After you have had your facelift, you might be eager to get back into the swing of things. One area you will want to be careful with is exercise, since you do not want to cause complications that may alter the results of the facelift. You might experience a reopening of your incisions, scarring and an infection.

Exercise is a Part of Recovery

You will usually want about two days of bed rest following a facelift. But afterward, not exercising at all can have a negative impact on your ability to recover. If you engage in regular walks, you can prevent conditions such as pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Begin by walking around your home until you feel fatigued. After a few days, you can try going for walks outside. If you cannot exercise outside, a treadmill is another great option.

Reduce Stiffness By Stretching

Spending a lot of time in bed while recovering can make you feel stiff, so consider performing a few stretches after you get out of bed. To achieve the maximum benefits of stretching, hold each stretch for about 30 seconds and perform your stretches about three times a day.

Stop if You Feel Pain

Pay attention to whether you experience pain while exercising. If any exercise causes pain, refrain from performing it. Most patients are able to engage in low-impact cardio exercises such as walking or riding a bike. More intense activities, such as swimming, running or intensive cardio classes, are not recommended. Also, consider avoiding weight training until after the first three weeks of your recovery. After a month, you can usually fully resume your workout activities.

Protect Your Face

Avoid exercises that can place your face at risk, such as playing basketball, tennis or soccer. If a ball hits your face, it can alter the results of the facelift and you may need to return to the plastic surgeon for corrections.

Swelling Might Occur

If you stick to light exercising, you may still experience some swelling of the face and the front of your neck. This will not affect the end results of your facelift. The swelling usually subsides after a few hours. While you are experiencing swelling, you will want to apply an ice pack to your face. The desired effect of your facelift will begin to appear in the next couple of months. If you work hard, you can have both a great figure and the face that you wanted. Visit a site like http://www.myplasticsurgerygroup.com for more information.