Post Op Facial Implants

Facial Implants Post-Op Recovery Instructions

With chin and jaw angle implants, a dressing that goes around the head will be in place the first night after surgery. You may remove this at home the next day. There is no need for any further dressings. For cheek facial implants, there is no dressing.
For chin implants, there will be small brown tapes to cover the incision through which the implant was placed under the chin. They are glued on and will not easily come off. Dr. Eppley will remove them at your one week postoperative visit during which the sutures will also be removed.
You may sleep laying flat but please avoid sleeping on your side or face down for the first postoperative week. This may potentially displace the position of the implants.
You may use ice to the face for the first 24 hours if it helps reduce any discomfort that you may have. It is not absolutely necessary however.
You may shower, bath, and wash your face and hair the next day after surgery. Getting the tapes wet poses no increased infection risk. Men may shave around the tapes and the rest of their face after 48 hours.
Your activity level should be what feels good. Do routine activities as tolerated. Strenuous exercise may be resumed 1 week after surgery. Avoid contact sports, where the risk of getting hit in the face may dislodge the implant, for one month after surgery.
The skin over and around where the implants are placed is usually numb after surgery. This should completely go away by one month after surgery.
You may begin driving the next day if you are off pain medications and can think clearly.
Be patient. It takes about 2 weeks for most of the facial swelling to subside and the final result to be seen clearly. Usually there is little to no bruising with facial implants of any type.