You need to plan for a lot of things before surgery, but what about after? Let’s talk about what will happen in the first 30 days after facelift surgery.
Facelift In Dubai
Facelift in Dubai requires a structured recovery from day 1 to day 30. Mild swelling and bruising appear in the early days, but improve gradually over the next three weeks. By weeks four to five, the skin appears firmer and more lifted, allowing patients to resume their normal activities with a refreshed, youthful appearance.
Face & Neck Lift, Under-Eye Laser, And Restylane Lip Injection
Dr. Perfect Celebrity and his team at Perfect Doctors Clinic put their patients’ comfort, safety, and ability to make decisions first. We think it’s important to give our patients as much information as possible so they can feel good about their surgeries and know what to expect during recovery.
A lot of people feel better when they hear from real patients about their overall experience with certain procedures, especially the recovery. In this blog, we’ll share a patient’s diary about their facelift, neck tightening, laser treatment for under-eye wrinkles, and lip filler.
Not all patients go through the same hybrid set of procedures, and no three patients will have the same experience. Even so, this very sweet and open patient was nice enough to let us read her diary and see her pictures, which gave us a detailed look at her recovery from her procedures.
It’s important to remember that there is no such thing as a “normal” recovery, but this one is pretty close to what most patients go through.
Patient Post-Surgery Diary: Sensitive Content Ahead.
Surgery Day
The Day of the Operation
I am getting a facelift, liposculpture on my face, a neck lift, and laser treatment under my eyes.
I’ve had a few surgeries before, like a blepharoplasty in 2005 and surgery for breast cancer. I thought I knew what to expect from surgery in general, and I knew that you shouldn’t eat the night before and what to avoid and what to get ready at home. We talked about all of those instructions in the clinic before the surgery.
Experiencing Doubts: Why Surgery?
I sleep well the night before the surgery because I know I’m in good hands. Before surgery, and especially this one, I wonder why I’m doing this. I look fine the way I am now, don’t I?
Yes, but I hope that I will look younger, feel better about myself when I look in the mirror, and look my best before my son’s wedding in a few months.
When I get to the surgical center, I ask myself again why I’m there, and my nerves start to kick in. It’s hard enough to get up at 6:30 to get there at 7:30; I hadn’t had time to get nervous because it’s too early in the morning to be anxious. Now the whole thing feels like a dream.
Finding Comfort At Perfect Doctors Clinic
I talk to the anesthesiologist about the surgery and going back to the operating room arm. Everyone is so nice and tells me that Dr. Perfect Celebrity will take good care of me.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity comes in and talks to me and answers my questions. He draws some lines on my jawline, neck muscles, where he will take out fat, and what he will tighten. And the cuts around the ear. Talking to him makes me feel less anxious.
Going Through With The Operation
I can’t remember anything except walking to the OR with a nurse holding my IV bag, getting settled in the bed, and telling everyone what surgery I was having while they hooked me up to monitors and oxygen.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity wrote:
Most of the time, surgery is done with local anesthesia and IV sedation. We put some patients to sleep, depending on their health and what they want.
The next thing I remember is getting tired, waking up in the recovery room with the nurse talking to me, drinking cranberry juice, getting dressed, and somehow making it back home. I don’t know how I got home! Or how I got ready!
I get home with a very big, heavy dressing on. It’s hard for me to talk, so I don’t say much. I tell myself that I can handle it because I know the dressing will come off in one day. I can feel the cuts, but my neck and throat are a little sore. Not sure what’s under the dressing.
A message from Dr. Perfect Celebrity:
We use drains on patients who seem to be bleeding a lot or when we are working near the salivary glands. It has been shown that drains can help with swelling and bruising. They are uncomfortable because they are there, limit head movement, and attach to the big headdress. We take them out between day 3 and day 6, depending on how much they drain. We try to get rid of them as soon as we don’t need them anymore. We don’t use them as much anymore because we do other things during surgery to reduce bruising and swelling.
Going Home
I choose not to take the Xanax that Dr. Perfect Celebrity told me to.
The pain is very little around the facelift. I eat yogurt, rice, and soup because my jaw hurts a little. I’m not very hungry, but the instructions say to eat. The laser hurts very little, like a bad sunburn. I spend the day in La La Land on the couch with cold compresses, watching TV, and taking my pain medicine, Ultram.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity says:
It’s not unusual to have jaw pain after this surgery. This is because we move a lot of the muscles in the central face and neck around, which can make things feel “out of joint.” That’s why her jaw hurts. With the erbium laser we use, most patients only feel stinging the first night after surgery, no matter how deep the treatment goes.
Day One
Day 1 After Surgery
I can’t seem to get to sleep. The head dressing is too big and hurts, and the laser is making the lower eyelids sting. I take a sleeping pill, and I wake my husband up at night to get me cold compresses.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity’s note:
We suggest using topical compresses and an emollient ointment to speed up healing and make you more comfortable.
20 Hours Post Op
20 Hours After Surgery
Waking up early, eating yogurt, and taking medicine.
Today I’m very happy. I wonder if the drugs I got in the operating room are to blame. Or maybe it’s because I’m going to take off this big dressing!
A message from Dr. Perfect Celebrity:
We do give patients steroids through an IV during surgery, which can change their mood. They may feel more energetic, depressed, or happy at times.
No pain—it’s hard to eat with the dressing on and keep eating soft foods.
