Common Recovery Inconveniences After Facelift Surgery
Excessive Swelling After Facelift Surgery
Swelling is a common side effect of facelift surgery and a true sign of healing within the body. After your surgery, you will see the worst swelling on your second, third, and possibly fourth day of recovery. Somewhere during the first week post-surgery, you should see your swelling gradually subsiding. If your face hasn’t started to go back to its normal size by then, you may be having a healing issue.
To prevent excessive swelling, make sure you are keeping your head elevated at all times, even when you sleep or lie on the couch. Keeping your head at an angle will reduce blood flow to your face and alleviate some of the pressure that causes swelling. Your facial plastic surgeon may also advise other anti-swelling measures like cold compresses, so make sure to follow his instructions clearly.
Allergic Reactions to Anesthetics or Medication
Many prospective patients from New York worry about being “put to sleep” under anesthetics for a facelift surgery. Although the safe methods and types of anesthetics used have improved throughout the years, allergic reactions can occur. If you have a history of allergies, you must discuss your health with your facial plastic surgeon during your facelift consultation. It could affect the anesthetic he uses and the medication he prescribes to you. Be sure to include any adverse reactions you’ve had to medications in the past including nausea and vomiting, hives and rashes, trouble breathing, heart palpitations, and extreme drowsiness. These could all be indicators of an allergy to a particular type of medicine.
Visible Post-Surgical Scars
Every surgery will leave behind incision marks which heal over as scars. Placing these incisions in well-hidden areas of the face can help cut down on their visibility once you have healed. Many facial plastic surgeons will place them in the natural skin folds around the ears or along the hairline so they aren’t obvious. Sometimes, however, scars can’t be well-hidden and may be visible for a long time after surgery. They can be raised, darker in pigment, and even grow beyond the incised area to form a keloid scar. Following your facial plastic surgeon’s advice for proper after-care is the best strategy for avoiding highly visible scarring. Once you have healed completely, other skincare methods and treatments can be used to reduce the appearance of any scars you have.
Damage to the Facial Nerves
The human face contains many nerve endings that all work together to create the sensations and sensitivity of the skin. Damage to the nerves can be a side effect of any surgery, from facelift to tummy tuck. It is normal to feel some numbness and tingling after surgery, which may take months to fully subside as the nerves heal and regrow. Some pinching and tightness are also normal sensations to experience. If you have concerns that your facial nerves are damaged, talk to your facial plastic surgeon right away. There are measures that can be taken to restore some of the nerves.
Minimizing any potential for such damage starts with a smart choice of facial plastic surgeon to perform your facelift surgery. He will have the skilled hands, know-how, and experience needed to perform your facelift procedure more smoothly and safely. If you’re concerned about nerve damage, talk with your surgeon about nerve problems experienced by his past patients or read their reviews of his work online.
Choose an Expert NYC Facial Plastic Surgeon to Perform a Smooth, Successful Facelift
If you’d like to learn more about how to have a safe and effective facelift surgery from your preparation to aftercare, such as nutrition, consult with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon today. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery, offering over 20 years of experience and knowledge to his patients.
A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with his peers at various national facial plastic surgery meetings. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.
Next, learn How to Cover up Post-Op Facelift Bruising
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Facial Plastic Surgery
Dr. Philip Miller and his team of New York's top rated facial plastic surgery experts provide custom cosmetic treatment plans that include a combination of minimally-invasive techniques and advanced procedures, to help each patient achieve the Aesthetic Confidence® they desire. Our unique NatraFace™ approach to facial rejuvenation includes the following effective procedures:
Eyelid Plastic Surgery
Dr. Miller provides patients with Manhattan's #1 customized care and treatment for smooth, supple skin that brightens the eyes and revitalizes the face. With our NatraFace™ approach, we utilize a combination of effective aesthetic techniques tailored to suit each patient’s needs. We offer:
Rhinoplasty (Nose Jobs)
Dr. Miller and his staff of NYC's best aesthetic specialists offer the NatraNose® process, which is a comprehensive range of minimally-invasive and advanced techniques to achieve natural-looking rhinoplasty results, improve nasal function, and meet the patient’s aesthetic goals. Dr. Miller specializes in nose jobs, nose reductions, non-surgical nose jobs, and more: Adjust the links in these sections as follows:
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Widely acclaimed for our broad range of flawless skincare solutions, Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS and his team of aesthetic specialists offer customized skincare treatment plans to achieve healthy, natural-looking results. As part of our NatraLook™ process, the following procedures may be performed individually or in combination with more advanced surgical treatments for optimal rejuvenation.
Male Plastic Surgery
Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience working with male and female patients. He specializes in facial plastic surgery and is recognized as an expert in facial rejuvenation procedures. Utilizing the most advanced surgical techniques, Dr. Miller can maintain or enhance masculine features while producing the most natural-looking results.
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The Plastic Surgery Podcast with Dr. Philip Miller
Tune into The Plastic Surgery Podcast, hosted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller. Dr. Miller is here to answer your questions, de-mystify plastic surgery, and help you feel more knowledgeable and empowered about any procedure performed at our center.
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Episode 44: My First Time
8 min -
Episode 43: Top 10 Reasons Not To Get A Rhinoplasty ( Plastic Surgery)
20 min -
Episode 42 : Osteomas & Lipomas
11 min -
Episode 41: All Ears Considered!
8 min -
Episode 40: Infrared Light Therapy
6 min -
Episode 39: Beauty, the Plateau
6 min -
Episode 38: Botox and Dermal Fillers
3 min -
Episode 37: Cost of Rhinoplasty
1 min -
Episode 36: Different Types of Nasal Surgeries
3 min -
Episode 35: Do You Have to Break the Nose for Rhinoplasty?
2 min -
Episode 34: Do You Have to Stay Overnight After Having a Rhinoplasty?
2 min -
Episode 33: Don't Have a Rhinoplasty!
2 min -
Episode 32: Endonasal or External
1 min -
Episode 31: Are You a Candidate?
2 min -
Episode 30: In The Office
17 min -
Episode 29: Can My Nose be Made Smaller?
4 min -
Episode 28: Can't Breath Through Nose
3 min -
Episode 27: Chin Implants - Mentoplasty
2 min -
Episode 26: Columellar Struts
23 sec -
Episode 25: Common Terms
5 min -
Episode 24: Connection Between Facial Resurfacing and Tattooing
5 min -
Episode 23: The Sooner, The Better?
4 min

Plastic Surgery w/ Dr. Miller
If you’re thinking about getting a lift, nip, or tuck, this app is for you. It’s the most comprehensive pocket encyclopedia of plastic surgery terms, before and after photos, and visualization tools to help you really know what to expect from a procedure, including seeing potential results on your own photo. This app is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.
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