After Facial Plastic Surgery: Help with the Hurt

Facial plastic surgery is exciting, but it can also be scary. Post-surgical pain is a major concern for many people who consult with Dr Marcells, whether they are having a multi-part deep plane face lift, a complex revision rhinoplasty, or a “simple” brow lift. “Patients should understand different procedures result in different levels of post-operative discomfort,” says Dr Marcells. “However, they can take comfort in the knowledge that innovative pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and longer-acting local anaesthetics help me reduce your pain after surgery.”

How Dr Marcells Reduces Facial Surgery Pain

Dr Marcells is passionate (and knowledgeable!) about innovative procedures, treatments and techniques that help improve the patient experience. The choices he makes before and during surgery help to reduce the risk and intensity of post-surgical discomfort, including nausea and vomiting. As a general rule, however, some discomfort is unavoidable. For those instances, Dr Marcells is able to offer his patients a wide range of traditional and state-of-the-art solutions to pain after facial plastic surgery:

• Local anaesthetics
• Topical creams
• Intravenous acetaminophen
• Perioperative ketorolac
• Phamacologic therapeutics
• Prophylactic steroids

“Pain should never be ignored,” warns Dr Marcells. “Any patient who experiences a significant increase in pain that is not helped by the medication they have been prescribed should contact their surgeon immediately.”

Rhinoplasty: Managing the Pain After a Nose Job

Post-surgical bruising and swelling are the chief sources of the post-surgical pain after rhinoplasty, and may actually increase on the day after surgery. (Ouch!) “If only the nasal tip and/or septum have undergone surgery, however, the bruising will likely be minimal,” notes Dr Marcells.

Other after-effects of nose surgery include:

• Bloody nasal discharge
• Nasal stuffiness
• Excess mucus
• Temporary numbness

Most patients describe their pain after a rhinoplasty as mild to moderate for about 72 hours and find that oral medications (such as Panadol) offer effective pain relief.

Easing Pain after Deep Plane Face Lift

For patients seeking the ultimate in facial rejuvenation, a deep plane facelift is often the answer. This advanced surgical procedure creates dramatic, long-lasting anti-ageing benefits. It also creates a fair amount of post-op discomfort for up to two weeks. “Facial plastic surgery is performed using anaesthesia which can cause patients to feel groggy, nauseous, and disoriented when they first wake up from surgery,” explains Dr Marcells. “We have oral and intravenous medications that can help with that.”

Patients also receive prescription pain medication and Dr Marcells’ stern admonition to take them as directed. “Pain puts additional stress on your already-compromised body,” he says. “You shouldn’t skip doses and try to ‘tough out’ the discomfort.”

Less Pain, More Gain Facial Plastic Surgery

Do you like the face you see when you look in the mirror? If there’s something you’d like to change, we invite you to visit our practice in Edgecliff to learn how Dr Marcells and our team can help you achieve your goals. Call us today to schedule a consultation or use our simple online contact form.