What is the follow-up care like after a facelift?

Question:
What is the follow-up care like after a facelift? How many check-ups will I need and for how long?

Answer:
You will need to be seen the day after your facelift to make sure there is no evidence of hematoma or blood accumulation beneath the facelift flaps. I place my patients in a facial compression dressing. Smaller dressings are used for mini facelift patients. I occasionally use drains after facelift surgery to drain any blood that can accumulate the day following surgery. I am more likely to use drains in my male patients then in female facelift patients as men have a higher incidence of bleeding following facelift because of the vascularity associated with facial hair and thicker skin. At one week the dressing is removed for good and all sutures and staples are removed from the face. I like to see my patients about two weeks after that unless I have some concerns in which case I will see my patients sooner.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld