“Your recovery is an extension of your surgery. The care you give your body in the weeks following a procedure determines the quality of your result just as much as what happens in the operating room. These instructions are precise and deliberate — please follow them exactly. When in doubt, call the office. We would rather answer a question that turns out to be unnecessary than have you managing a concern alone.”
General post-operative care
The following instructions apply to all surgical procedures performed at this practice unless your specific care guide states otherwise.
Sleep on your back with your head elevated on two to three pillows, a wedge pillow, or a recliner, for the full first two weeks. Do not sleep flat — it significantly increases swelling. Move your head and shoulders as a unit, and avoid straining or bending your neck.
No heavy lifting, bending at the waist, or straining for three weeks. Avoid any activity that raises blood pressure. Light walking is encouraged from day one — it promotes circulation and reduces clot risk.
Begin Arnica Montana and Bromelain supplements immediately after surgery as directed. Both are clinically supported for reducing post-surgical swelling and bruising.
No soft diet is needed after any procedure. Eat a regular diet from day one — high in protein, low in sodium, with plenty of water.
Wear front-closing or zip-front clothing. Never pull clothing over your head.
Pain following facial surgery is typically mild — most patients rate it 3–4 out of 10. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the preferred pain reliever. Avoid Aspirin and all NSAIDs post-operatively.
How to care for yourself after surgery
The following applies to most facial surgical procedures. You will receive procedure-specific written instructions at your pre-operative appointment. When in doubt, call our office — we are available 24/7 for established patients.
Procedure-specific recovery instructions
Select your procedure below for detailed post-operative care instructions. Contact the office at (424) 363-4112 with any questions not addressed here.
One of our nurses will accompany you back to your accommodation and stay with you overnight. You will have a facial compression garment, sutures, and possibly staples. Drains may be in place to collect excess fluid and reduce swelling. It is normal to feel drowsy, swollen, and bruised, with significant eye swelling that may make it difficult to open your eyes.
Return to the office for your Day 1 visit; your dressing is removed. Until your drains are out, take a body shower only and keep your face dry. Do not scrub or pick. Brush teeth gently with a small toothbrush. Clean incisions with gentle soap and water to remove dried blood, crusts, or scabs; pat dry, then apply a thin layer of Aquaphor.
Return to the office on Day 2 for hemostatic net suture removal, and on Day 3 for drain removal (if drains were placed). For men, drains usually come out on Day 5. Once your drains are out, you may take a full shower and gently wash your hair in cool to lukewarm water. Continue cleaning incisions with gentle soap and water to remove any dried blood or crust, then keep them moist with a thin layer of Aquaphor.
Wash your hands before touching your drains or dressing. Gently strip ('milk') the tubing as you were shown. Once a day, at the same time each day, record the time and the amount, pour out the fluid, then squeeze the bulb and recap it; keep the bulb secured inside your dressing or clothing. You'll come back to the office on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. Your hemostatic net comes off on Day 2, and your drains come out on Day 3 with our physician assistant; for men, drains usually come out on Day 5, unless Dr. Truesdale tells you otherwise. Removal can be uncomfortable.
If you have staples in your hairline or scalp, they stay in until your Day 7 visit. Keep them clean with mild soap and water. Don't let blood dry or crust on the incisions — soften and rinse it away with water, without scrubbing or picking. Apply a very light layer of Aquaphor along the incision line. Be gentle with the hair around it: no tight hairstyles, ponytails, or anything that pulls on the scalp.
Apply ice compresses with a cloth barrier — never directly on skin — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for five days to a week after every procedure. This is when it helps most. You don't need to ice while you sleep.
Sutures and surgical staples are removed on Day 7. Be gentle with incisions thereafter — they will not yet have full strength. Do not pull your ear forward.
Keep incisions clean and moist at all times. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching any incision area. Keep incisions out of direct sunlight.
Sleep on your back with your head elevated on two to three pillows, a wedge pillow, or a recliner, for the full first two weeks. Do not sleep flat — it significantly increases swelling. Move your head and shoulders as a unit, and avoid straining or bending your neck.
Light walking is encouraged from day one — it promotes circulation and reduces clot risk. No heavy lifting, bending at the waist, or straining for three weeks. Avoid any activity that raises blood pressure. Light cardio — elliptical, spin bike, low resistance — may resume at two weeks, for every procedure. Confirm with your surgeon at your follow-up before increasing intensity. Heavy cardio, weightlifting, bending over, yoga, and Pilates typically resume at three weeks — once your surgeon clears you at a follow-up. Three weeks is a judgment, not a date that clears itself.
Plan to arrive at least a day before surgery and to be here for 7 to 10 days; we'll confirm the right length of stay for your surgery. Please stay within 20 minutes of our office, even in heavy traffic: one of our preferred hotels, or Luxe Serenity Aftercare, which we can help you book. Your hotel and travel arrangements, and their costs, are your responsibility. You'll come back to the office on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3: our physician assistant removes your hemostatic net on Day 2 and your drains on Day 3 (for men, drains usually come out on Day 5); Dr. Truesdale removes your sutures on Day 7.
You may color your hair again one month after surgery — the same for every procedure. No heat on your hair or scalp for one month after surgery: a blow-dryer on the cool setting is fine, but no warm or hot settings and no hot tools. The skin around your incisions stays numb for a while, so you may not feel how hot it's getting, and heat can burn the healing area. Light earrings may be worn at 2 weeks post-op if desired.
Avoid alcohol and salt during recovery — both worsen swelling. Avoid hot baths and saunas. Wear front-closing or zip-front clothing for easier dressing.
Use SPF 50 daily, wear a hat when you can, and limit sun exposure — for at least six weeks once you are cleared.
Makeup may be applied to surrounding skin (not over incisions) once sutures are removed. Makeup may be applied to incisions another 7 days after suture removal — only after Dr. Truesdale has confirmed adequate healing.
Two days after sutures are removed, begin applying silicone scar gel twice daily to the incisions for the next month. If you experience pain or itching at any incision, contact Dr. Truesdale immediately — these may require steroid injection to prevent keloid or unfavorable scarring.
The lip lift is one of Dr. Truesdale's fastest-recovering procedures. Most patients resume normal daily activities within 1–2 weeks.
The incision is placed in the natural crease at the base of the nose (the columellar-lip junction) where it heals exceptionally well and becomes essentially invisible over time. Results are permanent — the shortening of the upper lip does not reverse.
Follow the general post-operative care instructions above. Keep the incision clean and moist with Aquaphor. Avoid stretching the upper lip excessively in the first week. Sutures are removed on Day 5.
No straws for two weeks after surgery — the suction pulls on healing tissue.
Eyelid incisions go through an active-appearance phase between 2–6 weeks post-surgery — during this window incisions may appear red, raised, or more visible than immediately after surgery. This is a normal part of eyelid healing. Incisions continue to mature and soften for up to one full year.
Lubricating ointment: You will use lubricating eye ointment for the first several days, which may cause temporary blurry vision. This is expected and not a concern.
Eye makeup: May be resumed at 10 days post-surgery once Dr. Truesdale has confirmed satisfactory healing at your follow-up.
Aquaphor: Keep applying Aquaphor to your eyelid incisions until one month after surgery.
Final results — including the full resolution of swelling and bruising around the eyes — are typically visible within several months. Do not evaluate the final aesthetic result before this timeline.
Fat for transfer is harvested from the inner or outer thighs, or from the stomach, using a gentle liposuction technique. Small harvest sites heal quickly and leave minimal residual marks.
Do not massage the treated areas for the first two weeks. Massage of fat-grafted tissue too early can disrupt the newly placed fat cells before they have established a blood supply. From two weeks, light lymphatic massage is fine (Dr. Truesdale, 10/9).
Fat cannot be frozen or stored for future use. Any fat that is transferred is used at the time of your procedure.
Results from fat transfer are permanent. Touch-up procedures are rare but can be performed after 1 year if additional volume is desired following complete healing and settling.
CO2 laser resurfacing has the most detailed post-operative protocol of any procedure we perform. Please follow each phase precisely.
Apply ice packs as directed for comfort and swelling. Keep Aquaphor on the treated skin at all times. Do not wash the skin during this phase. Expect redness and swelling for 2–5 days.
Begin washing twice daily. Remove Aquaphor gently using gauze dampened in distilled water. Cleanse with a diluted white vinegar-water solution as directed, pat dry, and immediately reapply a fresh layer of Aquaphor.
Increase washing to 4 times daily. Do not peel or pick at skin — allow peeling to occur naturally. Showering is permitted after Day 3. Keep Aquaphor on the skin at all times between washes.
Transition from Aquaphor to Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Continue the vinegar-water rinse protocol as directed.
Cleanse with Cetaphil twice daily. Apply Cetaphil moisturizing lotion. Use a mineral sunscreen containing at least 7% zinc oxide. Mineral powder makeup is permitted once the skin has sufficiently healed.
An overnight nurse stays with you. You will have a compression garment, sutures, and possibly drains. Sleep on your back with the head elevated on 2–3 pillows. Apply ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Take pain medication with food.
Return to the office for your Day 1 visit; your dressing is removed. Until your drains are out, take a body shower only and keep your face dry.
Day 2: return to the office for hemostatic net suture removal. Day 3: return for drain removal (if drains were placed); for men, drains usually come out on Day 5. Once your drains are out, shower and wash hair gently in cool to lukewarm water, avoiding the surgical site. Use mild soap; a blow-dryer on the cool setting only. Brush teeth gently. Clean incisions with soap and water, pat dry, and apply Aquaphor.
Wash your hands before touching your drains or dressing. Gently strip ('milk') the tubing as you were shown. Once a day, at the same time each day, record the time and the amount, pour out the fluid, then squeeze the bulb and recap it; keep the bulb secured inside your dressing or clothing. You'll come back to the office on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. Your hemostatic net comes off on Day 2, and your drains come out on Day 3 with our physician assistant; for men, drains usually come out on Day 5, unless Dr. Truesdale tells you otherwise. Removal can be uncomfortable.
If you have staples in your hairline or scalp, they stay in until your Day 7 visit. Keep them clean with mild soap and water. Don't let blood dry or crust on the incisions — soften and rinse it away with water, without scrubbing or picking. Apply a very light layer of Aquaphor along the incision line. Be gentle with the hair around it: no tight hairstyles, ponytails, or anything that pulls on the scalp.
Sutures and staples are removed. Makeup may be applied to surrounding skin but not to incisions for another 7 days. Be gentle with incisions; do not pull the ear forward.
Apply silicone scar gel twice daily, beginning about two days after your sutures are removed, and continue for one month. Do not use it on your eyelids.
Fly home once your sutures are out on Day 7 — most patients leave that day or the next. Continue sleeping on your back with head elevated for 2 weeks. Avoid extremes in neck motion. Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for 3 weeks. Move head and shoulders as a unit. Light cardio (low-resistance elliptical or spin bike) may begin Day 14. Heavy cardio, weightlifting, yoga, and Pilates typically resume at 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you.
No hair coloring for 1 month. Avoid sun for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50. Avoid alcohol and salt. No hot baths or saunas. Light earrings may be worn at 2 weeks.
Full healing may take 6–12 months. Tightness and numbness may persist 2–3 months. Temporary hair loss near incisions typically regrows during the healing process.
Compression bandages wrapped around the head until your Day 1 dressing visit, when they come off. Swelling, bruising, and tightness in the forehead and brow are expected. Eyes may swell significantly and be difficult to open — this improves as swelling subsides. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week.
If a scopolamine patch was placed behind the ear for nausea, remove it after 3 days.
Return to the office for your Day 1 dressing visit; your dressing and bandages come off. Until your drain is out, take a body shower only and keep your face dry.
Return to the office on Day 3 — our physician assistant removes your drain. Once it's out, shower and wash hair gently in cool to lukewarm water, avoiding the surgical site. Use mild soap; a blow-dryer on the cool setting only.
Wash your hands before touching your drain or dressing. Gently strip ('milk') the tubing as you were shown. Once a day, at the same time each day, record the time and the amount, pour out the fluid, then squeeze the bulb and recap it; keep the bulb secured inside your dressing or clothing. After your Day 1 dressing visit, your drain comes out on Day 3 with our physician assistant. Brow-lift drain removal can be more uncomfortable than other drains — that's expected, because of where it sits.
