Supporting Someone After a Neck and Face Lift: Drains, Dressings and the First Days Home

The car ride home is quieter than she expected. Her sister sits in the passenger seat, chin wrapped in a soft bandage, two small bulbs pinned to the inside of a zip-up jacket, eyes half closed from the anesthetic. Nobody at the discharge desk warned her that the hardest part would be the moment the front door shuts and the printed instruction sheet is suddenly the only clinician in the room.

Most people who care for someone after a neck and face lift have never seen a surgical drain, let alone emptied one. They worry about doing harm by touching anything, and they worry just as much about missing something serious. Both anxieties are reasonable, and both ease quickly once the routine makes sense.

This guide walks through facelift aftercare first days from the caregiver’s chair: what the drains and dressings are doing, what ordinary healing looks like, and which changes mean picking up the phone rather than waiting until morning.

What actually happens during a neck and face lift

A face lift, called a rhytidectomy in medical language, repositions the skin and deeper tissues of the lower face and neck that have loosened with age. The surgeon makes incisions that usually begin in the hairline near the temple, run in front of and behind the ear, and may extend into the lower scalp. A short cut under the chin is common when the neck is treated at the same time.

Beneath the skin lies a layer called the SMAS, short for superficial musculoaponeurotic system, which is the sheet of connective tissue and muscle that gives the cheek its support. In the neck, the broad, thin platysma muscle runs from the collarbone to the jaw. Modern techniques tighten or reposition these deeper layers rather than pulling the skin alone, which is why the recovery involves swelling well below the surface, not just along the incision lines.

Fat may be removed from under the chin or redistributed to hollow areas. The skin is then redraped, excess is trimmed, and the incisions are closed with stitches, skin glue or small clips. Mayo Clinic notes that the operation generally takes several hours and is done under general anesthesia or sedation with local anesthetic, depending on the surgeon’s plan and the patient’s health.

Because a large area of tissue has been lifted off its base, fluid and a small amount of blood collect in the space underneath during the first day or two. That is the whole reason drains and compression dressings exist: they give that fluid somewhere to go and hold the skin gently against the healing surface so the layers can knit together. Understanding this makes the equipment far less intimidating. The drain is not a sign that something went wrong; it is part of the design.

Who is usually offered a face lift, and who is asked to wait

Surgeons tend to consider the operation for adults who are bothered by sagging in the mid-face, jowls, or loose skin under the chin, and whose expectations match what repositioning tissue can realistically do. The NHS stresses that it is a choice, not a medical necessity, and that a face lift does not alter skin texture, fine lines around the mouth, or sun damage.

Several groups are commonly asked to postpone or to reconsider. People who smoke or use nicotine products are at higher risk of skin loss along the flaps, because nicotine narrows the tiny vessels that keep the lifted skin alive; most surgeons ask for a nicotine-free period before and after surgery, with the exact timing set by the team. Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises the risk of bleeding under the skin. Diabetes that is poorly managed slows wound healing. Taking blood-thinning medicines, including some over-the-counter pain relievers and herbal supplements, may require adjustment that only the prescribing clinician can authorize.

Cleveland Clinic also lists recent significant weight loss or planned major weight change as a reason to wait, since the result depends on stable facial volume. A history of keloid or thick scarring, bleeding disorders, or conditions that affect connective tissue all shift the risk-benefit balance and need frank discussion.

As a caregiver, this matters for one practical reason: the preoperative conversation decides what you will be asked to do. Someone whose blood pressure runs high may come home with a specific plan for checking it. Someone with diabetes may have more frequent wound checks. Ask to sit in on the final preoperative visit if the patient agrees, and take notes. The decisions remain with the surgical team, but you are the one who will carry them out at two in the morning.

Facelift aftercare first days: what the caregiver's job really is

Strip away the medical vocabulary and the helper’s role in the first 48–72 hours comes down to five things: positioning, fluids, drains, observation and reassurance. Nobody expects you to assess a wound like a nurse. You are there to keep the patient safe, comfortable and upright, and to notice change.

Positioning means the head stays above the heart, both awake and asleep, to limit swelling. Fluids means small sips often, because anesthesia and some pain medicines dull thirst and cause nausea. Drains means emptying and writing down the amount at the intervals the team specifies, which is covered in detail below. Observation means looking at both sides of the face and neck every few hours and comparing them. Reassurance is the part people underestimate; the patient cannot see their own face clearly, cannot turn their head easily, and will ask you repeatedly whether things look right.

