What is the importance of compression after facelift surgery?

Submited by Kassmd on April 1, 2022

Patients usually have to wear a compression garment after plastic surgery. This is the case for all kinds of procedures, including liposuctions, tummy tucks, breast surgeries, and especially for facelifts. Compression helps the body recover from surgery in several ways, including:

  • Reducing Scarring
  • Reducing Bruising
  • Promoting Draining
  • Decreasing Swelling
  • Reduced Blood Clots
  • Shaping the Body
  • Providing Comfort

Usually, these compression garments are simple fabric pieces made from elastin and nylon. After a facelift, they fit snugly over your face to keep things in place. Using them properly will accelerate your recovery and make you look as good as possible.

If your surgeon recommends you use compression after facelift surgery, you should listen to them. It can make a difference between a successful and unsuccessful surgery.

Reducing Scarring

Facelifts require making small incisions on the face. The last thing you want is for those incisions to become big, ugly scars. Typically, the cuts are strategically located so as to minimize their appearance, but using compression can help reduce their impact further.

Scars develop differently according to several factors. This includes the technique of your surgeon, your genetic makeup, and even factors like your diet.

Post-operation, the best thing you can do to minimize the appearance of scars is to wear a compression garment. Pressure flattens the incisions, smoothing them over to appear invisible.

Reducing Bruising

Any trauma to blood vessels, including from surgery, can cause bruises. Injured blood vessels leak blood into surrounding tissue, making your skin look black and blue.

Compression helps reduce the internal bleeding and limits the amount of blood that can move towards the surface of the skin. For a beautiful facelift, use compression afterwards to limit the effects of bruising.

Promoting Draining

Plastic surgery can result in fluid buildup in and around the surgery area. Using compression can help to move fluids away, just like pressing on an open water balloon will cause the water to move out faster.

Reducing Swelling

It is natural for the body to respond to surgery with swelling. This increased production of liquids is a way for the body to try and begin to heal itself. When the excess liquids get trapped under skin, they create painful swelling. Compression helps to limit the amount of fluid in one spot, and push excess liquid elsewhere.

Reduced Blood Clots

Post-operation patients often have limited mobility and get less exercise than they need. This leads to a lack of proper circulation and, possibly, blood clots.

Of all the reasons to use compression, this is perhaps the most serious. Untreated blood clots can be fatal. Using proper compression, however, promotes effective circulation, reducing the chance of developing blood clots.

Shaping the Body

Compression provides a tight mold for your face to fit into. The alternative would be to let your face expand, swell, and become puffy. Obviously, this is the exact opposite of the intended effect.

Providing Comfort

By reducing bruising, scarring, and swelling, compression helps prevent some of the more painful immediate side effects of surgery. Additionally, your protective garment acts as a shield, guarding you against foreign objects and keeping your face clean.

Conclusion

Compression is just as important to facelift surgery as the surgery itself. Without it, you would face excessive bruising, scarring, and swelling. You would also have larger, more visible scars and a puffier face.

Be sure to talk to your surgeon about compression, and what you should do post-surgery to make the best out of your operation. Patients are often asked to wear garments in separate stages. For example, the first stage might last for four weeks and be worn at almost all times. The second stage might be shorter, and only need to be worn at night.

For more information please contact Kass Center today!

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