If you have staples in your hairline or scalp, they stay in until your Day 7 visit. Keep them clean with mild soap and water. Don't let blood dry or crust on the incisions — soften and rinse it away with water, without scrubbing or picking. Apply a very light layer of Aquaphor along the incision line. Be gentle with the hair around it: no tight hairstyles, ponytails, or anything that pulls on the scalp.
Staples and sutures are removed at your Day 7 visit with Dr. Truesdale. Makeup may be applied as desired since incisions are within the scalp.
If Endotine fixation was used, two small lumps under the scalp may be felt; they dissolve over about 9 months.
Driving may resume Day 7–10 once you are off narcotics.
Plan on flying home after your Day 7 visit. Continue sleeping on your back with head elevated for 2 weeks. Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for 3 weeks. Move head and shoulders as a unit. No pulling down on the forehead or downward pressure on the brow for at least one month. Light cardio at Day 14; no heavy cardio for 3 weeks.
No hair coloring for 1 month. Brows may appear slightly over-elevated for 2–3 weeks — this is normal and settles to natural resting height over the following months. Avoid sun for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50.
Full healing through 6 months. Endotines (if used) dissolve around 9 months.
External cast on the nose, gauze taped under the nostrils. Do not disturb the cast and keep it dry. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows. Mild blood-tinged drainage is normal for 1–2 days — change the gauze only when saturated. Ice the eye/cheek area 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. A humidifier near the bed helps if you breathe through your mouth. Avoid salt and dairy in the first day. Use steroid and antibiotic if directed. No straws for two weeks after surgery — the suction pulls on healing tissue.
You may shower right away, but keep your cast dry. Use cool to lukewarm water; no hot water, steam, saunas or baths.
Lubricate nostrils and incisions with Aquaphor on a cotton-tipped applicator.
Cast and sutures removed at your follow-up. Saline spray after cast removal — two sprays per nostril, five to six times daily, after your cast is removed. If a nosebleed persists, use Afrin on a small piece of cotton. After cast removal, clean the external nasal skin with toner or astringent twice daily for the first 2 weeks to avoid breakouts.
Plan on about a week. Dr. Truesdale removes your cast and sutures on Day 5, and you are cleared to fly once the cast is off. A Day 5 that falls on a weekend moves to Monday.
Avoid excessive talking, smiling, chewing, or bending over to prevent bleeding and swelling. Avoid extreme physical activity, athletic activities, and intercourse. No heavy cardio, straining, or bending for 3 weeks. Do not blow your nose until cast removed; if you must sneeze, do so with your mouth open.
Do not wear regular glasses or sunglasses that rest on the bridge for at least 4 weeks after cast removal.
If a nosebleed occurs, sit upright, gently squeeze the nostrils, and place a small piece of cotton saturated with Afrin nose drops in the bleeding nostril. Call the office if bleeding persists.
Avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50. Avoid hot baths, steam showers, and saunas.
Healing is a process. The nose may be swollen, stiff, and stuffy for several months. Complete healing may take up to 18 months. Schedule a 12-month follow-up.
Sutures placed under the chin or inside the mouth depending on the implant. It may be difficult to open your mouth at first; normal movement returns within a few days. Swelling and bruising are normal. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows for the first 2 weeks. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week.
If the implant was placed inside the mouth, rinse with salt water or mouthwash after every meal. Avoid sharp or crunchy foods. Cheek implants: no straws for two weeks after surgery.
Regular diet as tolerated. Salt-water rinse after every meal for intraoral incisions.
Swelling may briefly increase — this is normal and will subside over the next few weeks.
Follow-up appointment with Dr. Truesdale for suture removal.
No bending, lifting, or straining for 3 weeks. No heavy cardio for at least 3 weeks. Avoid alcohol and salt.
Tightness and numbness are normal and may last 2–3 months. Full healing may take up to 4 months. If the implant feels dislodged or you notice localized swelling, tenderness, warmth, or redness, contact the office immediately.
Intraoral sutures on the inside of both cheeks. It may be difficult to open your mouth at first; normal movement returns within a few days. Numbness, tingling, tightness, and dull pain are normal. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows for the first 2 weeks.
Do not touch the incision with your tongue — this can separate the incisions. Brush only your front teeth. Do not brush your back teeth or touch your toothbrush to the inside of your mouth.