Mayo Clinic advises that someone should stay with the patient for at least the first night after surgery, and most surgeons prefer longer. The sedative effects of anesthesia linger, judgment is impaired, and the patient should not be left to manage medicines alone during that window.

Keep a simple log on paper or a phone: time of each dose given as prescribed, each drain output, fluid intake, bathroom trips, and anything that looks different. When the surgeon’s office calls or you call them, this log turns a vague worry into a useful report. “The left drain put out twice as much as the right in the last four hours and the left cheek looks tighter” is exactly the kind of sentence that helps a clinician decide what to do next.

Setting up the house before they come home

The best preparation happens the day before surgery, when the patient can still help choose where things go. Start with the bed or recliner. A wedge pillow or two or three firm pillows stacked to raise the head and shoulders works; many patients find a recliner easier than a bed because it is harder to roll onto the side during sleep. Place a lamp, water bottle with a straw, tissues, lip balm and the phone within arm’s reach so nobody has to twist their neck.

Stock soft, cool foods that need little chewing: yogurt, smoothies, scrambled eggs, soup that has cooled, oatmeal, mashed vegetables. Jaw movement is uncomfortable for several days and the chin dressing restricts opening. Avoid very hot foods and drinks while the face is numb, because the patient may not feel a burn. Salty foods tend to worsen swelling, so keep seasoning light.

Gather supplies the team has recommended: gauze, mild soap, clean towels, a measuring cup marked in milliliters for drain output, and button-front or zip-front tops so nothing has to go over the head. Remove trip hazards such as loose rugs, since dizziness is common on the first day. Set up a bathroom nightlight.

Plan medicines in advance. Fill prescriptions before surgery day so there is no pharmacy run while the patient is groggy. Lay out the written schedule the team provides, but do not change timing or combine medicines without checking. Several common over-the-counter pain relievers increase bleeding risk and surgeons often ask patients to avoid them; the instruction sheet will say which, and the prescribing clinician settles any question.

Finally, write the surgeon’s after-hours number on a card taped near the bed. Not in the phone, where a tired helper has to hunt for it. On the wall.

Facelift drain care: emptying, measuring and recording

Not every surgeon uses drains, but when they do, the usual type is a closed-suction drain: a thin, soft tube that sits under the skin and exits through a tiny opening near the ear or behind it, connected to a squeezable bulb that creates gentle suction. The bulb is often pinned to clothing or a lanyard so it cannot dangle and tug.

MedlinePlus describes the standard routine. Wash your hands with soap and water. Open the plug on the bulb without touching the inside of the plug. Pour the contents into the measuring cup and note the amount and the time. Squeeze the bulb flat, then replace the plug while it is still compressed, so the vacuum is restored. The bulb should look collapsed, not round. If it keeps refilling with air, the plug may be loose or the tubing may have a gap; call the team rather than guessing.

Expect the fluid to be red at first, then pink, then pale yellow, a mix doctors call serosanguineous, which simply means blood mixed with the clear fluid that leaks from healing tissue. MedlinePlus notes that the amount should decrease over successive emptyings. Most surgeons remove face lift drains within the first day or two, according to Mayo Clinic, once the output has fallen to a threshold the team sets. That threshold is theirs to set, not yours.

If the tube seems blocked, some teams teach a technique called stripping, where you pinch the tubing near the skin and slide your fingers toward the bulb to move a clot along. Only do this if you were shown how. Never pull on the tube, and keep the exit site covered with the dressing the team placed. Removal is usually quick and done in clinic.

Dressings, head wraps and the compression garment

Most patients leave the operating room with a bulky soft dressing that wraps under the chin and over the top of the head, sometimes with gauze padding over the ears. It looks alarming and it has a job: it applies even, light pressure so the lifted skin stays in contact with the tissue beneath, limiting the space where blood or fluid could pool. Mayo Clinic notes this first dressing is typically changed or removed at the first follow-up, often the day after surgery.

Do not loosen, reposition or peek under it before then unless instructed. If it feels unbearably tight, if the lips or fingertips of the patient look blue, or if the patient reports a sudden increase in pressure on one side, that is a call to the team, not a reason to adjust the wrap yourself.

