Now that you have had a facelift, you can relax and enjoy gazing into the mirror and seeing how firm and wrinkle-free your skin looks. You can let out a sigh of relief now that the surgery is over, but you will have to do a few things if you want to heal quickly and keep that youthful look you’ve attained. These 6 tips will explain how to do it:
- Cleanse your face after day one of the surgery, but not before making sure you haven’t had any adverse reactions. Don’t be alarmed if the cuts in your skin bleed a little. This is normal. Gently wash the cuts after taking off the bandages to avoid an infection caused by bacteria, and do not try to remove the scabs. Allow your skin to heal without handling it too much. To lessen your chance of developing scars, carefully moisturize your face with the help of an antibacterial cleanser and a washcloth that’s soft and clean.
- Raise the level of your head so that your heart is situated below it to minimize the appearance of black-and-blue marks and the swelling that is commonly caused by having a facelift. The bruising and swelling will improve after a while, but rest your head on several pillows at night and whenever you decide to lie down. Also, apply an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth to your face to bring the swelling down, and consider taking a product designed to lessen bruising. Use a bag of frozen peas or carrots if you don’t have an ice pack.
- Stay out of the sun for long periods of time after a facelift. Your skin will be more likely to burn at this time. In addition to that, harmful rays from the sun may darken the color of the cuts in your skin and extend the amount of time it takes for you to recover from the surgery. If you have to be in the sun for any length of time, protect your skin with sunscreen protection that is at least an SPF 30, but no more than 40 since SPFs that are higher than that tend to clog the skin’s pores.
- Leave your makeup in your cosmetic bag while you are healing from facelift surgery. You can wear makeup if your incisions aren’t open, but you may want to wait for at least 14 days before applying makeup to play it safe. When you decide that you want to enhance your beauty using makeup, use mineral makeup because it has a lighter texture, and it is less likely to irritate your skin. Use a concealer with a green base to it to help hide any purple bruises. Remove all your makeup at the end of the day by thoroughly washing your face.
- Drink lots of liquids and eat well after a facelift. Liquids that are clear and protein-rich foods are recommended. The amount of water you should be drinking at this time is about eight glasses. Eat all of your meals to speed up healing and maintain your health. Incorporate high-fiber foods in your diet, and eat fruit and consume lots of water to keep your bowels moving. Drink beverages that contain little sugar and supply you with healthy nutrients.
- Have regular facials after your facelift, but not until after 90 days as this is when the swelling typically disappears. Be sure to tell your skin care professional about your recent surgery, and have a discussion about procedures and products that could irritate the cuts in your skin. Put your trust in your facialist as he or she is trained and knows what’s best for your skin.
When you made the decision to have a facelift, you took a step towards improving the look and health of your skin. Since you did, use the above information to accelerate the healing process.