Regular diet as tolerated; rinse with salt water after every meal. You may bathe or shower the day after surgery if no other procedures were performed.
Regular diet as tolerated; avoid crunchy or hard foods. Salt-water rinse after every meal. Brush teeth gently. Days 3–4 may bring increased swelling. Day 6–7 follow-up appointment.
Straws, for two weeks. Straining or bending. Crunchy or hard foods.
Sutures are dissolvable and dissolve on their own within 2 weeks. Cheek swelling persists for the first 1–3 months.
Tightness and numbness are normal and may last 2–3 months. Full healing may take up to 4 months.
Swelling and bruising around the ears. Sutures behind each ear. Wear ear compression as much as possible for the first week. Ice the ears 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Sleep with head elevated on 2–3 pillows.
Clean the incision behind the ear with a Q-tip, gentle soap, and water. Apply Aquaphor multiple times daily.
Post-op appointment with Dr. Truesdale — non-dissolvable sutures are removed; dissolvable sutures need no removal.
Pulling the ear forward. Bending, lifting, or straining. Tight hairstyles or ponytails.
Swelling persists for approximately 6 days with gradual reduction. The ear may feel firm initially — this resolves as healing progresses. Continue Aquaphor or Vaseline on dry incision areas.
Light cardio — elliptical, spin bike, low resistance — may resume at two weeks, for every procedure. Confirm with your surgeon at your follow-up before increasing intensity. Heavy cardio, weightlifting, bending over, yoga, and Pilates typically resume at three weeks — once your surgeon clears you at a follow-up. Three weeks is a judgment, not a date that clears itself. Avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50.
Swelling and bruising around the nose and mouth area. Sutures at the base of the nose — dissolvable sutures dissolve within 2 weeks; non-dissolvable sutures are removed at your Day 5 visit with Dr. Truesdale. Some nasal congestion is expected. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Sleep with head elevated on 2–3 pillows. The incision will feel thick and lip motion will feel tight initially.
Gently clean the incision at the base of the nose with a Q-tip, soap, and water. Apply Aquaphor to the incision multiple times daily. Do not touch or pick at the incision site.
Post-op appointment with Dr. Truesdale; non-dissolvable sutures are removed if used.
Regular diet as tolerated; avoid excessive chewing. Light walking encouraged after 24 hours. Continue sleeping with head elevated.
Tension on lips and nose — no big smiles, kissing, or excessive mouth/nose movement. Bending, lifting, or straining. Resting glasses on the nasal bridge for at least 2 weeks.
Swelling persists ~6 days with gradual reduction over 2 weeks. Makeup OK on the surrounding skin, but avoid the incision site for at least 10 days. Continue Aquaphor or Vaseline on dry incision areas.
Light cardio — elliptical, spin bike, low resistance — may resume at two weeks, for every procedure. Confirm with your surgeon at your follow-up before increasing intensity. Heavy cardio, weightlifting, bending over, yoga, and Pilates typically resume at three weeks — once your surgeon clears you at a follow-up. Three weeks is a judgment, not a date that clears itself. Avoid hot showers and saunas for at least 1 month. Avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50+.
Compression bandages wrapped around the head until your Day 1 dressing visit, when they come off. Swelling and bruising in the forehead and brow region. Tightness, numbness, tingling, and dull pain at the scalp are normal. Mild headaches are common but should improve with medication. Ice around the eyes 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows for the first 2 weeks.
Return to the office for your Day 1 dressing visit; your bandages come off.
Shower OK; be gentle around scalp incisions. Do not scrub the incision or run a comb or brush through your hair until staples are removed.
If you have staples in your hairline or scalp, they stay in until your Day 7 visit. Keep them clean with mild soap and water. Don't let blood dry or crust on the incisions — soften and rinse it away with water, without scrubbing or picking. Apply a very light layer of Aquaphor along the incision line. Be gentle with the hair around it: no tight hairstyles, ponytails, or anything that pulls on the scalp.
Staples are removed at your Day 7 visit with Dr. Truesdale.
Driving may resume Day 7–10 once off narcotics.
Light cardio at Day 14. Avoid bending, straining, weightlifting for at least 3 weeks. Light walking encouraged after 24 hours.
