The best way to be prepared for any cosmetic post-operative healing is to know what to expect.  Often time’s patients go into a surgery not prepared for what to expect once the procedure is over.  They typically think about what their new nose or facelift will look like, but give little to no thought about the healing process and the time expected before any results can be seen.

What to expect
Knowing what to expect after your cosmetic surgery is the first step to recovery.  The first thing you will notice is a great deal of swelling around the area worked on.  This is very common.  Most of the swelling should resolve over the first 2-3 weeks after the surgery.  However, there will be some minor swelling up to three months after your cosmetic surgery.  Be sure to keep your head elevated as much as possible, avoid bending over and doing any heavy lifting and avoid long periods of sun exposure for the first couple of months following your surgery.

Numbness
Your face will be numb after your surgery.  There will also be other sensations associated with numbness including a tingling or a sensation of light pins and needles.  The nerves in your face will need to regenerate, and over time the numbness and other tingling sensations will subside.

Bruising
There will most likely be a heavy dose of bruising around the area that you had work done on.  This is one of the most common things a patient experiences after a surgery.  The bruising will eventually subside and you will start to see results from your surgery soon enough.  The amount of bruising and the severity of bruising often depend on the type of cosmetic surgery.

There are many things you should avoid doing after your surgery such as bending over and doing any heavy lifting as we mentioned before.  Other things you should avoid doing following your surgery includes:

  • Strenuous exercise
  • Heavy lifting
  • Driving
  • Yawning or opening your mouth widely
  • Any head turning activities

If you would like to learn more about what you should expect following your surgery, feel free to contact us today and let us help answer some of your questions.  We want to make sure you have the right answers to the questions you may have leading up and following your facial plastic surgery.