Postoperative Facelift Care

Good postoperative care is generally a continuation of the good habits you started before surgery. We begin skin care well in advance of facelift surgery and continue it postoperatively. What this care is depends on how much damage is present. We usually use the Obagi® Nu-Derm System for severe damage or the Epionce® System for lesser changes. Both reduce the brown spots, remove the thickened outer dead cell layer and firm the skin.
You should also continue the other good lifestyle habits from before surgery, like use of good vitamins, good diet, not smoking and, after a few days, moderate exercise. As far as sleeping and other specific things you can do, you should keep your head elevated as much as possible. While sleeping, you should sleep on your back and use only a neck roll or a contour pillow, keeping your chin up and the front of your neck stretched. You can generally shower immediately after the surgery, but should be careful not to rub downward.
You should wash the incisions gently to remove any old blood or crusts. Until these incisions are well healed, we also recommend application of an antibiotic ointment several times a day. We give our patients a written instruction sheet that answers almost all these questions. I would ask your doctor for the same.

Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS