The process leading up to neck lift surgery can be a little stressful, ensuring you have everything you need and your schedule is lined up. It’s normal to focus on this part and not think as much about the post-surgery phase. Aftercare is actually the most important part of your surgical procedure, since it directly determines how well your neck lift results turn out. It can be helpful to think ahead and know what to expect from your neck lift surgery recovery, so here are some of Dr. Kamran Dastoury’s top neck lift recovery tips for this outpatient procedure.
Keep Your Head Elevated
Although blood flow to your surgical site is essential to a good recovery, too much can hamper your results. Keeping your head elevated can help control the amount of blood flow to the area, preventing excess swelling and bruising that could affect your results. By this, we mean sleeping with your head propped on a couple pillows and avoiding lying flat until Dr. Dastoury indicates otherwise.
Manage Swelling
This goes hand-in-hand with keeping your head elevated. Dr. Dastoury will give you steps for managing swelling, such as taking anti-inflammatory medication and using ice packs. He may even recommend a chin strap or compression garment throughout your neck lift recovery time. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, swelling is an especially challenging side effect because it can work against Dr. Dastoury’s intended results for your neck area. Make sure to follow directions as closely as possible for best results.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
Your biggest goal with the recovery process is focusing on resting. Strenuous activity can put extra strain on your body, taking away from your ability to heal. Plan to put aside strenuous activity and exercise for around 4 weeks after your neck lift procedure – Dr. Dastoury can give you a more personalized estimate based on your exercise habits. Still, make sure to walk around and move your body during this time to protect against blood clots and ensure your surgical site has plenty of oxygenated blood.
Keep Your Incisions Clean and Hydrated
Dr. Dastoury will give you instructions on how to change your dressings and how often, as well as what signs to watch out for. When you bathe, make sure to gently pat your incisions dry with a clean towel and keep them covered. If you notice any oddities, make sure to contact our surgical team as quickly as possible.
Wear Sunscreen
How well you protect your incisions from sunlight is the biggest indicator of how visible your neck lift scars will be. Once your incisions are healed, wear SPF 30+ on the area daily, keeping the skin covered as much as possible. Sunlight can cause the scar tissue and new skin to become more or less pigmented than usual, making them more visible. Make it a habit to apply sunscreen to the whole area every morning, if you don’t already.
Follow Up
Keeping your follow-up appointments will help you adjust your recovery process as needed. Our team will give you a schedule of appointments for the days and weeks after surgery, so keep these as much as possible. This allows Dr. Dastoury to see that your results are progressing as needed and remain vigilant for any signs of complications. It also allows you to get answers to your questions and celebrate your progress.
Neck Lift in Denver, CO
A neck lift procedure can be transformative to your confidence with the right aftercare. To meet with Dr. Dastoury and learn more about neck lift surgery, contact Modern Surgical Arts of Denver by calling or filling out our online form.