Facelift Recovery

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Englewood and Denver, CO

A facelift is a facial rejuvenation procedure that restores a more youthful-looking appearance by lifting and repositioning your facial skin and tissues.

This resource will help you learn more about what you can expect after your facelift. Understanding the process your body will go through can help you better navigate the different phases of your recovery and allow you to feel more confident in the process.

Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery is one of Denver’s leading facial aesthetic practices. On our surgical team are Dr. Mario Imola, a double-board-certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon, and Dr. David A. Kowalczyk, a double-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

If you are ready to learn more about facelift recovery, please schedule a consultation online or call our Englewood office at (303) 839-7980.

About Facelifts

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that elevates, repositions, and tightens your skin, muscles, and soft tissues to address visible signs of aging and accentuate your natural facial sculpt. (1) Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk perform this procedure to effectively address concerns across the midface, lower face, submental area, jawline, and neck, such as:

  • Wrinkles
  • Creases
  • Skin Laxity
  • Jowls
  • Descending Fat
  • Irregular Contours
  • Platysmal Banding
  • Excess Fullness

Types of Facelift Procedures

The details of facelift recovery depend on what type of facelift is performed, among other factors. There are several different variations of the facelift procedure that Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk can perform. Each can effectively address various signs of facial aging and offer its own unique benefits and results. These include the midface lift, the lower face lift, and the neck lift.

  • Midface Lift: A midface lift focuses on raising and repositioning the skin, muscles, and tissues around your cheeks to restore their natural sculpt and contours. This procedure is effective when correcting concerns such as descending malar fat, deep nasolabial folds, or inelastic skin. (2)
  • Lower Face Lift: A lower face lift can lift the skin and tissues around the lower face, chin, and jawline to restore a more defined appearance and correct common concerns in this region, including sagging skin, jowling, or a softer jawline.
  • Neck Lift: A neck lift can elevate and tighten your skin to address limited age-related changes across the neck and below the chin, such as vertical neck banding or loose skin. This is often a component of any normal facelift, as the face and neck typically have to be addressed as a unit for optimal results.

Recovering From A Facelift: A Timeline

Everyone’s facelift recovery will look a little different. We have put together the following timeline so that you can get a better idea of what you might experience during your recovery; however, it is important to keep in mind that certain details will vary for your unique experience.

Week One

After returning home from your procedure, you will need to take time away from your career, responsibilities, and social commitments to allow your body to heal. During this time, it is common to experience swelling, bruising, or tightness around the treated areas, but these effects are temporary and will dissipate on their own.

We advise that you switch to a diet of softer foods, as you may find it uncomfortable to speak or eat during this time. Your surgeon may also recommend that you elevate your head while sleeping and limit head movement, as it can reduce muscle stress and swelling.

Weeks Two and Three

Throughout the second and third weeks of your recovery, you will notice a significant decrease in most recovery effects. Swelling will begin to subside, and any bruising will begin to lighten. You will be able to return to desk work or other light activities around this time, but you will need to continue refraining from any strenuous or vigorous activities and tasks.

Your surgeon may ask you to attend a follow-up appointment during this window to remove any drains or stitches, and to ensure your results are healing as normal.

Weeks Four Through Six

In the last few weeks of your recovery, your surgeon will begin clearing you to return to more strenuous or labor-intensive activities. They may still recommend taking it easy when you first return.

By this point, the majority of your recovery effects will have fully dissipated. However, you still may notice some residual swelling or tightness, as your underlying facial tissues, muscles, and other structures will still be healing at this stage.

Long Term Healing

As your body continues to heal itself, you will start to feel more and more like yourself again. Any residual swelling and tightness will dissipate, revealing your enhanced appearance and restoring the full-scale mobility to your face. Your soft tissues will also soften and settle into their final placements, leaving you looking more refreshed than before.

Results

You will be able to enjoy the full effects of your facelift once any residual swelling and tightness subside. Your exact results will vary, but you can expect to experience smoother and tighter skin, clearer contours, restored facial volume, a reduction in jowling, and softened neck bands—each of which can contribute to a more desirable, attractive, and youthful-looking appearance overall.

The results of a facelift are long-lasting, with effects that you can enjoy for up to a decade. However, you must understand that your appearance will gradually continue to change with time, as there is no permanent solution to aging.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk meets with you individually to discuss the details of your procedure. They explain what a facelift consists of, the different types of facelifts they offer, how they perform them, and what differentiates them. They will also converse with you openly about your medical history, personal concerns, and aesthetic goals, and perform a physical examination.

Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk will then use this information to tailor your treatment plan. As they do so, they will explain each approach and surgical technique they plan to use, giving you a full understanding of your upcoming procedure. They will also dedicate time to answering and addressing any questions you may have about your specific procedure, or facelifts overall.

If you are ready to schedule this consultation, please submit our online contact form or call (303)-839-7980 to reach our Englewood office.

Cost of Facelifts in Denver, Colorado

There is no singular solution to facial rejuvenation, which means the cost of your facelift will vary depending on the details of your treatment plan. These can include the type of facelift your surgeon performs, the type of corrections they perform, and the overall extent of your procedure. Once either Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk has met with you to discuss each of these details, they will provide you with a comprehensive cost estimate. Financing options are also available for those interested.

FAQ

After my facelift, how long will I need to rest before returning to work?

You will need to rest for approximately one to two weeks before you will be able to return to light activities or desk work, but you may need to refrain from returning for several more weeks if your job is more strenuous, physically demanding, or labor-intensive.

Will there be any scarring after my facelift procedure?

All surgical procedures will carry a certain degree of scarring. During your procedure, Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk take several precautions to ensure that any scarring is barely perceptible.

Will my facelift affect my ability to talk or eat?

Once you are fully healed, you will not need to worry about your ability to eat or speak, but you may experience minor difficulties talking or eating throughout your initial recovery phase.

Will I be able to wear makeup after my facelift?

No, you will need to wait several days to weeks before reintegrating makeup into your routine, as it may irritate any areas that are still healing.

How will I know how to care for my incisions?

During your consultation, either Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk will give you a full set of aftercare instructions to ensure you have a full understanding of how to care for yourself and your incisions. By following each one, you can return to your routine more quickly.

How long will the results of my facelift last?

The results of a facelift are long-lasting and provide effects that you can enjoy for years to come. However, this procedure is not permanent and cannot stop the natural effects of aging from affecting your appearance.

How will I know if I am a suitable candidate for a facelift?

Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk can finalize your candidacy during your personal consultation. During this consultation, they will meet with you to learn more about your medical history, personal concerns, goals, and facial skin quality. They will then use this information to determine whether a facelift or another procedure is most appropriate for you.

References

  1. Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. Nih.gov. Published March 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/#article-28568.s4
  2. Pérez P, Hohman MH. Mid-Face Facelift. PubMed. Published 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563237/