One natural body response to any surgical procedure is pain. However, the truth is facelift surgeries come with very little actual pain. Many facelift patients have admitted feeling less pain than expected after the surgery.

Nonetheless, if you’ve decided to get a facelift, you most likely have concerns about how much pain and discomfort you’ll be put through. As a remedy, you should not only get to know about the facelift procedure, but also learn some tips that can help you minimise the level of pain you would feel during your recovery period.

Tips for Managing the Post-Facelift Pain

You’re not likely to feel much pain right after your surgery, thanks to the anaesthesia in your body. However, as the anaesthesia wears off, you may feel discomfort, mostly from the bruises and swelling. You may also feel groggy, disoriented, numb or lightheaded.

As the hours go by, you may feel soreness and pain around your jaw, ears, and other incision points. Note that this pain is usually worse within the first 24 hours of the surgery, after which it will gradually subside. Here are some things to do that could make dealing with the pain easier:

Rest

Aside from being a natural remedy to pain, rest is vital to your healing process. Therefore, you need to rest for the first few days after your surgery. This can be done by laying in bed or sitting in a recliner, depending on the one that feels most convenient for you.

Doing the following may help with the pain when resting:

• Use some pillows under your shoulder and upper back to prop yourself up
• Keep your head elevated to minimise blood flow to the head and reduce swelling and discomfort

Use Pain Medication

Before or after your facelift surgery, your doctor will prescribe some pain relievers and other medication to help prevent infections. It is advisable to get these medications before your surgery to have them ready when you need them. The dosage prescribed for you will depend on how much pain you feel, and it is important not to go over your prescribed dosage.

Some pain medications may slow you down and make you feel lightheaded; therefore, you should avoid driving or operating machinery. Also, it is not advisable to take ibuprofen or aspirin, as they are blood thinners and could increase your bleeding risks.

Use a Cold Compress

Making use of a cold compress is an effective way of reducing pain, swelling, discolouration and overall discomfort after a facelift. Use a cold pack or wrap some frozen peas in a clean cloth. Apply this to your face for about 10 or 20 minutes several times daily for the first few days after your surgery.

Before using a cold compress, discuss when and how to use it with your doctor.

Eat Healthy

The benefits of feeding well in the days and weeks following your surgery cannot be overemphasised. Not only does the right diet help reduce pain, swelling and discomfort, but it also helps your body to heal faster.

Ensure to consume vegetables, fruits and lean meats in adequate proportions. You should also drink lots of water and herbal teas, such as chamomile and ginger, to help relieve pain.

Get Someone to Assist You

Frequently moving your head or engaging in strenuous activity will likely increase the pain you feel. Therefore, for a few days after your surgery, it is never a bad idea to have someone to assist you with the basic things, such as:

• Preparing your food
• Helping you to and fro the bathroom, especially if you feel dizzy and lightheaded
• Answering the phone, as you may find it a little difficult to speak
• Cleaning up

This will not only reduce the pain you feel but also give you enough time to rest and recover fully.

Other Things to Avoid

After your facelift surgery, here are a few other general things to avoid doing to help you manage the pain:

• Do not bend over or turn your head and neck excessively
• Do not try to lift any heavy things or pick up small children
• Do not hit or bump your face
• Do not expose your face to prolonged sunlight
• Do not engage in any activities that could increase your blood pressure or cause you to sweat

Conclusion

Facelift surgeries could leave you feeling a little sore for a few days. The tips we have provided above will not only help you to manage post-facelift pain but also help you heal up faster. Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking new medications or adopting further pain-relieving techniques.