Expert Advice From a Facial Plastic Surgeon
Have you been thinking about a facial cosmetic procedure and wondering how long you’ll be “out of commission?” You’re not alone! This is a very common question that Dr. Donn Chatham, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, answers during his patient’s extensive consultation process. Dr. Chatham explains that time required for recovery varies widely and depends on:
- The cosmetic procedure, surgical or non-surgical
- The individual’s health and age
- How the procedure was performed
- Who performed the procedure or surgery
- The individual’s adherence to post-treatment instructions
Dr. Chatham
M.D., Medical DirectorOverview of Cosmetic Surgery Recovery Processes and Time for Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
Many of Dr. Chatham’s patients are not ready for a surgical cosmetic enhancement procedure and instead inquire about their minimally invasive or non-surgical treatment options. These popular and clinically proven non-surgical procedures typically create no or minimal disruption in one’s lifestyle.
- Injectables – With BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®, there is typically no downtime. However, there may be the occasional bruise and Dr. Chatham cautions his patients to take it easy the evening of the injection treatment.
- Injectable Fillers – Dermal filler injections like Restylane®, Sculptra®, Radiesse® , the RHA® Collection, and Belotero Balance® typically warrant a quiet evening afterwards. Some patients may experience a few hours of mild swelling, though most patients return to usual activities the next morning.
- Lasers – Varilight, which zaps red vessels and brown spots, is skin-friendly and no downtime is needed. The fractional CO2 laser does create about four days of pink sand-papery-looking skin, but by day five, the new skin has a ‘looks like you got a little sun over the weekend’ appearance.
Schedule your Non-Surgical Cosmetic Consultation in our Louisville, KY, or New Albany, IN Office Today!
Surgical Cosmetic Procedures…The Physical Side of Recovery
Now for facial surgery procedures, which involve an operation, scalpels, sutures, and the like, there is indeed more than one day of recovery needed. It is important to note that some patients will naturally bruise and swell more than others. Dr. Chatham stresses to the majority of his facial cosmetic surgery patients to refrain from taking any Aspirin or Aleve for the 10 days before surgery. He also urges his surgery patients to reserve adequate time off post-surgery to allow natural healing to occur.
Every patient is different and Dr. Chatham and his surgical team will talk to you about your personalized surgical plan and recovery.
Overview of Facial Cosmetic Surgeries Physical Recovery
Most of Dr. Chatham’s upper eyelid surgery patients will take a week off from work if they work outside the home. If the surgery is done on a Friday, and they have the next week off plus two weekends, then typically returning to usual activities works very well. That does not mean total healing has occurred at 10 days! Patient have to refrain from working in the garden and exercise. There is no need to worry that they will scare anyone with their appearance. Actually, our patient’s say they look rested and refreshed. (Read Dr. Chatham’s Blog, Refresh Your Appearance with an In-office Upper Eyelid Procedure)
Eye Eyelid Lift Results
Eye Eyelid Lift Results
More extensive surgeries, including facelifts, or nasal surgery (rhinoplasty), require a longer healing period. Initial swelling and bruising may last two weeks, on average so patients are told to plan accordingly for their recovery time. The 14 days or so often are welcomed by some of our patients who normally find it hard to take personal time for rest and recharging.
Dr. Donn R. Chatham finds that most patients like to spend their recovery time at home, moving carefully, sleeping more than usual, movie binging, and limiting company. It’s normal to feel a bit emotional during this phase; sometimes your face may look more swollen or bruised than you expected, but this is temporary and part of the normal healing process. Dr. Chatham has the education, board certification, training, and experience to perform the facial surgical procedures artistically and skillfully.
His surgical technique is gentle with the tissues, avoiding any unnecessary maneuvers, beginning immediate cold compresses in the OR, elevating of the head, and encouragement of supplements (arnica and bromelain). Dr. Chatham also advises his patients to avoid watching raucous comedies, sad tearjerkers, or wild sports games for a few days! ☺
Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and activities that raise your blood pressure may be restricted early on to protect your results.
While all healing from surgery or injury continues for about a year, the early swelling and bruising that may occur is typically limited to the early couple of weeks.
- Weeks 3–4: Most people are back to work and light social activities, often with only mild swelling that others may not notice.
- Few Months: Subtle changes continue as deeper tissues heal and settle, and scars soften and fade.
The Emotional Side of Recovery
“Healing from facial surgery is as much an emotional journey as a physical one,” says Dr. Chatham. It’s common to go through a few ups and downs such as:
- Early on, you might worry you made the wrong decision when you see swelling or bruising.
- As the days go by and your face softens, you start to recognize a fresher, more rested version of yourself.
- Over time, many patients report feeling more confident in photos, at work, and in social situations.
“Knowing that these feelings are normal can make them easier to handle and having supportive friends or family, and a surgeon you trust, can make a big difference,” continues Dr. Chatham.
Setting Realistic Expectations
The most important thing to remember is that “recovery time” doesn’t have a single exact number. Your age, health, type of procedure, and how closely you follow after-care instructions all affect how quickly you heal. A helpful way to think about it is:
- Plan for visible downtime (staying mostly at home) for about 1–2 weeks for some bigger facial surgeries.
- Expect to feel close to normal within a few weeks.
- Understand that final, refined results may take several months to fully appear as healing continues to occur over about a year.
In summary, recovery from facial aesthetic surgery is a gradual process influenced by the extent of the procedure and each patient’s unique factors. Although visible healing occurs relatively quickly, the underlying tissues continue to adapt for months. A careful balance of patience, proper care, and realistic expectations are essential for achieving the best and most lasting results.
By planning ahead, taking time off when needed, and giving your body the care it deserves, you can move through recovery with more confidence and less worry, and enjoy the long-lasting benefits of your procedure.
Artistically pleasing results
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and Medical Director of Chatham Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Donn R. Chatham will do his best to provide a safe and comfortable procedure with positive and artistically pleasing results.
Schedule your consultation at our Louisville, KY office, or our New Albany, IN office with Dr. Chatham. Request your appointment online, or call (502) 895-4820 today.
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