In the case of a facelift, the typical recovery time is between one and three months. The exact amount of time it will take depends on many factors such as how large your facial wound is, your age, the amount of tissue that needs to be removed, your personal health, and the condition of your facelift. So, what exactly happens during the facelift process? How long does a facelift surgery last?

In order for a facelift to work properly, your underlying scar tissue needs to be pulled back from where it is located under your skin. This is done by a plastic surgeon through microscopic incisions that are typically made in the area between your eye and the upper part of your face. After this has been done, your surgeon then stitches up your skin, making sure that the skin is pulled tight enough to hold the fascia fabric on your face. After the stitches are completely healed, your surgeon will place a drainage tube underneath your skin to help with draining any excess blood or fluid that may have formed during the surgery.

Your skin will be closely monitored over the course of your facelift. While the fascia is being pulled back, it will be important to make certain that your skin does not get too tight. If you notice any sagging or drooping of your skin, your surgeon may need to pull additional skin away from the area where your facelift is being performed. This will all depend on the severity of your facial wound, the amount of tissue that need to be removed, and your age at the time of your surgery.

Because your face will be opened up in the top of a facelift procedure, there is also a chance that the skin will become irritated or inflamed after the procedure. This usually happens with older patients who had their facelifts performed while they were still younger. It is important to remember that most plastic surgeons make no distinction between how old you are when they perform the operation. Therefore, if you had a facelift many years ago and your skin has loosened somewhat since then, you should not assume that it has become less taut because of aging. Make any changes in your skin to avoid worsening the condition, so that you can safely and quickly return to your doctor for followup care.

Occasionally, the fascia can separate from the underlying skin. If this occurs, it will be important to repair the skin, as it may not heal properly if continuing to do so. This will be especially problematic if you had a severe burn in your face, which damaged the fascia and caused it to separate. The good news is that you can usually have your facelift repeated, without any additional complications occurring.

As you can see, there is no simple answer to the question, “How long does facial lift surgery last?” In general, your facelift surgeon will recommend that you relax and enjoy your new look for about six months after your procedure. He or she will keep a regular checkup on your condition and probably give you an injection or other medication to help minimize any side effects. Your skin will be very sensitive to the laser used during your procedure, but after a few weeks of normal use, you will likely notice a difference.