When you have an S-lift done, your skin and face needs time to recover. Although it’s the least invasive facelift, full recovery takes as long as a total facelift. This is because of the healing of the scars. We often get asked what you can and cannot do after a mini facelift and how to promote recovery. To ensure the most MOOI result possible, it’s important to carefully follow these instructions.

The first days after your s-lift

After surgery, you can usually go home the same day. We check that everything is fine with you and after our plastic surgeon’s approval, you may go home. For the first two weeks, your face is still swollen and blue but the swelling will disappear after 1 to 2 weeks. In order to obtain the most MOOI result and to speed up your recovery, we recommend the following: (Unless expressly stated otherwise by the plastic surgeon.)

DO: EAT SOFT FOOD

Avoid hard foods that require considerable chewing. After a week, you can slowly build up the food hardness again.

DON’T: DRIVE YOURSELF HOME

One thing you should not do immediately after surgery is get behind the wheel yourself. So make sure there is someone with you who can drive you home safely. In addition, your face is wrapped with bandages and you must take it easy for the first few days. You’re allowed up to drive one week after the surgery. 

DO: REST A LOT

For the first few days after your S-lift, you should take it easy. This means resting a lot and not doing (heavy) household chores such as laundry, vacuuming, etc. Is there someone who can cook delicious meals for you, help you get dressed and undressed or get up for you from time to time? It’ll be useful to have someone around who can help you.

Note: Resting does not mean lying in bed all day. Resting too much and too long is not good for your body either. Stretch your legs occasionally, even if it’s during a short walk from the toilet to the couch. But stick to short distances indoors.

DON’T DO IT RIGHT AWAY: SHOWERING AND BATHING

After two days, you can shower quickly again. Be careful not to rub around the scars and avoid getting the plasters wet. Don’t bathe for the first 6 weeks, until the scars are completely healed. You’re supposed to wash your hair 3 days before your first checkup with a mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo. This counteracts crusting and makes removing the sutures easier.

DO: TAKE PAIN MEDICATION

If you feel lousy or your face/jaw is painful, you may always take paracetamol and any additional painkillers prescribed by the doctor.

DON’T: SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH OR SIDE

We recommend sleeping in a semi-seated position. If you had a combination surgery, like a forehead lift with/ and/or eyelid surgery, you can use a cold pack to address swelling. For at least one week, don’t sleep on your side or stomach.

DON’T: SMOKING

Definitely don’t! Smoking adversely affects blood flow to the tissues, which is precisely what is important for proper recovery. We therefore recommend that you stop smoking weeks before and after treatment. It is also better not to smoke after treatment. This accelerates the aging process and increases the risk of complications.

DON’T: DRINK ALCOHOL

Don’t drink alcohol in the first week after treatment because of the risk of post-treatment bleeding.

One week after your mini facelift

After a week, you’ll return to MOOI Clinic for a checkup with the plastic surgeon or nurse and your stitches will be removed. After this check-up, you only need to wear the facelift bandage at night. During this checkup, you can also discuss any activities you want to resume, as well as your medication use and favorite sleeping position.

After 1 week you’re allowed to do a little more again, but by no means everything! Always consult with the plastic surgeon.

YOU MAY DO THIS AGAIN:

• Build up food hardness slowly
• Driving
• Depending on your occupation, you may start working again (not intensively)
• Walking and gentle movements
• If your recovery goes well, you’ll be allowed to fly again after 2 weeks. Consult with the physician beforehand.

YOU MAY NOT DO THIS YET:

• Wear makeup (only after 3 weeks)
• Put too much tension on your face and neck
• Sports, including swimming (only after 6 weeks)
• Heavy lifting or physically strenuous work
• Tanning, sauna or tanning bed

Six weeks after your mini facelift

After six weeks, you’re usually well recovered from the surgery. It’s difficult to predict when the face will appear completely normal again as this varies from person to person, and depends on the amount of wound fluid or bruising under the skin. As a general rule, it takes on average about 6 weeks. In some cases, the face looks back to normal much sooner, and in others it may take a little longer.

Most people can fully resume their normal lives after 6 weeks. At this point, you can bathe, use a sauna and sleep the way you want again.

Final check-up and result

After about 3 months, you’ll come for a final check-up at MOOI Clinic. The periods of recovery mentioned are averages and can vary greatly from person to person. Scarring matures sometime between 6 and 12 months, during which time they change from red to purple in color, eventually turning pale and becoming almost invisible.

Do you have any doubts about your situation, as to whether or not you should be allowed to do something? Then contact us!