The way you sleep after your facelift in Toronto will have a significant influence on the success and comfort of your procedure. Following your facelift, there are a few things you should avoid doing or to do with additional care in order to guarantee that your results are precisely what you desire. Bathing should be done with care, certain activities should be avoided, and sleeping should be done in a different way than usual.

Although your facial plastic surgeon will provide you with personalized instructions during your consultation, we’ve created this blog to provide you with a general overview of how to sleep after surgery in order to get the most rest and healing possible to achieve the best potential outcomes. Continue reading to get started…

What Is The Purpose Of A Facelift?

Let’s start off with the basics, why do people get facelift procedures? Facelift surgery is a complex and time-consuming treatment that tightens, lifts, and rejuvenates the facial features for a more youthful appearance. Dr. DuPéré has considerable expertise with Toronto’s most innovative and cutting-edge facelift methods, including:

• Traditional facelift
• Mid-facelift
• Lower Facelift
• Mini-Facelift
• Brow-Lift
• Neck Lift

Dr. DuPéré will prescribe the most suitable technique for you based on your individual problems and personal objectives. The following are some of the most prevalent age-related issues that facelift surgery may treat or correct:

• Lines and wrinkles
• Folds in the face
• Skin that is sagging
• Jowls that are drooping
• A drooping brow
• Skin around the eyes that droop
• Excessive, loose skin
• Mouth drooping
• Cheeks that are hollow
• Neck skin that is loose
• Among other concerns.

What’s The Process Of A Facelift?

Depending on what type of facelift done, the surgeon’s selected approach, and other conditions, the details of your facelift surgery will vary from other patients.

A classic facelift often entails incisions just below the hairline that go around the temples, around the ear, and behind the ear. Dr. DuPéré can access and manipulate the different layers of muscle and tissue under the skin by creating these incisions.

Finally, the surplus skin is clipped away, and the remaining skin is placed over the freshly contoured face. While patients report a skin tightening effect, Dr. DuPéré focuses on tightening and rearranging the muscles, fat, and other tissues to prevent an unduly tight, plastic, or artificial-looking outcome.

How Long Does It Take To Recover After A Facelift?

Facelift recovery often takes many weeks or months to appreciate the full effects. Most patients, however, are able to return to work within 7–10 days.

Bruising, soreness, and swelling are common and anticipated in the first few days, but these symptoms may be alleviated with medications and other treatments, and they normally go away within the first 1–2 weeks.

Until the patient obtains permission from his or her surgeon, strenuous physical exercise and other activities should be avoided for the following several weeks. While most postoperative facelift swelling will subside in 4–6 weeks, the ultimate effects of your facelift may take up to six months or more to completely materialize as the tissues repair and settle.

Tips For A Smooth Recovery

Prepare Yourself Before Your Surgery

Make your bed with additional, comfy pillows before your surgery so you can sleep with your head slightly raised. This will assist to reduce swelling and relieve your pain. For your recuperation, your surgeon may prescribe pain medicine and/or antibiotics; fill them before your procedure date since you’ll need them right away.

Request Help From Friends And Family

You may wish to ask a caregiver to be with you during the first few days of recuperation, whether it’s a close friend or family. If you want to do it alone for the most part, make arrangements for transportation to and from surgery, as well as someone to remain with you for the first night and take you to your one-day postoperative follow-up. Plan ahead of time for the finer points: will your companion sleep in your room or somewhere else? Do they know where your pain medicine is and have instructions on how to take it in the first 24 hours?

Take Your Pain Relievers As Prescribed

Taking your pain relievers as directed on the label will help reduce swelling and discomfort while also making it easier to sleep. The majority of facelift patients only need pain medication for the first three days after recovery, since edema begins to subside by day 4.

Don’t Be Concerned Or Worried

Your results will seem worse before they get better. Expect bruising and swelling to peak on the third or fourth day following your facelift, then progressively improve after that. If you’re concerned about your appearance, tell yourself that it’s not a reflection of how you’ll look after you’ve recovered.

The following are some of the common surgical indicators that will go away:

• Bruising on the face, neck, and décolletage,
• Discomfort in the ears,
• Puffy or bruising around the eyes,

Assuring yourself that “this, too, will pass” will assist you in avoiding sleep loss due to anxiety about your results.

