Facelift Recovery Timeline: Week by Week, Then Month by Month

It takes about 2 to 4 weeks to recover from a facelift, and you need that time off work, according to the NHS. Bruising is visible for at least 2 weeks. The full result can take 6 to 9 months to appear, as swelling and numbness slowly settle. Cleveland Clinic adds that it can take 2 to 3 months before your face feels "back to normal."

Facelift recovery timeline at a glance

Sources: NHS, Cleveland Clinic, ASPS. Your surgeon's instructions come first.

The first week

After surgery, a bandage is usually wrapped around your face to limit swelling and bruising. Small tubes, called drains, may be placed to remove extra blood or fluid (ASPS). Cleveland Clinic says the surgeon usually removes the bandages within a few days, and will want to see you several times in the first 2 to 3 weeks.

The NHS advises keeping your head propped up on pillows for a couple of days and not getting the bandages wet for the first 2 days. You will not be able to drive for a number of days. Low mood for a few days is common, so it helps to know that in advance.

Weeks 2 to 4: getting back to life

Stitches usually come out after 7 to 14 days. Bruises, scars and skin color changes should fade over several weeks (NHS). Time off work depends on the kind of facelift:

• Traditional or more invasive facelift: up to 3 weeks off work
• Mini facelift: usually 5 to 7 days

Source: Cleveland Clinic. The NHS gives 2 to 4 weeks as a general figure. Cleveland Clinic advises no strenuous exercise for at least 3 weeks. Ask your surgeon when you can color your hair, get a haircut, wash your face and wear makeup; ASPS lists these as questions every patient should ask (ASPS).

Does the type of facelift change the timeline? Published comparisons of recovery time are limited. Our article on deep plane vs SMAS facelifts covers what the studies show about those two techniques.

Months 2 to 9: the long tail

The NHS lists these as common after a facelift:

• A swollen or numb face, which can last weeks or months
• A stiff feeling in the face and mouth, which usually goes within 6 weeks
• Scars that fade but do not disappear completely
• A raised hairline or sideburns
• Less hair growth at the temples

It can take 6 to 9 months to see the final result (NHS). Judge the result only after that point.

Scars and hair

Facelift cuts usually start above the hairline at the temples, run down in front of the ear, around the earlobe and behind the ear. A cut under the chin is added if the jawline and neck are also lifted (NHS). The surgeon then removes extra skin, pulls the remaining skin back and up, and sometimes moves or adds fat. The scars should fade but will not disappear completely, and the NHS notes that thick, obvious scars occasionally develop.

Hair changes surprise some patients. The NHS lists a raised hairline or sideburns and reduced hair growth at the temples as common, and ASPS lists temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions as a risk. Ask your surgeon where your cuts will go and how they plan to protect the hairline, especially if you wear your hair short or pulled back.

How long the result lasts

We found no long-term trial that measures how many years a facelift lasts. The face keeps aging after surgery, and a facelift does not stop that process. Results also differ between techniques and between people. Be wary of any clinic that promises a fixed number of years.

Complications and warning signs

Major complications are uncommon. In a U.S. insurance database of 11,300 facelifts, 1.8% had a major complication within 30 days, meaning an ER visit, hospital admission or another operation (Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2016). The most common were:

• Hematoma, a collection of blood under the skin: 1.1%
• Infection: 0.3%

Men had about 3.9 times the hematoma risk of women. Facelifts combined with other procedures had complication rates up to 3.7%, compared with 1.5% for facelifts alone. Being overweight (BMI 25 or more) raised the infection risk.

A 2026 review of 31 studies of deep plane facelifts found an overall hematoma rate of 2.7%, with major hematomas at about 1%. Tools surgeons use to reduce bleeding, such as tranexamic acid, tissue sealants or stitched "hemostatic nets," did not clearly differ from each other (Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, 2026).

Other risks listed by ASPS include facial nerve injury with weakness, hair loss at the incisions, poor wound healing, skin loss, and blood clots. Call your surgeon right away if you notice:

• Swelling on one side that is much worse than the other, or grows quickly
• Pain that is rising rather than easing
• Fever, spreading redness or pus
• New weakness when you smile or close your eyes
• Shortness of breath, chest pain or a swollen, painful leg (go to an emergency room)

Helping your recovery

• Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 48 hours (Cleveland Clinic).
• Keep your head raised as instructed.
• Do not smoke. A review of 140 studies found smokers had about twice the rate of delayed healing and wound breakdown, and more than three times the rate of tissue death, compared with nonsmokers (Archives of Surgery, 2012).
• Avoid saunas, massages and strenuous activity for at least 2 weeks (NHS).
• Keep every follow-up visit, even if you feel fine.

Planning a facelift abroad

A facelift recovery fits poorly into a short trip. Some practical points:

• Stay for the early checks. Drains, bandage removal and, often, stitch removal all happen in the first 1 to 2 weeks. Ask which visits must happen at the clinic.
• Plan the flight with your surgeon. Our guide on flying after surgery summarizes published advice.
• Find local follow-up. The NHS warns that clinics abroad may not provide follow-up care. Line up a doctor at home who can see you if a problem appears.
• Bring records home. Ask for the operative note in English, with the technique used.

Our guide to a facelift in Turkey covers trip length and clinic checks. For U.S. price ranges, see the facelift cost page, and bring our question checklist to every consultation.

Related reading: Neck Lift Recovery: Timeline, Do's and Don'ts, Warning Signs.