Patients may experience a tight feeling under the chin with some soreness along the sides of the neck or jaw. A bit of numbness may occur on the skin, which is a normal response to the procedure. Patients say the face feels tight after facelift surgery.
However, Dr. Williams typically does not prescribe pain medication; each patient is different, depending on your pain tolerance, recently we have offered the option for Valium to help with discomfort and relaxation post-surgery for three nights.
For the first several days, the head should be elevated as often as possible and cold compresses should be applied. Following the surgery, the face will appear slightly bruised, puffy and pale. Bruising may take up to two weeks to disappear.