How to Sleep After Facelift Surgery
Sleep is a significant part of your recovery after any surgery. It helps bolster your healing and immunity. Getting enough sleep is even more crucial after a facelift. The American Academy of Plastic Surgery emphasizes the need for proper facelift aftercare. Part of this is sleeping the right way. If you want to learn the appropriate way to sleep after your facelift, here’s what you should know.
The Ideal Sleeping Position
Ensuring that you have the correct sleeping position after your facelift relieves the pressure in the surgery sites. If you do not assume the right position, your sutures could open. This would increase swelling and cause bleeding. After your facelift procedure, you should lie on your back with your head elevated above your heart. If you are a side sleeper, this could be a big challenge. It would help if you started practicing sleeping on your back a few months before your surgery.
Dermatologists say that sleeping on your back is good for your skin, even if you do not get a facelift. Side sleeping is one of the leading causes of facial wrinkles and fine lines. Back sleeping also relieves back pain. It can provide you with restful and deep sleep as well. ‘
Sleeping sideways after your facelift causes swelling. It can also irritate the healing facial tissues and cause friction on your facial skin. Sleeping on your side also puts pressure and weight on your facial tissues. This results in swelling and disturbance of the suture lines. You should elevate your head at 30-45 degrees to control and even stop swelling.
Things That Can Help You Sleep on Your Side
You can start by sleeping in a recliner. This type of chair forces you to stay on your back as you sleep. When you sleep on this chair, your risk of turning over is low. You are then less likely to irritate your surgical sites.
Choose a firm mattress if you want to try to sleep in your bed. This type of mattress can stabilize you enough to maintain your back sleeping position. A pillow with arms or a horseshoe-shaped travel pillow can help you stay on your back. You can also place pillows and rolled-up towels on your sides to keep you from rolling on your sides as you sleep. A 30-degree wedge-type pillow can also do the job.
Be sure to place the extra pillows behind your head down to the area between your scapula or shoulder blades. Doing so will help extend your chin. You should also place a pillow under your knees. This will support the natural curve of your body and increase your level of comfort.
It may take some effort to sleep on your back after your facelift, but the rewards will be significant. At Aesthetic Surgical Associates, we guide our patients even during post-surgery aftercare to ensure that they achieve their cosmetic goals. You can visit our clinic in Metairie, Louisiana, for an in-person consultation. Please call us at (504) 226-8200 to schedule an appointment or ask questions about our facelift packages.
Reference:
https://www.sharecare.com/health/facelift-or-necklift/how-sleep-face-lift-surgery
https://www.realself.com/question/facelift-sleep-after-skin-care-regime
