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The following instructions apply to patients who have undergone a
facelift or a forehead lifting procedure. Since no two patients are
ever exactly alike in their surgical needs, the type of surgery
performed, or their rate of healing, we may elect to individualize
the following guidelines for each patient. Otherwise, we urge you
to follow the advice below very carefully, in order to accelerate
your healing and maximize your surgical outcome.
- Since you have just undergone a major surgical operation,
use good common sense in the first 14 days after surgery
in restricting your normal activities, exercise regimens
and any activity requiring heavy lifting or straining.
- You may be up and around the day after surgery, but some
natural fatigue may persist for 2-3 days due to the normal
effects of the anesthesia and surgical procedure.
- When you move, stand or change positions, do so deliberately
and carefully for the first 7 days. In turning your head,
move the head and shoulder deliberately as a single unit.
- You may eat a normal diet the day following the surgery.
In moderation, talking and smiling are perfectly acceptable.
- Your head should be elevated on at least two pillows during
sleep for the first 14 days, in order to keep you head higher
than your heart to help facilitate the resolution of swelling.
Do not sleep face down; sleep on your back or side instead.
- DO NOT TAKE ANY ASPIRIN OR ASPIRIN CONTAINING MEDICINES for 14
days after surgery. Other routinely taken medications may be
taken as necessary.
- Any unexplained development of pain, facial swelling or fever
should be reported to us immediately.
- Some facial and neck swelling and bruising are normally present
after facelifts, and bruising of the forehead with swelling
around the eyes is not unexpected after forehead lifting.
The degree of each varies widely from patient to patient.
Do not be concerned if you have more or less than others who
have undergone the "same" operation. Generally, most patients
appear quite sociably acceptable within 10-14 days after surgery.
- You many gently cleanse the incision lines twice daily with
3% hydrogen peroxide and cotton (or Q-tips). Apply the
antibiotic ointment provided twice daily to the incision
lines in order to avoid excessive crusting of the incisions
and to accelerate the reduction of incision redness. Do not
apply any other ointment or medications unless we prescribe it.
- You may gently shampoo your hair 72 hours after surgery,
avoiding any strong rubbing or combing trauma to the incisions
in the hair and around the ear. Do not blow dry for 5 days,
and postpone any planned permanent waves or hair coloring for
4 weeks following surgery.
- Your earlobes and portions of the face or forehead that have
been lifted and repositioned will be slightly numb for several
weeks; sensation will then return as healing progresses. Do not
wear heavy or tight earrings for 6 weeks, and avoid prolonged
exposure to extremely cold temperatures.
- It is acceptable to do some light walking 72 hours after surgery.
Jogging and light non-contact exercise should not be resumed until
3 weeks, and strenuous sports require 6 weeks of healing before
being safely resumed.
- Exposure of your face to sun (including sun-tanning parlors)
after surgery may result in prolonged facial swelling and an
undesired increase in skin pigmentation. Thereafter, you should
always protect your skin with a strong sun-screen containing PABA
(para-aminobenzoic acid) and/or a large-brimmed hat in order to
protect your facial skin from developing any pigment irregularities
over the first 6 months after surgery.
- Finally, it is very important to your well being that you follow
completely all instructions given you by this office, and that
we check your progress regularly following surgery.
We greatly appreciate the confidence you have shown in us by allowing
us to assist you in improving your appearance and health, and you may
be assured of our very best efforts to achieve the most satisfactory
surgical result possible for your particular individual anatomy and condition.
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