After the first visit, many surgeons switch to a lighter elastic chin strap, sometimes called a compression garment, worn for a period of days to weeks. The schedule varies widely between surgeons and there is no single standard; wear it exactly as your team describes. It should feel snug and supportive, not painful. Check the skin at the edges once or twice a day for redness or pressure marks, especially behind the ears, and report any raw areas.

Small dressings over the incisions in front of and behind the ears may be left to fall off on their own or changed daily. MedlinePlus guidance on closed surgical wounds applies: wash hands before touching, remove gently rather than tearing, look at the wound, and replace with clean gauze if the team wants it covered. A small amount of dried blood on the dressing is expected. Steadily increasing fresh blood is not.

Facelift swelling first week: what is normal and what is not

Swelling is the body’s first response to surgery. Fluid moves into the tissues, bringing cells that clear debris and start repair. After a neck and face lift, this swelling is usually at its most dramatic around the second and third day, according to Mayo Clinic, before it begins to settle. The face may look wider, the eyes slightly puffy even if the eyelids were not operated on, and the neck thick and firm.

Bruising follows a similar arc. It often tracks downward with gravity, so purple and yellow patches may appear on the lower neck and upper chest several days after surgery even though the incisions are higher. That migration surprises caregivers but is ordinary. Numbness around the ears, cheeks and neck is also expected, because small sensory nerves are stretched or cut during the lift; sensation generally returns over weeks to months, though some areas can stay altered longer.

Symmetry is the key observation. Both sides should be swollen to a roughly similar degree. The pattern that worries surgeons is a hematoma: a collection of blood under the skin, which Mayo Clinic lists as the most common complication after a face lift and one that most often appears within the first 24 hours. It shows up as swelling that is noticeably greater on one side, often tight, shiny, tender and sometimes rapidly enlarging, and the patient may describe a new pressure or pain that is out of proportion to the other side. This is urgent, because untreated blood under the flap can compromise the skin above it. Call immediately.

Cool compresses on the cheeks, never directly on the incisions and never ice against numb skin, help comfort. Head elevation and gentle movement around the house do more for swelling than anything else you can offer.

Pain, nausea and medicines: what a caregiver watches for

Most patients describe the discomfort after a face lift as tightness and pressure rather than sharp pain. The chin wrap, the swelling and the stiff neck combine into a sensation of wearing a helmet two sizes too small. Mayo Clinic notes that pain is usually manageable and that severe pain, especially on one side, is a warning sign rather than a normal feature.

The surgeon typically prescribes a short course of pain relief. For some patients this is acetaminophen alone; for others a brief supply of an opioid is added for the first days. Opioids work on receptors in the brain and spinal cord that dampen the perception of pain; they also slow the gut and can cause drowsiness, nausea and constipation. Your task is to give what is prescribed, at the times prescribed, and to record each dose. Do not add anything, including common anti-inflammatory tablets or supplements, without asking the prescribing clinician, since some increase bleeding risk in the first days.

Nausea is common after general anesthesia and tends to fade within a day. Small sips of clear fluid, plain crackers and keeping the head raised help. Vomiting is a concern because the straining raises blood pressure in the face; if it happens more than once, or the patient cannot keep fluids down, call the team, who may prescribe an anti-nausea medicine.

Many surgeons also prescribe a short course of antibiotics, which reduce the bacterial load around the incisions, and ask that the full course be completed. If the patient develops a rash, hives or breathing difficulty after any new medicine, treat it as an emergency.

Watch, too, for excessive sleepiness, confusion or very slow breathing, particularly if opioids are involved. If the patient is hard to rouse, seek urgent care.

How to sleep after a facelift, and how to move safely

Sleep position is the single most asked-about detail of the first week, and for good reason. Lying flat lets fluid pool in the face, and rolling onto the side presses a cheek into the pillow and can tug the incisions behind the ear. Surgeons generally ask patients to sleep on their back with the head and shoulders raised for at least the first week or two, with the exact duration set by the team.

A recliner solves much of this. If using a bed, place a wedge or stacked pillows under the upper back, not just the head, so the neck does not bend sharply forward, which would crease the chin dressing and feel like a chokehold. Some people roll a towel and tuck it beside each shoulder to discourage turning. A travel neck pillow can keep the head centered.

