Leaving the House After a Facelift
A facelift surgery can do much to improve your facial contour and youthful appearance, sometimes taking up to 10 years off of your appearance. Still, having a major cosmetic surgery that will be obvious to friends, family, and coworkers can be more nerve wracking than you might’ve expected. After surgery, you’ll be fairly reclusive during your recovery period, perhaps getting a little too comfortable for your own good. When the time finally comes to emerge from your home and rejoin the real world, how will you handle it? If you’re facing some anxieties about leaving the house after your own facelift, read on for some helpful tips for a smoother transition.
Recognize the Types of Recovery
As many plastic surgeons in New York will explain to their patients, the recovery process after a facelift involves many different types of recovery. There’s the obvious physical recovery, where the swelling goes down and the incisions heal. Then there’s the recovery of your sensation, which may occur along with your other physical healing but may take longer to go from tingling feelings to real nervous sensations. Finally, you’ll be faced with your social and emotional recovery, where you’ll address your new look and how it may (or may not) impact your social life. This recovery is often the hardest to manage. By giving a name to these separate kinds of recovery, you can prepare yourself for that adjustment from resting to reentering the world.
Give Yourself Time
Many patients get bored in the house and want to rush back out to complete some errands, meet up with friends, and the like. Some patients might get a little cabin fever, suddenly itching for a hiking trip or a visit to the beach. It’s tough to force yourself to stay inside and rest when it’s beautiful outside, but it’s definitely worthwhile to give yourself the time you need to heal.
To avoid temptation, clear your schedule for at least two to three weeks so you have enough time to completely recover. Talk to your surgeon during your consultation about how much time he expects you to need for proper healing, Then tell your friends and family in advance that you’ll have to bow out of any ski trips or summer barbecues during that timeframe so they aren’t expecting you. In fact, they might send you home if you do show up! It’s always nice to have a backup plan if you do give into temptation.
If you have any high-profile events coming up, such as a wedding or class reunion, you’ll want to add extra cushion time to allow for your swelling to subside and your incisions to fully heal. Schedule your facelift accordingly to give yourself at least six weeks for a complete recovery. By then, you’ll also have the time to adjust to your new appearance so it’s not as nerve-wracking to attend this special event.
Use Makeup Wisely to Transition
When it is time to finally come out and rejoin the world, you might be worried about any swelling, redness, or bruising that’s still hanging around. Sometimes these symptoms will hang on after you have healed, making you self-conscious about your appearance. For women, and maybe even some men, strategic makeup can do much to ease your nerves and hide some of your after-effects. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe to apply makeup to the area and don’t break the rules; you may risk infection or other complications if you do. He may even suggest certain brands that work better than others for the task.
When you’re ready to start using makeup again, use a concealer to camouflage bruises and redness. Concealer and foundation, either liquid or powder, can be combined to achieve the layered coverage you may need. To hide swelling, makeup contouring techniques can be especially useful. By using bronzers, blushes and darker powders, you can create an optical illusion that will hide the effects of any residual swelling you may be experiencing.
Don’t know how to do either of these things? Make it a part of your pre-op planning to visit a makeup counter where a skilled aesthetician can walk you through the steps to creating camouflage and contour. Ask your plastic surgeon if any of the skincare clinicians or spa staff at his practice are able to help you. After surgery, you’ll be fully prepared to unveil your facelift results.
Choose the Right Facial Plastic Surgeon in NYC
The speed of your recovery can cut down on your anxiety to reenter the world after a facelift. A speedy recovery comes from a successful surgery performed by an expert in the field. Plan two steps ahead by choosing the right surgeon to perform your facelift. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery and offers over 20 years of experience to his patients. A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller has been frequently invited to share his specific techniques with peers at various national facial plastic surgery conferences. 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 about Selfie Addiction being the Reason for a Rhinoplasty
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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:
Skin Care Treatments
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.
Aesthetic Confidence®
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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