Facial Implants Post-Operative

Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow balanced diet. Dietary restrictions will be provided by your doctor.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.
• For chin implants: Dental and oral hygiene instructions will be provided by your doctor.
• For jaw implants : Dental and oral hygiene instructions will be provided by your doctor.

Activities

• Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• Return to work in about 1 week.
• Avoid any activity that could jar or bump your face for at least 6 weeks.
• Activity restrictions will be provided by your doctor.

Incision Care

• You may shower 48 hours after removal of the drainage tubes.
• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
• Keep steri-strips on; replace if they come off.
• Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.

What to Expect with All Facial implants

• Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness.

What to Expect with Chin Implants

• Usually, your chin is taped to minimize swelling and discomfort.
• Black and blue marks around chin and neck.
• Temporary difficulty with smiling and talking.

What to Expect with Cheek Implants

• A dressing will be applied to minimize discomfort and swelling.
• Ability to move your mouth and lips may be diminished temporarily.

What to Expect with Jaw Implants

• Ability to smile, talk, or move your mouth in any way may be limited for several weeks.
• Swelling immediately after surgery can be significant and usually peaks in 24-48 hours.

Appearance

• Fuller, more balanced look.
• Normal appearance in 2-4 weeks.
• Jaw: Final facial contour may not be apparent for several months due to prolonged mild swelling.

Follow-Up Care

• Sutures in the skin will be removed in 5-7 days.
• Sutures used to close internal incisions usually dissolve within 10 days.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

For medical questions, please call:

(734) 998-6022, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

After hours and on weekends, call Hospital Paging at (734) 936-6267 and ask for the Plastic Surgeon on call.