Getting up is its own skill. Teach the patient to roll slightly, push up with the arms, and sit on the edge for a moment before standing. The first day often brings lightheadedness from anesthesia, fasting and pain medicines. Stand beside them on the way to the bathroom until they are steady.

Gentle walking around the home starting the day after surgery matters more than it sounds. Movement of the calf muscles pumps blood back toward the heart and lowers the risk of a clot forming in the leg veins, a risk that rises after any operation under general anesthesia. The NHS advises short, frequent walks and avoiding long periods of sitting still with the legs down. Vigorous exercise, lifting, bending with the head below the heart and anything that raises blood pressure are off the table for the period the surgeon specifies, typically a few weeks according to the NHS.

When can I shower after a facelift? Washing, hair and incision care

The honest answer is: when the surgeon says so, and the timing varies between teams. Many allow a shower from the neck down right away and the first gentle hair wash once the bulky dressing is removed, often a day or two after surgery, while others wait for the drains to be out. Follow the instruction sheet, and if it is unclear, call before the water goes on.

When washing is permitted, the method matters more than the date. Use lukewarm water, never hot, because the skin is numb and cannot judge temperature. Keep the spray off the face and let water run over the scalp from behind. Use a mild shampoo, lather with fingertips rather than nails, and rinse thoroughly, since residue along the incisions irritates. Pat dry with a clean towel; do not rub. A hair dryer should be on the cool setting only, again because numb skin burns without warning.

MedlinePlus guidance for closed surgical wounds translates directly: look at the incisions each day in good light, note any change in redness or discharge, and keep them clean and dry between washes. A thin line of crusting along the suture line is normal. Pick nothing. The team may ask you to apply a thin layer of ointment to the incision lines; use only what they specify.

Hair dye, chemical treatments, and heat styling near the incisions are usually postponed for several weeks, and sun exposure to healing scars should be avoided for months, since new scar tissue pigments easily. Baths where the incisions are submerged, swimming pools and hot tubs wait until the surgeon clears them, because standing water introduces bacteria to wounds that have not fully sealed.

Facelift aftercare first days: a typical timeline

Every surgeon’s protocol differs, and the ranges below come from general patient resources rather than any one practice. Treat them as orientation, not a schedule. Your team’s written plan takes precedence.

When	What is usually happening	Caregiver focus
Day of surgery	Bulky head wrap on, drains in, drowsy from anesthesia	Head elevated, sips of fluid, first drain emptying, stay in the room overnight
Day 1	First follow-up; dressing checked or changed; drains often removed if output is low (Mayo Clinic)	Transport to clinic, record drain output, watch for one-sided swelling
Days 2–3	Swelling and bruising near their peak (Mayo Clinic); mood often dips	Cool compresses, soft food, gentle walks, reassurance
Days 4–7	Swelling begins to settle; bruising drifts to lower neck and chest; lighter chin strap	Hair washing as permitted, incision checks, continue elevation
Weeks 1–2	Stitches or clips removed at follow-up; many people resume quiet daily activities (NHS)	Help with appointments, sun avoidance, watch for late infection signs
Weeks 3–6	Most visible swelling gone; numbness and firmness persist; strenuous activity usually cleared by the team	Encourage patience; scars still immature
Months	Residual swelling, tightness and altered sensation fade gradually; scars soften (Cleveland Clinic)	Occasional reassurance; final appearance not judged early

The NHS notes that most people need around two weeks off work and should avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks, while Cleveland Clinic points out that subtle swelling can take months to resolve completely. The gap between “feels fine” and “looks finished” is wide, and knowing that in advance prevents a great deal of unnecessary worry around week two.

What people often get wrong

The first myth is that more compression is better. Caregivers sometimes tighten the chin strap, reasoning that firmer pressure means less swelling. In fact, excessive pressure can reduce blood flow to the thin skin flaps and cause pressure sores behind the ears. The garment should be snug as the team fitted it, no tighter.

The second is that ice packs should go straight on the face. Numb skin cannot register cold injury, and ice against a flap with reduced circulation can cause frostbite-like damage. Cool, not frozen, compresses wrapped in cloth, and only where the team allows.

Third, people assume a drain that stops producing fluid has failed. Usually it means output has fallen to the point where the drain is ready to come out, which is good news. The exceptions are a bulb that will not stay collapsed or a tube that is visibly kinked; those are worth a call.

