Facelift Recovery: Step-by-Step What to Expect 

Depends on where you went for surgery too… but most patients feel pretty good at this point - idk how to respond here but check in with your md

Hi, I'm 6 days post-op facelift I understand how you feel; however; what I've learned is that not everyone who makes videos is actually telling the truth. @@DrGouldPlasticSurgery

I'm a man and I had a necklift and lower facelift on April 11, 2024. In my initial consultation, I was told that in 2 weeks post-op, I'd be driving, and in 6 weeks post-op I'd be fully recovered and back to lifting weights. It was all lies. Had my doctor been honest and forthcoming as to what I was in for after surgery, I would have opted not to have the necklift and lower facelift procedure. I will be 9 weeks post-op this coming Thursday, and I still can't move my head fully from side to side due to the swelling in front of my ears, the swelling below my earlobes which make my earlobes tilt upwards, and the swelling at the back of my jaw down to the sides of my neck. Yeah right, I'll be driving at 2 weeks post-op. You need to turn your head to drive. The swelling may be sernomas, due to those swollen areas feeling like they are fluid filled. My doctor always says that everything is normal. It's not normal at almost 9 weeks post-op, I don't care what he says. My lymphatic glands are very swollen all around my ears and under my jawline. I look like I have the Mumps. The numbness in my face is so numb that I still can't feel my face, or feel when I shave. I know that some numbness and swelling in normal, but mine does not look, or feel normal. I know, every patient is different. However, every doctor should give the patient the worst case scenario on recovery instead of sugar coating the recovery process. This way, a patient can make an educated decision as to if they want to go through the recovery process, or not. Had I known, I would have passed. My doctor has spent a total of less than 30 minutes with me from beginning to end; not counting the 3 hour surgery when I was under general anthesia. He would walk in the room, spend a couple of minutes with me, then walk out as if he was the mysterious Wizzard of Oz. The last post-op visit that I had with him, he tried to do the same thing, in and out, but this time I told him to sit down because I had questions and I wanted answers. He didn't like it. His answers are always, everything is normal. Doctors should remember that these procedures are about the patient, and not them. I'm giving the abnormal swelling 2 more weeks, and if the swelling hasn't dissipated, I'm going to demand the the possible sernomas be drained. Yeah, this whole journey has been peachy, NOT!