Tips For Swelling

The majority of your pain will be caused by edema. Take a blue-gel cold pack from the freezer, wrap it in a clean towel, and gently massage it against different regions of your face for approximately 30 seconds to reduce swelling. After around 15 minutes, take a break and reapply the cold pack for about an hour (or when needed). Simply avoid putting ice directly on your skin; the cold will slow down your blood flow, which is necessary for healing.

Stay Caffeine-free

Coffee may be an unobtrusive part of your daily routine, but it may make it difficult to obtain the rest you need after surgery – especially when mixed with any pain medicine or antibiotics your surgeon recommends. Instead, try a cup of herbal, caffeine-free tea before bedtime; the calming warmth may help you fall asleep faster.

Remind Yourself

It may be tough to keep yourself from rolling over after you’ve fallen asleep if you’re a free spirit in your sleep. Giving oneself a brief mental reminder before going to bed might help you remain motionless and on your back during sleeping. But don’t get too worked up over rolling; if you do manage to turn onto your stomach, you’ll most likely wake up.

Sleep Alone

If you regularly share a bed with a loved one– or even a pet – a facelift may be the ideal time to sleep on your own for the week. In the early stages of recuperation, it’s critical to keep your face out of harm’s way, and if your normal bedmate is a tosser, he or she may need to go to the sofa for a few days while you recuperate. It’s not required, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s a great way to have the whole bed to oneself!

Maintain Clean Skin

For the first two days, however, this is not the case. While you won’t be able to immerse your face in water until your staples and stitches have been removed (seven days following surgery), you may begin lightly cleaning portions of your face on day 2 and after your one-day post-op visit. Gently wipe away any dried blood or fluid from your face that is giving you pain throughout the day or while you sleep using a clean, warm towel.

Remind Yourself To Be Patient

A little perseverance can go a long way. Your incisions’ staples and sutures will be removed seven days after surgery; keep this in mind anytime they itch or upset you. Once they’ve been removed, you’ll feel a lot better.

Try To Stay Somewhat Active

Facelift surgery, however, does not force you to be bedridden – in other words, you are not compelled to lay in bed all day. Getting out of bed on a frequent basis throughout your rehabilitation will feel nice and improve your circulation. On the other hand, being fully sedentary will make your body weary and make sleeping difficult. Don’t be hesitant to ask for assistance sitting or standing if you feel wobbly at any moment particularly in the first 24 hours following surgery.

While these are some of the simple tips for a smooth recovery, we can’t stress enough how important it is to listen to your body. If you notice any changes or symptoms contact your surgeon and he will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

When To Sleep On Your Side After A Facelift Procedure In Toronto

Now that we understand how important it is to be careful while you sleep, many patients are curious to know when they can start sleeping on their side again after their facelift in Toronto.

It’s critical that patients show up for all of their post-facelift sessions. Dr. DuPéré will assess your healing process and offer continuous suggestions about your rehabilitation throughout these appointments, including allowing you to sleep in your chosen position. Although it varies from person to person, most patients are able to resume side-sleeping 2–4 weeks following facelift surgery.

Things That Can Make It Easier For You To Sleep On Your Back During Recovery

Sleeping on a chair is a good place to start. When you sleep on a chair, you are forced to sleep on your back. When you sleep in this chair, you have a minimal chance of rolling over. You’re also less likely to irritate your surgery sites as a result.

If you want to sleep on your bed, choose a firm mattress. This mattress should have adequate support to keep you in your back sleeping posture. Staying on your back might be made easier with a cushion with arms or a horseshoe-shaped travel pillow.

Pillows can also be rolled-up towels that may also be placed on your sides to prevent you from turning over while sleeping. A cushion with a 30-degree wedge may also be used.

Make sure the additional cushions are placed behind your head, between your scapula and shoulder blades. This will assist you in extending your chin. A cushion should also be placed under your knees. This will help to support your body’s natural curves while also increasing your level of comfort.

Sleeping on your back after a facelift may require some effort, but the benefits will be substantial in the long-run.

Learn More About Sleeping After A Facelift Procedure In Toronto

If you’ve recently had a facelift procedure in Toronto or you’re awaiting your surgery date, knowing about the right sleeping positions and recommendations for a smooth recovery will help you get through the rehabilitation and healing stage with no trouble.

We too are excited to see your beautiful outcomes from your facelift procedure which is why we can’t emphasize enough to follow these basic guidelines to guarantee that your results turn out just the way you want them to!