The biggest concern clients have going into any procedure is what their results will look like. Their next biggest concern? How the recovery period will go. To help demystify things, let’s take a look at neck lift recovery day by day.
Day 1
Neck lift surgery can take a few hours and is usually an outpatient procedure. This means the day of your surgery is also the start of your neck lift recovery time. On this day, you will be in the hospital for several hours after surgery, ensuring that you do not have any reactions to the anesthetic or other problems. Once it is clear that it is safe to go home, you’ll be discharged with instructions for your care.
Day 2
Real recovery begins on day two, your first full day home from the hospital.
Because the medications used during surgery still have lingering effects on day one, it may be day two before you start to truly feel the soreness from your neck lift. This won’t be worse than what you would expect from any surgery, but it will most likely be noticeable.
Take your medications as directed and take it easy. Do not press on your face and be sure to sleep on your back with your head elevated about your heart. Also, be sure to avoid pressing ice to the neck as this can cause skin death.
Days 3 to 7
Usually on day three, you will return to your plastic surgeon’s office so they can check on how your neck lift recovery is progressing. During the rest of the first week, you should be focused on relaxing, changing your bandages and doing things to promote healing. Eat healthy foods and generally take care of yourself. Stay away from work and strenuous activities
Days 8 through 14
Many people will return to work after a week, though this can vary depending on your field of work, as there may be lingering bruising. For this week, you should be able to be more active, but at the same time not pushing it too hard. Avoid stress as much as possible and eat well. Keep in mind that what to expect from neck lift recovery varies between clients and you should listen to your body.
Days 14 through 42
Over the course of the first six weeks after surgery, you should steadily heal and find that your bruising and swelling goes down significantly. With each week that passes, you can also be more active and eventually be able to touch the face and neck without issue.
To find out if neck lift surgery is right for you or to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Chang, contact us online or call our Columbia office today at 410-701-3465.
Author: Dr. Eric Chang
Few plastic surgeons offer Dr. Eric Chang’s rare blend of impressive credentials and genuine compassion. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
