Facial implant surgery helps improve your appearance by eliminating a weak chin and delivering more definition. The procedure involves implant placement, which takes about an hour, and a hospital recovery period before you go home.
If you’re considering facial implants as a cosmetic procedure to add balance to your facial appearance, you’ll want to prepare for recovery to ensure your experience is as comfortable, effective, and safe as possible.
What to Expect After Facial Implant Surgery
Facial implant surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. The side effects you’ll likely experience are soreness, bruising, and swelling. All these issues are common after any surgery, and there are things you should do to minimize them. During your consultation, Dr. Eric Pugash will discuss all possible surgical risks and what to do for relief.
Recovery is relatively quick, and you can resume normal activities about a week to 10 days after your operation. Any residual side effects should dissipate within a few weeks.
Here are eight tips Dr. Pugash recommends to make your aesthetic journey as pleasant as possible.
1. Apply Cool Compresses
Dr. Pugash recommends you apply cool compresses to your incision sites for the first few days after your surgery. Ensure you place a barrier between the compress or ice pack and your skin to prevent injury. Don’t use pressure when applying the compresses; leave them on no longer than 20 minutes at a time.
2. Avoid Direct Sunlight
After facial implant surgery, please stay out of the sun. If you must be outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat. Also, use SPF 30+ sunscreen daily.
3. Wait Before Wearing Makeup
Wearing makeup too soon after surgery can cause infection, influence scarring, and impede healing. Ask Dr. Pugash when to apply makeup after surgery and what type to use.
4. Carefully Take Medications
Avoid aspirin and other blood thinners two weeks before and two weeks after your facial surgery. Use any pain medication and antibiotics exactly as prescribed. If Dr. Pugash prescribes an antibiotic, take your full course of the meds.
5. Avoid Strenuous Activities
Take a gentle walk on the day of your surgery and while you recover to keep your circulation flowing and avoid a blood clot. Though participating in light exercise might be OK after facial implant surgery, do not overdo it. Check with Dr. Pugash before resuming your exercise routine.
6. Elevate Your Head When Relaxing
Whenever you rest or sleep, keep your head elevated to help drain fluid away from the incision sites and reduce swelling.
7. Showering and Bathing
Ask Dr. Pugash how to keep yourself and your incisions clean, including when you can wash your face and take a shower. When showering, keep the water lukewarm. Avoid baths, saunas, and hot tubs.
8. Stock up on Soft Foods
It may be uncomfortable to eat solid foods for a while after getting facial implant surgery, so you should purchase meal replacement shakes for your recovery. Once you feel well enough to graduate to solid foods, soft things like soup, applesauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes are best. In addition to meals that are easy to chew and swallow, ensure your menu is easy to digest.
Facial Implant Surgery in Vancouver
To learn more about facial implant surgery recovery and how to optimize your recovery after the operation, we invite you to schedule a discreet facial implant surgery consultation with Dr. Pugash.