Facelift Performed At The Same Time As Other Procedures
Dr. Portuese performs a facelift surgery in addition to other procedures simultaneously in the Surgery Center. Very frequently, he will perform a rhinoplasty and/or blepharoplasty at the same time the facelift is being performed. These surgeries compliment one other for full facial rejuvenation and do not create any additional recovery complications. This is done quite frequently when desired by the patient.
RECOVERY ROOM
Once the facelift or neck lift surgery has been completed, patients are taken to the recovery room where they stay for approximately two hours. Vital signs are monitored and observed closely by the anesthesiologist and our attending registered nurses. Patients feel a bit drowsy while they are in the recovery room, but that soon dissipates. Patients are typically discharged to home in the care of a responsible adult who drives them home and helps them through their postoperative recovery and convalescence. There is usually little to no pain following a facelift or neck left, but some patients complain of a mild burning sensation or stiff neck in the first day or two after their surgery. The drains are a bit uncomfortable but they do serve the function of draining blood out from underneath the skin so that it does not accumulate in the first two days after the surgery. Patients also note that they will be quite tired and exhausted during the first week postoperatively because the body is recuperating from the surgery.
POSTOPERATIVE ANESTHESIA SIDE EFFECTS
A few patients experience postoperative nausea and vomiting after their face lift or neck lift surgery. This can be the result of the anesthesia or the narcotic pain pills. These are the two most common reasons that cause nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period. Dr. Portuese gives anti-nausea medication during the time of the surgery to help prevent any further postoperative nausea and vomiting and occasionally patients will need additional pills in the postoperative phase. Patients may complain of a sore throat and dry mouth, which is related to the anesthesia. This is all temporary and goes away within a day or two. Once patients are awake and resting in the recovery room, they are discharged to home in stable condition with their responsible caretaker.
POSTOPERATIVE FACELIFT AND NECK LIFT PROCEDURE
For the first week or two it is very common to be tired. It takes approximately two weeks for the majority of the bruising and swelling to subside in the postoperative phase. There is usually some residual swelling and bruising around the cheeks and neck and jaw line, even after two weeks, but this can be camouflaged with makeup. Full healing takes approximately two to three months to see the final result. After leaving the Seattle Facelift Center, patients will begin their recovery at home in a stress-free comfortable environment. Most patients feel well enough to resume normal activities within two weeks of their surgery, including exercising and going back to work. The postoperative instructions are designed with patients in mind to help minimize any complications, swelling, pain or discomfort in the postoperative recovery and healing phase. The instructions are given to the responsible caretaker and are reviewed with them in the recovery room prior to the discharge. There is usually no associated pressure wraps or mummy wraps around the head and face for this type of surgery. There are just drains in place for a facelift and neck lift and these are removed 48 hours after the surgery. The sutures are also removed very early so that there is no railroad tracking on the incision lines, and typically the sutures are removed on day four or five after the procedure.