At 12, the clinic takes off the dressing, and the swelling in my face is scary. I don’t look like myself!
I have some bruises, but Dr. Perfect Celebrity and the staff are telling me that everything will be fine and that everything looks great. No bleeding and all the nerves are fine—your smile is still there!
A message from Dr. Perfect Celebrity:
On the first day, not all patients look great. Some people still have problems from the local anesthetic, and sometimes the surgery can “stretch” the nerves. Your smile may not be straight, but it gets better very quickly. If it looks like it will take more than three weeks, we can inject neurotoxin into the other side to make it look even.
I’ve looked at pictures of other patients more than once to get ready, and I know I’m going to get better, but I’m still not ready to see my face in the mirror looking this fat, tight, and strange!
It does feel good to trade in that heavy dressing for a light head wrap, though. A lot easier to eat. My jaw still hurts and feels “stiff,” so I’m still eating soft foods. I bet I’ll lose weight on this plan!
Two Days Post Op
I keep soaking my eyes most of the night. The swelling is much better today, and I can see that the lower eyelids are getting better. I can eat normally today, with solid food.
I won’t be able to work in 6 days, and my hopes were too high. I’m sad.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity wrote:
Worrying about going back to activities or being seen by friends, family, and coworkers with the telltale signs of surgery can actually slow down your healing. You can’t relax when you’re under pressure.
Day 6 Post Op:
Day 6 After Surgery
Sleep well! Still wearing a wrap and sleeping with two pillows.
Still had a stiff neck. No pain.
The redness in the eyelids is getting better. The swelling in the neck and cheek is still going on. Not much bruising. I drove myself to work today and ran a few errands. No issues. I wear sunglasses to hide the redness under my eyes. I wore my hair down over the cuts from my facelift.
Went to work! I did well there, but I was tired. People said I looked great without makeup because they saw red under my eyes.
8 Days After Surgery
Day 8 After Surgery
Getting a good night’s sleep. During the day, my neck is a little stiff.
The redness from the laser is getting better every day, but it gets worse after I drink red wine.
I went for a walk today and kept my heart rate below 140. Started doing everything else again!!!
Sutures out of the clinic today and pictures!!
I’m back to feeling “normal,” but I feel like I did something great!
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9 Days After Surgery
Back to work for a whole day. No one knows I had surgery because I wear concealer on the laser area. People are looking at me and saying nice things. Did I do my hair differently? Did I have Botox?
A little swelling, and the numbness in my cheeks is still there. My under-eye area is now pale pink, but it is getting better.
I work for 9 hours a day! After that, I sleep well.
—I look great!
Day 13 Post Op
Day 13 After the Operation
Back to work full-time. Still need concealer for the area under the eyes where the laser was used. I’m starting to feel more energetic. My cheeks and neck are still numb.
People keep telling me how great I look. People are seeing the differences. I like what I see in the mirror because I look younger.
Dr. Perfect Celebrity wrote:
If you are coming to the practice from another city, we suggest that you stay in town for at least three weeks, which means you should not fly during that time. You can go sightseeing and do things like go out to dinner about a week after the surgery.
4 Weeks Post Op
When I smile, my dimples come back. I look like I used to, but better. The swelling in my cheeks and neck is going down, and the numbness is getting better. I don’t need concealer on my lower lids. The laser is still a little pink, and it gets worse when I drink a glass of red wine.
Take a four-hour bike ride on a trail. I don’t have any problems with my energy level; the stiffness is gone.
I’m back to my normal energy level!
Dr. Perfect Celebrity wrote:
At four weeks, you can do any kind of exercise except headstands, and there are no limits on how much you can do. However, your energy levels may take a while to get back to normal.
17 Weeks Post Op
17 Weeks After Surgery
I look and feel great. Back to normal, but looking and feeling younger and more sure of yourself!
A message from Dr. Perfect Celebrity:
When the sutures dissolve and the scar tissue in the neck matures, it can feel like hard lumps in the neck and face. We start using an ultrasonic treatment around week 7 that breaks up the tissue. The numbness around the face goes away slowly, but it can take up to five months. Around that time, the skin on the neck underneath also gets softer. Four months later, here it is!
Schedule A Consultation Today
As we said before, it’s important to remember that each patient has their own unique experience after surgery. We hope to give you as much information and preparation as we can.
Call Dr. Perfect Celebrity today to set up a meeting to talk about your cosmetic goals and the best options for you.
Facelift Recovery Tips For Better And Faster Results
- After facelift surgery, keep your head elevated to reduce swelling.
- Observe all post-operative instructions carefully.
- Stay hydrated and consume a healthy diet.
- Avoid strenuous activities.
- Use prescribed medications and skincare products to promote faster healing.
Facelift Recovery Dos and Don’ts
- Rest properly and attend follow-up appointments.
- Keep incisions clean and protected.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
- Do not expose skin to direct sunlight.
- Do not touch or strain treated areas during the healing process.
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Best Plastic Surgeon In Dubai For Facelift
Best Plastic Surgeon in Dubai for facelift is available at the Perfect Doctors Clinic, where Dr. Perfect Celebrity will provide expert care throughout your recovery. From day 1 to day 30, patients will notice gradual healing, with initial swelling and bruising subsiding within three weeks, followed by improved skin tightness and a more youthful, refreshed appearance as recovery progresses smoothly.