A facelift is an important step in rejuvenating your appearance and looking younger. However, prioritizing your body’s healing process during the post-operative period is essential for achieving the best results. Activities that require physical exertion, such as sexual intercourse, can pose a risk to the sensitive tissues in the facial area. So, when can you resume sexual activity after a facelift? Have you ever wondered? If you’re curious, you can check out our content. This way, you can gain detailed information about what to pay attention to during the post-operative period and when you can safely resume your sexual life.
Why is Sex Restricted After a Facelift?
Sex after a facelift is usually restricted for the first few weeks to ensure a healthy recovery process. This is because sexual intercourse increases heart rate and blood pressure, which dilates the blood vessels in the face, increasing the risk of swelling, bruising, and bleeding. Additionally, sudden movements of the head, neck, and face during sex can cause the underlying tissues, which have been reshaped during surgery, to shift or create tension in the suture areas. This can cause asymmetry in facial contours, delays in the healing process, or complications that may require additional surgery. For this reason, surgeons recommend avoiding activities that strain the facial muscles, suddenly increase blood circulation, or pose a risk of trauma until healing is complete.
When Can I Have Sex After a Facelift?
The most important criterion in terms of timing is the completion of the body’s healing process. At this point, patients are always curious about when they can have sex after a facelift. To give a clear answer to this question:
- Doctors definitely do not recommend having sex within the first 7 days.
- Between the 8th and 14th days, this activity is considered risky.
- Between the 15th and 21st days, depending on the rate of recovery, sex can be had at a low tempo and without pressure.
- Between the 22nd and 28th days, short-term intercourse may be possible with caution and the doctor’s approval. It is very important to protect the face from pressure.
- After the 5th week, the subcutaneous structure is almost completely healed. Sexual intercourse can be safely resumed.
What Happens If I Have Sex After a Facelift?
Not taking care after facelift surgery and engaging in strenuous activities can lead to serious problems. This is because it directly affects the success of the facelift surgery. If we look at the complications mentioned above;
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- Risk of bleeding
Sex causes the heart rate to increase and blood pressure to rise. It can also cause bleeding in the new, thin blood vessels that form under the skin. In such cases, if blood accumulates under the skin, emergency drainage may be necessary in some situations.
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- Suture opening and wear
Sudden movements in the head and neck area can cause tension along the suture line. This increases the risk of wound opening, infection, and scarring. Therefore, sudden movements should be avoided at all costs.
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- Increased edema and swelling
As blood pressure increases, edema may also spread. For this reason, salt intake should be limited, regular exercise should be performed, and the medication prescribed by the doctor should be taken in order to regulate circulation and prevent fluid accumulation.
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- Risk of infection
Since sweating negatively affects skin hygiene, infection may occur in the wound area or stitches when physically touched. As a result, the wound becomes infected, and the healing process takes even longer.
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- Pain and discomfort
Sudden movements during sex can stimulate nerve endings. This can increase pain, burning, and tingling sensations. At the same time, increased blood flow to the area can cause more intense sensitivity and trigger existing nerve inflammation or damage.
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- Failure of aesthetic intervention
If facial muscles are used immediately after a facelift, the subcutaneous tissues may shift. This can lead to asymmetry or distortion of facial contours. Therefore, facial expressions should be kept to a minimum in the first few weeks after surgery, the doctor’s recommended rest period should be followed, and sudden movements that strain the facial area should be avoided during the recovery period.
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- Additional surgical intervention
Facial asymmetry or subcutaneous bleeding may necessitate additional surgical interventions. Therefore, you should limit your sexual activity until your doctor gives permission.
Can I Kiss After a Facelift?
Kissing after a facelift is not recommended during the first few weeks of the healing process because active use of the lips and facial muscles can cause tension in the subcutaneous stitches, increase swelling, and delay tissue healing. Additionally, the facial expressions made during kissing can increase the risk of facial contour shifting or asymmetry during the period when the tissues have not yet fully stabilized after the operation. For this reason, surgeons generally recommend postponing activities that intensely engage the facial muscles, such as kissing, for at least 2-3 weeks. Since the recovery period varies from person to person, it is essential to obtain approval from the surgeon who performed the operation regarding when kissing can be resumed. This ensures that aesthetic results are preserved and the risk of additional complications is minimized.
Do Medications Used After a Facelift Reduce Sex Drive?
Medications used after a facelift may not directly target sexual desire, but they can indirectly affect libido. Painkillers, muscle relaxants, antibiotics, or certain sedative medications commonly prescribed after surgery can cause side effects such as fatigue, weakness, nausea, or mood changes. This can lead to the individual feeling less physically and mentally energetic, temporarily reducing their sex drive. In addition, natural changes associated with the healing process, such as swelling, bruising, and sensitivity in the facial area after surgery, can also affect a person’s self-confidence and desire for intimacy. However, the effects of medications are usually temporary, and libido returns to its previous level once treatment is complete. Therefore, there is no need to worry.
If you are wondering when you can have sex after a facelift, you can contact the expert team at Faceaesthetics, specialists in facelifts in Turkey.
FAQ
During sex, your facial muscles work actively and your blood flow increases, which can cause swelling after a facelift, slight bruising, or existing bruises to become more noticeable. Additionally, sudden facial expressions may cause temporary asymmetry in facial contours or a tight feeling in the incision areas. These effects are generally temporary, but if you are in the early stages of the healing process, they may increase the risk of permanent deformity.
Symptoms to monitor after sexual intercourse following a facelift include sudden increase in swelling, worsening of bruising, bleeding or leakage at the incision sites, severe pain, numbness, or noticeable asymmetry in facial contours. If any of these symptoms occur, you should contact your doctor immediately to rule out the possibility of complications during the healing process.
You will know that you are ready for sexual intercourse after a facelift when the swelling and bruising have largely subsided, your stitches have completely healed, you no longer feel pain or tension when using your facial muscles, and your doctor has given you the go-ahead to resume normal activities. This period usually varies between 2-4 weeks, but the exact time depends on your personal healing speed.
Having sex after facelift surgery can cause pressure, increased blood flow, and accelerated circulation. These conditions can cause the wound to reopen. If the doctor’s instructions are not followed, muscle movements, facial expressions, and lip movements can also disrupt facial symmetry. Wounds that reopen in the early stages increase the risk of infection. Therefore, protecting the facial area from pressure and strain is also important for sexual health. However, the final decision should be made by your doctor.
