- A “mini-lift” or “weekend-lift” may have less downtime than a full lower face/neck lift, but your desire for a shorter recovery period should not dictate your choice in procedure. Ultimately, your goals and your anatomy should be the central driving forces in making your decision.
- Anything that elevates your heart rate and blood pressure (exercise, annoying spouses, etc) has the potential to cause complications after surgery. It can increase your risk of bleeding, swelling, and impaired healing. After three weeks though, you should be completely clear to resume any activity.
- If you can’t stand the idea of taking it easy for three weeks watching Bravo TV, you should be able to stretch your legs on a long walk by the one week mark.
- For two weeks, you should avoid lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk (~10lbs). Be ready to tell your significant other that it’s their turn to take out the trash and that it’s doctor’s orders.
- We typically advise waiting 3 to 4 weeks before getting a facial or getting your hair dyed after surgery. Be sure to plan ahead.
- Most people are ready to go out in public after a full lower face/neck lift after two weeks. At that point, any residual bruising can be covered with makeup and most of the swelling should be gone. Although ultimately your incisions will be hard to find, in the early stages, it helps to keep your hair down while they continue to heal.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.