Some dryness, irritation, or mild discomfort may persist. Temporary eye dryness is common — natural tears or saline drops can help. Temporary hair loss around the incision area typically resolves within a month. Brows may appear over-elevated for 2–3 weeks and settle into a natural position over the following months. Makeup OK as incisions are within the scalp.
Avoid coloring or chemically treating hair for at least 1 month. Avoid rubbing, massaging, or tension on the incision area for at least 4 weeks. No tight hairstyles.
Avoid sun exposure for at least 6 weeks; daily SPF 50+. Full healing through 6 months.
Tape over the sutures — leave it alone and do not get it wet. Eyes may be swollen and bruised; expect significant swelling for ~6 days. One eye may be more swollen or discolored than the other — if one is much more painful or swollen, contact the office immediately. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows. Do not put tension on your eyes.
Clean incisions two to three times a day with soap and water only — no peroxide near the eyes. If skin was removed, apply Aquaphor after cleaning (Vaseline if you're allergic to Aquaphor) and keep it on until one month after surgery. After 24 hours, light walks are encouraged.
Sutures removed in the office. Eye makeup may resume at Day 10, once the skin is completely closed.
Contact lenses may resume.
Itching at incision sites is normal. Acute swelling typically resolves within 2 weeks. Avoid activities that dry out the eyes (extended reading, screens). No heavy cardiovascular activity for at least 3 weeks.
Avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks; daily SPF 50+. Avoid rubbing or itching the eyelids until fully healed.
Full healing may take up to 6 months. A 3-month check-up is advisable. For under-eye darkness, Dr. Truesdale may prescribe a lightening cream; pigment usually resolves over 3–6 months.
Swelling and bruising near the new scar are normal. The incision may feel raised and thick during healing. Sleep on your back with head elevated on 2–3 pillows for the first 2 weeks. Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 5 days to a week. Light walking encouraged after 24 hours.
Gently clean the incision with a Q-tip, soap, and water. Apply Aquaphor multiple times daily. Do not touch, pick, or apply tension to the incision line.
Sutures come out on your area's standard day — Day 5 for the lip, Day 7 for a face-lift scar; we'll tell you yours. No makeup on incisions until sutures are removed. Light cardio may begin at Day 14. Avoid bending, straining, or weightlifting for at least 3 weeks.
Swelling persists ~6 days with gradual reduction. Some dryness, irritation, or mild discomfort may persist.
Avoid rubbing, massaging, or any tension on the incision area for at least 4 weeks. Avoid hot showers, saunas, and jacuzzis for at least 1 month. Avoid sun exposure for at least 6 weeks; apply SPF 50+ sunscreen daily.
Full healing may take 3–6 months. The scar should continue to fade beyond that period.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a valuable complement to your surgical recovery. By breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, your body receives significantly higher oxygen concentrations, which can accelerate healing at the cellular level.
Increased oxygen delivery promotes faster tissue repair and collagen synthesis at the surgical site.
HBOT has been shown to decrease post-surgical edema, reducing discomfort during the early recovery phase.
Higher oxygen levels help break down hemoglobin deposits faster, visibly clearing bruising more quickly.
Elevated oxygen levels create an environment hostile to bacteria, lowering the risk of post-surgical infection.
Promotes new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) in healing tissues, improving nutrient delivery to the surgical area.
Better oxygenation during the healing phase may contribute to finer, less visible scars over time.
If you've booked hyperbaric oxygen: three 90-minute sessions at 2 atmospheres of pressure, starting the day after surgery. If you are booked for hyperbaric oxygen and have any claustrophobia, you'll do a short test session the day before surgery.
Dr. Truesdale can recommend HBOT providers in the Beverly Hills area and advise on the appropriate protocol for your specific procedure. Discuss this option during your consultation or pre-operative appointment.
Note: HBOT is an elective complement to standard post-operative care, not a replacement. All standard recovery protocols should be followed regardless of HBOT use.
Red light therapy
Using a red light therapy mask can be a valuable addition to your post-operative healing process. Red light therapy has been shown to help reduce inflammation, which can minimize swelling and discomfort after surgery. It can also stimulate collagen production, which is essential for skin repair and can aid in scar healing.
