weeks 2-12) After the first two weeks of facelift recovery, your healing will continue as post-surgical swelling and bruising fully resolve, and your incisions refine into thin, easily concealable scars.
Weeks 2-4:
- Most patients are back to work and daily routines, with makeup easily covering any residual signs of healing.
- Mild residual numbness, tingling, and tightness are normal and will gradually subside.
- Continue to rest as needed, eat well, and take gentle walks to support optimal healing.
Weeks 4-6:
- Swelling continues to subside, and your rejuvenated facial contours become more apparent each day.
- Sensation gradually returns, although some mild numbness may persist for a few more weeks.
- Incisions are well-healed and easily hidden along the natural curves of the ears and hairline.
Weeks 8-12:
- By the 2-3 month mark, your face has begun to settle into its final, exquisitely rejuvenated contours – your optimal facelift and neck lift results are in and you’ll start to love your refreshed new look.
- Friends and family will marvel at how incredibly great you look, but no one will suspect you had surgery (unless you tell them, of course!)
- With consistent sun protection and a healthy lifestyle, you’ll enjoy your beautiful, natural-looking facelift results for many years.
Enhance Your Facelift Recovery with Expert Tips
Having guided countless patients through healing after a facelift, we know the recovery tips and tricks that really work. Here are some of our top recommendations to set yourself up for the smoothest facelift recovery, but of course, please follow the recommended guidelines of your medical team. Some recommendations are not appropriate for all patients and you should always trust the expert care of your medical team.
Prep for a restful recovery “nest”:
- Stock up on nutritious, easy to prep snacks and meals.
- Set up your recovery space with extra pillows, ice packs, gentle skincare products and medications.
- Queue up books, podcasts or shows so you have relaxing entertainment at your fingertips.
- Ensure your recovery area is clean and free of pet dander.
Follow post-op instructions to a T:
- Take medications as directed to minimize discomfort and optimally support healing.
- Get plenty of rest, but also take short walks to enhance circulation.
- Sleep with your head elevated for the first few weeks to minimize swelling.
- Avoid straining, lifting or strenuous exercise until cleared by your surgeon.
Baby your healing skin:
- Cleanse incisions with a gentle cleanser and apply ointments as directed.
- Avoid makeup for the first 12 days except for a light mineral powder if needed.
- Once your incisions are healed, protect your skin from the sun with a mineral SPF and a silicone-based scar gel. Incisions like moist-environments to heal in the best way possible. We have options available for purchase in our office.
Strategic camouflage goes a long way:
- Our med spa team can recommend gentle camouflage makeup to disguise light bruising or redness after the first 12 days.
- Scarves, sunglasses and hairstyling tricks work wonders for concealing any residual signs of healing.
Remember, we are your partners in healing and your biggest cheerleaders! Our L&P Aesthetics and iO Clinic team closely monitors your facelift recovery during your post-op visits and is always just a phone call away (at all hours of the day) if you have questions. Delivering the most comfortable recovery and phenomenal, natural-looking results is the heart of our mission.
Your Exquisite L&P Signature Facelift Results, Revealed
As you move through the phases of facelift recovery, you’ll slowly see your exquisitely rejuvenated, more youthful look emerge in the mirror. Our specialized deep plane techniques lift sagging tissues and restore youthful facial contours – all while preserving your unique beauty and expressiveness. No one will guess you had a facelift, but everyone will notice how rested, vibrant and youthful you look. That is the L&P Signature Facelift difference!
Start Your Ultimate Facelift Transformation Today!
If you’re ready to take years off your appearance and experience the most advanced, natural-looking facial rejuvenation available, your next step is to contact L&P Aesthetics and schedule your personal consultation. During this in-depth conversation with Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh or Dr. Curti, you’ll share your goals and concerns, have all your facelift recovery and neck lift downtime questions answered, and together create a fully customized plan to unlock your most beautiful, youthful self.
You deserve the best when it comes to your appearance, comfort and results. Don’t trust your face to anyone but the world-renowned facelift expertise and unparalleled care you’ll only find at L&P Aesthetics. Call 650-327-3232 or email [email protected] today! We can’t wait to guide you through the most rewarding, confidence-boosting transformation of your life. Remember, for the ultimate in facial rejuvenation and the best facelifts and neck lifts, there’s only one choice – L&P Aesthetics.
