Facelift & Neck Lift Post-Procedure Instructions 

Activity 

• Avoid turning your head or bending your neck. When you must turn, move your shoulders and head as one unit, as though you had a “stiff neck”. 

• Keep your chin up to avoid wrinkling of the neck skin. ('Elbow to knee' position at all times while sitting). Avoid sleeping with a pillow behind your head as this will flex your neck forward. A rolled up towel works well behind the neck. You can 

sleep flat. 

• Avoid strenuous activities or lifting anything over 10 pounds for 4 weeks. 

• It is very important to begin walking with assistance right after you get home, DO 

NOT remain in bed. 

• No driving until 24 hours after your last narcotic pain medication dose. 

• DIET: “salivary rest” diet consisting of soft, wet, easy-to-swallow foods and are encouraged to avoid sweet, salty, sour, dry, and difficult to chew foods and citrus for several weeks. 

• Take it really VERY easy the week following your suture removal. Although incisions are matured and closed, and all areas look good, there is still a chance (although rare) that too much activity (doing laundry, cleaning the house, lifting heavy objects etc.) could lead to a small blood vessel bursting, leaving the patient with a hematoma or large amounts of extra swelling that hinders the healing process. 

• No working out until 4 weeks post op. (This includes cardio, lifting weights, yoga, and sexual activity etc.). Working out can lead to an accumulation of swelling that hinders the healing process. 

Home Care 

• Try not to roll on your face which may tear the supporting stitches under your 

skin. 

• Support the swollen tissues with a chin sling or jaw bra if instructed by the surgeon. if you are given a chin sling or jaw bra you must wear this for 24 hours a day for one week, then it should be worn for 12 hours a day for two weeks. Make sure there is no tight bands or compression point, which can cause skin necrosis. 

• Wear button shirts rather than T-shirts (that will require you to pull from your head, as this can cause irritation and pain). 

• Avoid excessive sun exposure for one month; ordinary sun exposure is not harmful 

• You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Do not scrub the incision sites, just rinse and pat them dry. 

• Go over the suture lines two to three times daily with a Q-tip soaked in a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and tap water. After this, using a Q-tip, apply a liberal amount of antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin) to the suture lines around the front and back of the ear. 

• Keep dry cloth-protected cool compresses applied to the sides of your face and/or eyes for 24-48 hours. Don’t use ice or blue ice packs on unprotected skin (frostbite blisters can occur!). Apply cool (not ice) compresses to your face and neck for 15-20 minute of every hour they are awake for the first 3 days after surgery. Edema for most patients peaks at about this time. Never use ice or ice packs, or similar devices as your skin is numb and this will result in skin necrosis. 

• Please plan to have a responsible adult with you for at least 24 hours following surgery. 

What to Expect 

• Swelling and bruising can occur 48-72 hours post op. This will improve with time 

• Moderate discomfort – take pain medication as needed 

• Small amounts of drainage from the incisions or drain site may occur 

• Parts of the face, neck and ears may sometimes feel weak or numb after a facelift operation, this is usually temporary. Numbness can persist until approximately the one year mark. 

• Your incisions will be red, raised, and rippled between 2-10 weeks following your stitch removal. It takes time for the incision line to mature. 

• You will notice lumps and bumps begin to form (most commonly in the cheeks and around the jaw). They are patches of swelling that have begun to break down and are starting to go away. These can last up to 3-6 months before they go away 

completely. 

• You will feel tight along the jawline for the next couple of months. This is due to tissue manipulation during surgery and tightening the muscle (smas) under the skin and under the chin as well. 

• After the first couple of weeks, sometimes a clear stitch that was placed under the skin can protrude through the skin. Do not be alarmed, call our office and we will remove it for you or it will dissolve on its own. 

Make-up/skin care: 

• Avoid wearing makeup for 1-2 weeks following stitch removal. Applying makeup 

right away can irritate the incision lines and cause them to be red. 

• When using makeup on the incision lines, make sure it is breathable makeup (mineral based). Oxygenetics makeup is carried in our office and is safe and recommended after all surgical procedures. 

• Be very careful when removing makeup (especially eye makeup) as it can be can be rough on the incision line causing them to become irritated. 

• Use a gentle face wash/cleanser for the first 2 weeks (cetaphil). 

• Please avoid waterproof makeup as this type of makeup is difficult to remove. 

• You cannot color your hair until 4 weeks after surgery (for facelift/browlift patients 

only.) 

• Resume your normal skin care routine at the two week mark post-surgery 

Medication & Comfort 

• You should take the scheduled tylenol, gabapentin, and celecoxib for pain relief as prescribed. Breakthrough pain with the opiate medications. 

• Pain medications may cause drowsiness, upset stomach, and constipation. 

• Take pain medications with food. 

• Do not drink alcohol or drive while taking prescribed pain medication. 

• Refills are only available during office hours – 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. If you feel you need more pain medication, please call during those times. 

Call the nurse line (806 810 5828) if you notice: 

• More swelling on one side than the other. 

• Large spots of drainage that soak through the bandages. 

• Severe pain not responding to medication. 

• Fever greater than 101°F 

• Difficulty breathing 

• Signs of infection: If you notice foul-smelling drainage, redness, excessive swelling and pain in the treated areas, please notify us immediately. 

• Final Results: Expect the best results 6-12 months AFTER the surgery. 

If you have an issue after hours, contact Dr. Boonipat directly at 603 731 6888 

I have read and understand ALL the above instructions. I understand that the following instructions are solely my responsibility for a better post-surgical recovery. I understand that it is my responsibility to ask the surgeon about any questions or concerns related to my procedure, health, and healing process.