Fourth, the idea that pain-free means a fast healer. Mild discomfort is normal, but absence of pain mostly reflects numbness. It does not mean activity restrictions can be dropped early.

Fifth, that the result can be judged in the first week. Swelling distorts everything. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic both describe a recovery measured in weeks to months, and surgeons routinely decline to assess the final outcome until swelling has settled. No reputable source promises a particular result, and this article does not either.

Finally, the belief that any supplement labeled natural is harmless. Several common herbal products affect clotting or blood pressure. Anything the patient takes, including vitamins, should be on the list the team reviewed, and nothing new should start without asking the prescribing clinician.

The emotional dip: why day three feels worse than day one

Few instruction sheets mention it, yet almost every caregiver notices it. Around the second or third day, when swelling and bruising reach their worst and the initial relief of “it’s over” has faded, many patients become tearful, irritable or convinced they have made a terrible mistake. Mayo Clinic and others describe this as a common part of recovery from facial surgery, not a sign that anything has gone wrong.

Several things converge. Anesthetic drugs and opioid pain relievers affect mood as they clear. Sleep is fragmented by the awkward position and the need to get up for medicines. The patient looks in the mirror and sees a swollen, discolored stranger. Numbness makes the face feel foreign to the touch. And the person is dependent on someone else for things they normally do alone, which is uncomfortable for most adults.

Your response matters more than you might think. Avoid both false cheer and clinical detachment. Statements that are true and specific help: “The swelling is still going up, which the surgeon said to expect. Both sides look the same to me. The drain fluid is paler than this morning.” Keep the mirror time short in the first days if the patient agrees. Suggest a quiet activity such as an audiobook rather than a screen that invites comparison with photographs online.

Watch for a dip that deepens rather than lifts. If the patient is unable to sleep for several nights, expresses hopelessness, or stops eating and drinking, tell the surgical team. They see this often and can advise whether a check-in with a primary care clinician is sensible. Looking after the caregiver counts too: arrange a few hours of relief so you sleep, because exhausted helpers miss things.

Questions to ask your care team

The preoperative visit and the first follow-up are the moments to get specifics, because every surgeon’s protocol is different and generic advice can only go so far. Bring a written list and ask the patient’s permission to take notes on their behalf.

• Will there be drains, and if so, how often should I empty them, what output level means they can come out, and who removes them?
• When may the first dressing be touched, and what exactly should I do if it feels too tight or starts to slip?
• How many hours a day should the compression garment be worn, and for how long?
• Which pain relievers and supplements must be avoided, and for how many days?
• When can hair be washed, and what products are acceptable near the incisions?
• What sleeping position do you want, and for how long?
• What swelling pattern would you consider abnormal, and what would make you want to see the patient tonight rather than tomorrow?
• What is the after-hours number, and who answers it?
• When are stitches or clips removed, and will the incisions need ointment or a dressing after that?
• When can the patient drive, return to work, exercise and travel?
• Which signs of infection or skin compromise should I look for behind the ears, where it is hard for the patient to see?
• If the patient has high blood pressure or diabetes, how should those be monitored at home during the first week?

Write the answers down in the same log you will use for drain output and medicines. A single page that holds the plan, the phone number and the daily record is worth more than any amount of memory at three in the morning. Decisions about the garment, the medicines and the schedule rest entirely with the surgical team; your job is to carry them out and report back honestly.

When to call your doctor

Most recoveries are uneventful, and the surgical team would far rather hear from you about something minor than learn about something major the next day. Keep the threshold for calling low in the first week.

Call the team the same day, or go to emergency care if they cannot be reached, for any of the following. Swelling that is clearly greater on one side, especially if it is tight, shiny, increasingly painful or growing over an hour or two; Mayo Clinic identifies this as the pattern of a hematoma, which needs prompt assessment. Pain that escalates despite the prescribed medicine, or pain that is severe on one side only. Bleeding that soaks through a dressing or does not slow with gentle pressure. Fever, chills, or spreading redness, warmth and pus-like discharge around any incision, which MedlinePlus lists as signs of wound infection. Skin along the flap that turns dusky, purple-black or very pale and cool, or blisters that appear on the cheek or neck. A drain bulb that fills rapidly with bright red blood. Vomiting that will not settle, or inability to keep fluids down. Difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a sense of the neck tightening, which is an emergency.