Additionally, it may promote better circulation, helping to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the treated area and further supporting the healing process. Always consult with our office before starting any new treatment to ensure it aligns with your specific recovery plan.
Interested in purchasing your very own red light therapy device? Click below to get $100 off Dr. Truesdale’s favorite mask. Use code DOCTORTRUESDALE at checkout.
Shop NowMaintaining your results
Maintaining your results is important. While your procedure will significantly turn back the clock, the results aren’t permanent, because aging is ongoing. There are several key things you can do to preserve your results and keep your appearance looking its best.
Changes to your facial structure and volume will continue to gradually age, but your skin requires consistent upkeep to continue looking its best. Therefore, post-procedure care focuses on keeping your skin healthy and youthful. This requires regular maintenance, similar to how you take care of your overall health, your home, or your garden.
Collagen stimulation for prevention & maintenance
Collagen and elastin production decreases with age, leading to skin thinning, wrinkles, and sagging. Stimulating collagen production is essential for long-term anti-aging. This can be achieved through active skin care with growth factors, in addition to microneedling, lasers, chemical peels, and medical-grade skin care.
Consistent use of these products and treatments will improve your skin year after year.
Maintaining good skin integrity is crucial for extending the results of your facial rejuvenation procedure. Please let us know if you need skincare recommendations.
Botox & injectable fillers
Repetitive facial movements and thinning skin create lines and wrinkles on your upper face. Static wrinkles are present even when your face is at rest.
Botox, administered every 3–4 months, can slow wrinkle formation and even prevent it.
Some wrinkles may require fillers to achieve a smooth, youthful appearance. Many fillers last several months and produce excellent results.
Warning signs that require immediate contact
Most discomfort, swelling, and bruising is expected and normal. The following symptoms are not — contact our office immediately if you experience any of them:
Our team is available to answer any questions about your post-operative care. Do not hesitate to call if you have a concern — we would rather you call than wonder.
Call 911 immediately
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain, especially when you breathe in, or a racing or irregular heartbeat
- Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf or thigh
- Coughing up blood, or feeling faint
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
Call us now — (424) 363-4112, day or night
- A firm lump on one side that is growing — marble, then ping-pong ball, then golf ball
- One side notably harder, more swollen, or more painful than the other
- Sudden vision change after eyelid surgery — call us, not 911
- Voice changes
- Hives, fever or chills, especially the day after starting your antibiotic
- A drain that comes out
- Bleeding that soaks more than 3–4 gauzes in one sitting
If you have sudden vision change after eyelid surgery and cannot reach us within fifteen minutes, go to the nearest emergency room.
Call us today
- Fever above 101°F (38.3°C)
- Drainage, or increasing pain and swelling after day 3
- Redness, warmth or pus at an incision
- If any incision opens up
Plus, for your procedure
- Eyelids: one eye more swollen, painful, or bulging than the other — call immediately
- Implants: if you feel the implant move, or new tenderness and warmth over it
- Rhinoplasty: a nosebleed that doesn't stop after squeezing and Afrin on cotton
- Face or neck lift: pain or itching at an incision — it may need treating early
- Buccal fat: if the inside-cheek incision feels like it's opening
After hours you will be directed to our answering service, and Dr. Truesdale and/or Dr. Sajjadi will be contacted on your behalf.
If you think this is an emergency, or you need help right away — CALL us. Don't text or DM: messages aren't monitored overnight. For anything that can wait until morning, text or message us and we'll reply during business hours.
Dr. Truesdale’s revision surgery policy
Cosmetic surgery, like all surgery, has inherent limitations. If a revision is ever warranted, we will discuss it candidly, plan it carefully, and pursue it only when the timing is right.
Each patient and outcome is unique
Dr. Truesdale tailors every procedure to the individual patient’s anatomy, goals, and healing characteristics. Because of this inherent variation, specific aesthetic outcomes cannot be guaranteed in advance. What can be guaranteed is Dr. Truesdale’s commitment to technical excellence, safety, and honest communication throughout your care.
Complications are a known risk of surgery
All surgical procedures carry inherent risks. Complications that can occur include — but are not limited to — scarring, prolonged swelling, infection, bruising, asymmetry, and variations in healing. These risks are discussed in full during your pre-operative consultation and are outlined in your surgical consent documents. Patient safety and satisfaction remain Dr. Truesdale’s top priorities at every stage of care.
