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7 Tips For Caring For Your Skin After A Facelift Procedure

Posted in Facelift

After careful consideration, time, and research, you finally made the decision to take the concept of aging into your own hands with a facelift! Deciding to renew your youthful appearance with surgery is no easy task, and once your surgery is complete, you’ll want to protect and prolong your results for as long as possible.

With proper skin care and these helpful tips, you can expedite the healing process and maintain your results. Let’s review seven helpful tips from double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher k. Livingston for post-facelift skincare.

1.  Follow Your Plastic Surgeon’s Instruction Explicitly

This one might seem obvious, but there are those patients out there that will ignore instructions from their surgeon to save on time or because they don’t feel the instruction is necessary. Everything your surgeons tell you to do should be taken seriously and done every day until you’ve been instructed otherwise.

2. Proper Cleansing and Moisturizing

Your skin will most likely be tender around the incisions, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid washing your face. Bacteria can quickly build up, causing harmful infections if not cleansed away properly. Gently wash and moisturize your skin after your facelift using a soft cloth or gauze in conjunction with a mild antibacterial cleanser, followed by a gentle moisturizer.

3. Minimizing Swelling and Bruising

Swelling and bruising tend to worsen before getting better. Do not be alarmed, as this is completely normal. Be sure to keep your head elevated even while sleeping. You can do this by placing multiple pillows on your bed to help prop you up during rest and sleep. Cold compresses are also great for reducing swelling and easing any discomfort.

4. Avoid Harmful Sun Rays

Protect your skin from the sun both before and after your procedure. During the healing period, exposing your incisions to the sun can cause scarring to become darker and prolong your recovery time. Sunblock of 30 or higher and protective clothing are great ways to protect your skin from the sun.

5. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is an integral part of overall skin health, but it can also flush out toxins after your surgery and during your recovery process. The sudden decrease in overall activity also has the ability to promote constipation which can be helped by hydration. Further, increasing your fluid intake will make you more comfortable, remove toxins from the body, and keep your skin clear.

6. Scar Prevention

Dr. Livingston will strategically place his incisions in inconspicuous spots; however, some scarring is unavoidable. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your scars heal well. After cleansing, incisions should be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide and water solution and kept clean and dry. You should apply antibiotic ointment or Vaseline on a schedule created by your doctor to prevent drying.

Talk to your surgeon about vitamin E or scar gels to help reduce their appearance once you are fully healed.

7. Facial Treatments

You can begin getting facial treatments four to six weeks after your facelift, as long as they are approved by your surgeon. Various factors, including your age, skin type, and lifestyle, will determine what facials are right for you and your skin goals.

Be sure to inform your esthetician of your facelift and any potential irritants around the incision site. Also, plan to target the same areas that were a concern before your facelift, as aging and gravity will most likely have some impact over time.

Learn More About the Best Facelift Surgeon in Houston, Texas

Since 2003, Livingston Plastic Surgery has set the standard of care for plastic surgery in Houston, TX. As a board-certified member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Livingston strives to provide his patients with safety, minimal downtime, and reduced pain when undergoing any of the procedures he offers.

Learn more about Houston’s best facelift by calling (281) 501-1812 or contact us online to schedule your consultation today! We look forward to hearing from you soon.