Seek emergency help without delay for chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, calf pain with swelling in one leg, confusion, extreme drowsiness that is hard to rouse, slurred speech, facial drooping that is new and different from the swelling, or any allergic reaction with hives, lip or tongue swelling.

Lower-urgency concerns that still deserve a call during office hours include a chin strap rubbing raw skin, persistent numbness that worries the patient, stitches that appear to be pulling, or a mood that keeps sinking. The team makes the decisions; your part is to notice and to speak up early.

Frequently asked questions

How long do drains stay in after a facelift?

Drains are usually removed within the first day or two after a face lift, once the fluid output has fallen to a level the surgeon considers low enough, according to Mayo Clinic. The exact threshold and timing are set by the surgical team, not the patient or caregiver. Some surgeons do not use drains at all. Removal is normally quick and done in clinic at the first follow-up visit.

What does facelift drain care involve at home?

Facelift drain care means emptying the bulb at the intervals the team sets, measuring and writing down the amount, squeezing the bulb flat before replacing the plug to restore suction, and keeping the exit site covered. MedlinePlus advises washing hands first and never touching the inside of the plug. The fluid should shift from red toward pale yellow and the volume should fall with each emptying.

When can I shower after a facelift?

The timing depends on the surgeon’s protocol. Many allow washing below the neck straight away and a gentle hair wash once the bulky dressing comes off, often a day or two after surgery, while others wait until drains are removed. Use lukewarm water only, since numb skin cannot judge heat, keep the spray off the face and pat the incisions dry. Ask the team before the first wash.

How should someone sleep after a facelift?

On the back, with the head and shoulders raised above the heart, for the period the surgeon specifies, commonly at least the first week or two. A recliner or a wedge pillow under the upper back works well. Rolling onto the side presses the cheek into the pillow and can tug the incisions behind the ear, so a travel neck pillow or rolled towels beside the shoulders help keep the head centered.

Is facelift swelling in the first week normal on both sides?

Yes, swelling across both sides of the face and neck is expected and usually peaks around days two to three, according to Mayo Clinic. The pattern that concerns surgeons is asymmetry: swelling that is clearly greater, tighter or more painful on one side, particularly if it enlarges over an hour or two. That can indicate blood collecting under the skin and should prompt a same-day call.

What are the signs of infection after a face lift?

MedlinePlus lists spreading redness, warmth, increasing pain, pus-like or foul-smelling discharge from an incision, and fever or chills as signs that a surgical wound may be infected. A thin line of dried crust along the suture line is normal and is not infection. Any of the warning signs, or an incision that opens, should be reported to the surgical team the same day.

Can I take over-the-counter pain relievers after a facelift?

Only those the surgical team has approved. Several common anti-inflammatory pain relievers thin the blood and can raise the risk of bleeding under the skin in the first days, so surgeons often ask patients to avoid them. Acetaminophen is frequently allowed, but the decision, the choice of medicine and the schedule belong to the prescribing clinician. Give only what is on the written plan.

Why does bruising appear on the chest after a face lift?

Gravity. Blood that leaks from small vessels under the lifted skin tracks downward through the tissues over several days, so bruising often shows up on the lower neck and upper chest even though the surgery was on the face. This migration is expected and gradually changes from purple to green to yellow as the body breaks the blood down. Bruising that is tense, enlarging or one-sided is different and needs a call.

How long is numbness normal after a neck and face lift?

Reduced sensation around the ears, cheeks and neck is common because small sensory nerves are stretched or divided during the lift. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic describe sensation returning gradually over weeks to months, with some areas occasionally remaining altered for longer. Numb skin cannot judge heat or cold, so protect it from hot water, heat styling and direct ice during this period.

When can someone exercise or return to work after a facelift?

The NHS suggests most people need around two weeks off work and should avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks, with the exact clearance depending on how healing progresses and the surgeon’s assessment. Gentle walking around the home from the first day is encouraged to lower clot risk. Lifting, bending with the head down and anything that raises blood pressure wait until the team gives the go-ahead.

References

• Cleveland Clinic: Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
• NHS: Facelift
• MedlinePlus: Closed suction drain with bulb
• MedlinePlus: Surgical wound care – closed

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.