How Long Should I Wait to Exercise After a Facelift?Plastic surgery is a procedure that should be taken seriously every step of the way, including the recovery period.
Related: Healing Tips After Plastic Surgery
We understand that once your surgery is complete, you will be eager to get back to your normal routine as soon as possible. This often includes getting back on schedule with your workouts and exercises! But before you dive in, it’s important to take things slowly and listen to your body – and plastic surgeon.
Initial Exercise
After a face lift, allow yourself at least one day of full bed rest. If you are not ready to start moving around by the second day, don’t feel rushed. Always listen to your body. However, most patients find that by this time, they are ready to move around the house. This is as much exercise as you should do during those first few days.
Working Muscles and Stretching
A week after your face lift, you will find that you’re able to return to a fairly normal routine around the house. This might include light housework, cooking, and so on. You can even add in a little stretching to keep your muscles flexible and warm during this period. However, you’ll still want to avoid lifting heavy objects to prevent any strain.
Once the Stitches are Removed
After your stitches are removed, you’ll have more exercise freedom! Feel free to walk outside in your neighborhood for about 15 to 20 minutes. Eventually, you’ll be able to extend these walks to 30 minutes as you continue to feel better. Dr. Richard J. Brown also suggests wearing a hat or sunscreen for even further protection until you’re completely healed.
Full Exercise
Patients are typically advised to wait until 6 weeks have passed before they engage in full exercise routines like they may have done before the surgery. This period is when patients see the best results.
But keep in mind that each case is different, and it’s important to cater to patients individually. So when you talk with Dr. Brown about your surgery, he will be able to give you more specific instructions regarding recovery based on your unique situation.
To learn more or to get started with your face lift process, call the offices of Dr. Richard J. Brown today at 480-568-3804!
