Recovering from a deep plane facelift is a process that takes time, requires some rest, and needs patience when it comes to seeing the full results.
A deep plane facelift involves repositioning deeper facial structures beneath the skin and muscle layer, so recovery will naturally be more involved than with more superficial facelift techniques.
Since the deeper tissues are lifted and restructured during a deep plane facelift, the body needs time to heal both at the surface and underneath. It’s not just about the visible incisions – internal healing is just as important and often takes longer.
Knowing what’s ahead and how your body may respond in the days and weeks after surgery can help you approach the healing period with a more realistic sense of what to expect.
Everyone recovers at a slightly different pace, and the details of your own recovery will depend on factors like how extensive your procedure was, your general health, and how well you follow post-operative instructions.
In this blog, we’ll discuss what you can expect after your facelift surgery and how you can support your body throughout the healing process.
What is normal to experience after a deep plane facelift?
The first stage of recovery is always the most physically demanding. Swelling, bruising and a tight or heavy feeling across the face and neck are all expected during this time.
You may feel quite tired for the first few days, especially after general anaesthesia, which you will need to be under to perform the procedure. Most patients spend the first 48 hours resting at home with their head elevated to help reduce swelling and while keeping movement to a minimum.
Surgical dressings are usually put in place straight after surgery, and you might also have small drainage tubes to help remove excess fluid. These tubes are usually removed within a few days, often at your first post-operative follow-up. At the follow-up visit, you’ll likely have bandages changed and the surgical area assessed to make sure everything is healing as expected.
There’s often swelling around the cheeks, jawline and under the chin, and this can make it difficult to fully assess the results at this stage. It’s also very normal that the face feels quite firm or numb in some areas. Most of the swelling tends to be at its worst within the first few days, and then begins to settle gradually over the next one to two weeks. Bruising will typically change in colour and slowly begin to fade.
Numbness or changes in facial sensation are also common at this stage and can persist for a while. Because of the deeper level of changes involved in a deep plane facelift, the facial nerves are carefully worked around, but it’s not unusual for some sensory nerves to take time to settle.
Overall, these normal changes are part of how the tissues respond to the deeper surgical work and will get better gradually over time.
What you should and shouldn’t do during the first two weeks of your deep plane facelift recovery
As we mentioned, the swelling tends to be at its peak earlier in the recovery phase and begins to settle during the first two weeks, so it’s important to follow our advice during this time.
As for what you should do, you may need to wear a compression garment to help manage swelling and help the tissues to settle into their new shape. You should also take light walks around the house to help with circulation, and try to keep your head elevated when resting or sleeping. This helps with circulation and allows fluid to drain more effectively from the face. Sleeping on your back with a few pillows propped up behind you is often recommended for at least the first couple of weeks.
As for what you’ll typically need to avoid, you should limit movement during the first couple of weeks. While it’s fine to walk around the house, anything that raises your blood pressure too much, including bending over, lifting, or strenuous exercise, should be avoided. These activities can increase swelling or even disrupt internal stitches if introduced too early.
How to return to your normal daily activities
As the third and fourth weeks approach, most patients start to feel more mobile and less restricted in their daily routine. Swelling and bruising will usually have reduced by this stage, but it’s not uncommon for residual puffiness to remain, particularly in the lower face and jawline. The skin might still feel tight in some areas, and numbness or tingling can continue as nerve sensation gradually returns.
By this point, you may be able to return to light daily activities outside of the house. Tasks like short walks, gentle housework, and working from home (if that applies to you) can often be resumed – always depending on how well Dr Rastogi feels your recovery is progressing. More strenuous activity, including anything that might strain the neck or facial muscles, should still be avoided.
It may be okay to resume applying makeup by this point if your incisions have healed well, but it’s important that Dr Rastogi clears you for this first. Incision care is still important during this stage. You may be given specific products to apply or told to avoid certain skincare ingredients that could irritate healing tissue.
What to expect for longer-term healing
While you’ll likely be back to most of your usual activities by the six to eight-week point, the deeper healing continues well into the two to three-month stage. It’s around this time that you’ll start to notice your face gradually settling into its new structure. Any residual swelling that remains will continue to fade slowly over time, and any tightness or pulling sensations should be reduced.
Numbness often takes longer to resolve – sometimes, it can persist for several months. The timeline will vary depending on how your nerves were affected and how your body naturally heals. Some areas may regain sensation faster than others. For some patients, a slight change in sensitivity (especially around the ears or jawline) can last longer, but it generally improves over time.
If you’ve had incisions placed around the ears, behind the hairline or under the chin, it’s normal that they will still be settling. Redness and firmness around the incision lines may still be present, and you may be advised to continue using specific creams or silicone strips to support scar healing. Sun protection is especially important during this stage, as UV exposure can cause scars to darken or become more noticeable.
By the three month point and beyond, most swelling should have subsided, and the results should be more visible by this time. While there can still be minor changes over the next few months, especially in how the tissues continue to settle, your face should feel more familiar in movement and sensation.
Strenuous activities, including exercise, can often be resumed gradually once Dr Rastogi and his team has given you the all-clear. The aspect of recovery that typically takes the longest is scar maturation, as scarring on the incision sites tend to take a lot longer to gradually fade. Good skincare, sun protection, and gentle massage techniques (if recommended) can all help to support the fading of scars.
Dr Rastogi: Deep Plane Facelift in Double Bay, Sydney
If you’re researching deep plane facelift recovery and want to know what your recovery might involve, it’s always best to speak with a doctor who regularly performs the procedure.
Speaking with them about their approach to post-operative care and follow-ups, as well as the expected recovery timeline can give you a clearer understanding of what to expect, and whether this type of facelift is right for you.
To arrange your consultation with an experienced doctor, like Dr Rastogi in Sydney, please feel free to get in touch with our team.