Minimum 12-month waiting period before revision
Revision surgery will not be considered until a minimum of 12 months has elapsed from the date of the original procedure. This waiting period is not arbitrary — facial tissue continues to mature, settle, and remodel for a full year following surgery. What appears to be a suboptimal result at 3 or 6 months may resolve completely by Month 12. Premature revision risks operating on tissue that has not yet reached its final state.
Surgeon’s fee may be waived for eligible revisions
If a revision procedure is determined to be warranted within the first year following surgery, Dr. Truesdale may, at his discretion, waive his surgeon’s fee for that revision. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis following a thorough in-person evaluation at the one-year mark.
Operating room and anesthesia fees remain the patient’s responsibility
Even in cases where Dr. Truesdale waives his surgeon’s fee, the costs of the operating room facility and board-certified anesthesiologist remain the patient’s financial responsibility. These third-party fees are independent of Dr. Truesdale’s practice and cannot be waived or reduced by this office. Flexible third-party financing options are available for eligible patients.
Do not evaluate your result before the 12-month mark. Swelling, tissue tightness, and incision visibility all continue to improve throughout the first year. Premature concern is common and rarely reflects the final outcome.
If you have a concern at any point during your recovery, contact the office. Dr. Truesdale’s team will evaluate your concern and schedule a follow-up appointment if warranted. Concerns are best addressed through direct conversation — not delayed.
Not all secondary procedures constitute a “revision” in the surgical sense. Minor in-office touch-ups, scar treatments, or adjunctive non-surgical treatments may be appropriate earlier than 12 months and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Flexible third-party financing is available for revision procedures (including facility and anesthesia fees), with 0% interest options for qualified applicants.
Post-operative recovery FAQ
Someone must stay with you for the first 72 hours after surgery — this is mandatory for every procedure, because you cannot drive, make important decisions, or be left alone while anesthesia is clearing your system. If an overnight nurse is booked (standard for face and neck lift), the nurse covers the first night; days two and three need a companion, or our paid assistant can cover them. For out-of-town patients, we recommend arranging hotel accommodations near the facility and having a companion fly in with you.
Most patients describe their discomfort as mild to moderate — tightness, pressure, and sensitivity more than sharp pain. Take all prescribed medications as directed by your overnight nurse and Dr. Truesdale; clear instructions are written on each medication. Use pain medication with food to minimize nausea. After the first 24–72 hours, most patients transition to over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol). Avoid aspirin and all NSAIDs post-operatively. Rhinoplasty patients report more pressure and congestion than pain. Facelift patients most commonly describe concentrated discomfort around the ears and incisions for the first 24 hours, then tightness around the ears and neck. Significant or escalating pain is not normal and should be reported immediately.
If you have drains (face lift, neck lift, brow lift), take a body shower only and keep your face dry until your drains are out — Day 3, or usually Day 5 for men having a face or neck lift. After that you may take a full shower and gently wash your hair with mild soap; don’t scrub or pick. For one month, a blow-dryer on the cool setting is fine, but no warm or hot settings and no hot tools. After rhinoplasty you may shower right away, but keep your cast dry. After other procedures, your bandages come off on Day 1 and you may shower from the day after surgery. Use cool to lukewarm water only — avoid hot water for the first two weeks because heat worsens swelling. Dr. Truesdale or his nursing staff will give you specific instructions at your first post-operative visit.
For remote or desk-based work: most patients can return at 7–10 days. For in-person or public-facing roles: 2 weeks is typical for rhinoplasty; 10–14 days for facelift; 7–10 days for blepharoplasty. Physical labor or high-stress environments require 4–6 weeks. We encourage patients to plan conservatively — rushing your return to work frequently delays overall recovery.
Not immediately. Face and neck lift patients — the Masterpiece included — can fly once their sutures are out on Day 7, and most fly home that day or the next. Rhinoplasty patients are cleared once the cast is off, usually Day 5; eyelid and lip lift patients once their sutures are out on Day 5. Plan on about a week in Beverly Hills, arriving the day before surgery. Dr. Truesdale personally clears you for travel based on your individual healing progress.