Facial cosmetic surgery, which can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis, usually has about a two week recovery period.
Patients will have a variable amount of bruising and swelling following surgery. I have found that this is often related to general health status and other medical issues, such as high blood pressure, that patients may have. I generally recommend that for the first two weeks after facial cosmetic surgery, such as facelift, eyelid lift, or brow lift, the patient sleep in a recliner with their head elevated. Immediately following facial cosmetic surgery, I also recommend that patients keep the area of surgery cool with ice, cold compresses, which may be accomplished by way of gel packs or coolers that circulate ice, cold water. Nonetheless, each system seems to have its drawbacks. One method that has been very reliable and simple is keeping a basin of ice water at your bedside. A wash cloth can, also, be dipped in ice water and then rung out to achieve whatever temperature is most comfortable for each patient. Patients generally find this to be a soothing comfort for the first 2-3 days immediately following surgery.
While some patients will have very little bruising and could return to work quite quickly, other patients may take as long as two weeks before the bruising and swelling can be camouflaged by makeup.
