Carefully Washing Hair After Facelift - Simple Tips & instructions

Inquiries about showering and personal hygiene after surgery are common among our patients. These inquiries are particularly common among those who undergo plastic surgery in visible places, such as facelift surgery, which targets the lower two-thirds of the face and neck area.

During the surgery, your surgeon tightens the muscles in your face and eliminates extra skin, wrinkles, and creases.

A facelift can be combined with additional procedures as well, such as brow lift or eyelid surgery, or it can be performed alone.

The hair in the regions behind the ear and next to the temple suture lines may temporarily thin in size.

Experts suggest that patients shower with lukewarm water and use a big, toothed comb to comb out their hair on the second day following surgery.

Tips for Washing Hair After a Facelift

After having a facelift, washing your hair can be all you need to feel like yourself again.

It may be very tempting for patients to hop in the shower right away, but it’s always better to wait until your body has had some time to recover before washing your hair.

Many people may suggest you remove the chin strap to wash your hair after 48 hours. Others may suggest avoiding the incision site during the first week or using baby shampoo exclusively. Most of these recommendations are actually not bad at all.

Previous studies concluded that there was no evidence to support the recommendation that a patient should refrain from practicing regular hygiene throughout the healing phase, such as taking a shower or bath. 

A week following the procedure, you may get your hair washed at the salon. However, stay away from applying intense heat to your hair, and take care not to let your cuts lie on the washbowls rim. Remember the following tips:

• Buy specific grooming items before your procedure, such as hydrogen peroxide, Q-tips, ice packs, and antibiotic ointment.
• Showering on the day of suture removal is not recommended; however, you may do so by the second postoperative day.
• When you wash or rinse your hair for the first time, don try to get everything out. This is best done in the shower. Leaning over the sink to wash your hair is not a good idea since it puts too much strain on your facelift.
• Let the water flow through your hair when you wash it for the first time. To help soften your hair, use the conditioner. Shampooing your hair might not be possible until it has softened. You will need to rinse your hair many times before you can wash it.
• Avoid taking a steamy or hot shower. It could induce dizziness and/or hemorrhage in the facelift region.
• Four days following your surgery or once the cotton dressing is taken off, you can start thinking about shampooing and conditioning your hair.
• After the first week, wash your face twice a day with cotton balls and light soap.
• For a few weeks, refrain from using a hairdryer on high heat. You should wait at least six weeks before coloring your hair.
• You should wait to dye your hair until at least six weeks following surgery.
• Remember that you need to be delicate when cleaning your face, hair, or body, and always avoid disturbing the sutured regions.

When to Wash Your Hair After a Facelift?

There is no consensus on this matter. Many experts, however, recommend patients to shower 48 hours following surgery and use a little shampoo.

Indeed, many studies investigated the showering dilemma after surgeries, and many of these studies emphasized on importance of having the shower after 48 hours. 

At this point, wash your face and neck gently. When brushing your hair, try to avoid getting your comb caught in the suture line.

As a general role, your energy levels might return to normal once the primary recovery phase is ended after around six weeks.

Mostly, the healing process ends within two weeks. Nevertheless, throughout the next weeks, there will be some things you are unable to accomplish. You must keep to your visit schedule so that your surgeon can give you the right instructions on personal hygiene and grooming.

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