Let’s Be Real: Are You Going to Look Like a Freak after a Facelift?

You want to get a facelift so you look younger and more refreshed—not to look like Frankenstein at work on Monday morning. So how long before you look normal after a facelift, and how much post-facelift recovery time are we talking? Here’s the honest truth.

Give Yourself about a Week to Get It Together

Realistically, if you wanted to get back to work and your regular routine within a few days after your facelift, your plastic surgeon would most likely give you the green light. But if you’re worried about looking a little strange at first, you might want to give yourself 1 to 2 weeks of R&R at home before heading out into the world.

You Need Rest, but Not Bed Rest

No lie, you will have some swelling and bruising after your facelift.

Sure, you’ll probably want to kick back and relax as soon as you get home from your facelift, which is perfectly fine. But you won’t need to be bedridden for days. In fact, it’s a good thing if you’re feeling up to walking around the block or even just around the house to get your blood flowing and promote healing.

Your Results Need the Long Game

Even though you’ll look just fine to get back to work and other real-world activities within a week or two, you still won’t see your full results for up to a year after your facelift. So be patient with the healing process and plan on giving your natural-looking facelift results your best long game commitment.