Facelift recovery: how long it takes, bruising, stitches and when you see the result

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, takes 2 to 3 hours according to the NHS, and most people need to stay in hospital overnight. BAPRAS gives a wider range of two to five hours and also says patients are likely to need to stay in hospital overnight. Pain relief is provided if you have discomfort afterwards.

Recovery has an early phase of a couple of weeks, when bruising and swelling are most obvious, and a long tail. The NHS says it takes about 2 to 4 weeks to fully recover and that bruising is visible for at least 2 weeks. BAPRAS says that stitches can be removed and after ten to fourteen days patients can think about returning to work or going out in public, and that within four weeks you will be feeling more like yourself. Both say the final result takes six to nine months to judge.

The NHS sets out a straightforward sequence. After about 7 to 14 days, stitches are removed unless they were dissolvable. After several weeks, bruises, scars and changes to skin colour should have faded. After 6 to 9 months, you should be able to see the final results of the facelift.

The NHS lists a swollen or numb face, which may last for a few weeks or months, a stiff feeling in the face and mouth that usually goes away within 6 weeks, bruising that can last a few weeks, pain, low mood for a few days, scars that fade but will not completely disappear, a raised hairline or sideburns, and reduced hair growth at the sides of the forehead (temples).

BAPRAS lists swelling and bruising, feelings of tightness when opening the mouth, feeling low and depressed in the first week, and discomfort at night, for which it recommends sleeping upright with ice packs applied to the cheeks. It says pain is not a major problem with facial surgery and complications are never usually very serious, but that there is a chance of damage to the facial nerves which can cause weakened movement of the eyebrow and lip, and is generally improving over several weeks.

Feeling low after cosmetic surgery is named by both sources and is worth planning for, for example by having someone to talk to in the first week or two and by not judging the result while the face is swollen.

The NHS says you will not be able to drive for a number of days after the operation and that your surgeon would advise on this. On work, it says you need to take the 2 to 4 weeks of recovery off work, and BAPRAS suggests that after ten to fourteen days patients can think about returning to work or going out in public.

For the first two days you will need to avoid showering and getting the bandages wet, and to keep your head propped up with pillows while resting to reduce swelling, according to the NHS. It also says to avoid strenuous activity, saunas and massages for at least two weeks.

Because the position of the incisions is in and around the hairline and ears, hairstyle and hair care matter more than with most operations. The NHS notes that the cuts are made above the hairline at the temples, in front of the ear, under the earlobe and behind the ear, and mentions a raised hairline or sideburns and reduced hair growth at the temples as possible effects. Ask your surgeon when it is safe to wash and style your hair.

The NHS says a facelift can occasionally result in nerve injury with loss of sensation or movement in the face, asymmetrical facial features including the position of the earlobe, hair loss or a small but permanent reduction in hair growth around the scars, thick obvious scars and problems healing. Any operation carries a small risk of excessive bleeding, a blood clot in a vein, infection and an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic.

It advises contacting the clinic where the operation was carried out as soon as possible if you have severe pain or any unexpected symptoms, and says you can also call NHS 111 or get help from NHS 111 online. If you are not happy with the result, it says to take the matter up with your surgeon through the hospital or clinic where you were treated, and that concerns about care can go to the Care Quality Commission, with concerns about a doctor going to the General Medical Council.

The NHS also notes that occasionally people find the desired effect was not achieved and feel they need another operation, and that you should check with your surgeon how this would be funded.

BAPRAS describes the facelift as addressing age-related problems with the lower half of the face, from the eyes and ears downwards, with anything above the eyes treated by a brow lift. It says facelifts are generally successful procedures that can have dramatic results, often setting the clock back about ten years, but that no facelift will ever make a person look 18 again and you should be aware of the limitations before agreeing to surgery.

The NHS says to be absolutely sure about your reasons for wanting a facelift and not to rush into it, because the procedure can be expensive, the results cannot be guaranteed and there are risks. It suggests discussing your plans with your GP first.