The ImageLift™ Facelift
in Florida
By Dr. Richard Castellano, Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Completed Your ImageLift™️ Facelift Surgery in Florida?
One of the numerous benefits of the ImageLift™ Facelift is a quicker recovery process than a traditional facelift would involve. Below, we’ll explore what you can expect in the days and weeks after your ImageLift™ Facelift with Dr. Castellano. Our offices in Tampa and the Villages are conveniently located to serve the residents of Central Florida, including those living in St. Pete, Leesburg, and Hyde Park, FL.
Frequently Asked Questions
All of our surgical procedures are done under local anesthesia! So there’s no need to go “under” for any of our treatments. Additionally, we offer a number of relaxation medications to ease discomfort and nerves during treatment. Patient safety and comfort is one of our core principles here at ImageLift.
Our ImageLifts have 3 total incision points. For each ear there is an incision that runs along the tragus, under the earlobe and behind the ear. This placement ensures that the scar is well hidden. The last incision is located just under the chin.
While scarring is just as unique as each individual person. Our expert team will asses your skins individual needs to minimize scarring.
Our minimally invasive treatments allow patients to continue their daily routines within just a few days! Typically healing can be anywhere from 4-10 days on average.
The ImageLift™ Facelift is ideal for patients who want the benefits of a facelift but without the extensive surgery, lengthy recovery periods and scarring that is typically involved. Many patients who are good candidates for a traditional facelift find the ImageLift™ Facelift to be a preferable treatment. You may be a good candidate for an ImageLift™ Facelift if you are concerned with signs of aging, particularly in the lower face, including:
- Jowls
- Smile lines
- Neck bands
- Sagging skin
- Noticeable Yet Natural Results
- Safer, Less Invasive Surgery
- Reduced Recovery Time
- In-Office Comfort
- No General Anesthesia or Hospitalization Required
- Gentle Numbing & Oral Sedation
Your Recovery Schedule!
Starting the day after your ImageLift™ Facelift, you can expect some adjustments to your lifestyle as you recover from treatment. You should have an understanding of the recovery process and its limitations, and can expect a recovery timeline like the one outlined below. The downtime for your ImageLift™ Facelift will vary depending on the type of ImageLift™ you received. A huge benefit of these minimally invasive treatments is that patients can continue their daily routines within just a few days of surgery!
Day 1 - First 24 Hours
Immediately after your facelift, you will likely be groggy. You should have a caretaker or companion stay with you for at least the first few days after your procedure. They can help you around the house and make sure your recovery goes smoothly. As far as your recovery goes, you can follow the RICE principles (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Resting, sleeping and taking time off of activities is essential in the first phase of recovery. While the ice can assist with swelling or pain, it may not be necessary thanks to the compression headwrap. Compression via the headwrap will continue to reduce swelling and reduce the risk of fluid buildup in the treatment area. Finally, elevating the head, either by using several pillows or sitting up in a recliner chair, can further help with the recovery process.
In addition to the RICE principles, we like to encourage the four Fs of recovery (fluid, foods, pharmacy and phone). You should be drinking plenty of water during your recovery process, and getting up to use the bathroom every few hours. There are no food restrictions, but you should eat healthy foods, and may want to consume softer or lighter meals for the first few days. Dr. Castellano will walk you through a pain medication schedule and encourages using a timer to take your prescribed doses at regular intervals. Finally, keep a phone handy so you can call our office with any questions or concerns.
Head to the bottom of this page to view our YouTube videos regarding your recovery schedule!
Day 2 - After Follow-Up Visit
24 hours after your surgery, you’ll have a follow-up visit with Dr. Castellano. During this visit, we’ll discuss your sleep and pain experience from the previous 24 hours. Then, we’ll remove the head wrap and evaluate how the face is healing. After cleansing the skin as necessary, we’ll apply a fresh head wrap.
Head to the bottom of this page to view our YouTube videos regarding your recovery schedule!
Day 3
At this point, patients are responsible for their own wound care. Starting on day 3 (48 hours after surgery), patients will be able to remove their headwrap to bathe. We recommend performing wound care twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Most patients will have no issues if they follow Dr. Castellano’s instructions, but it’s important to be on the lookout for signs of infection:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Drainage
- Pain
- Fever
Sometimes, these symptoms will get worse before they get better. However, as long as you are noticing overall improvement day-to-day, you know you’re headed in the right direction.
Head to the bottom of this page to view our YouTube videos regarding your recovery schedule!
weeks 1-3
For the first week, you should keep your heart rate low. Taking a light walk is healthy and even encouraged, but you should not strain yourself. Just listen to your body and ease into these activities! Most patients will need 4 to 10 days of social downtime, but you will likely begin noticing results by your one week follow-up visit. We call this the “grocery store test”: when you’re able to walk into a grocery store and no one will notice that you’ve had work done!
During the second week of recovery, you can start getting your heart rate up a little, but you should continue listening to your body so you don’t overdo it. At this point, many patients will be able to return to social activities with little to no sign of surgery.
After three weeks, patients can resume all activities with no restrictions.
Month 1-2
At your one or two month follow-up, we’ll take before and after pictures and celebrate your results. At this point, there are no restrictions to your lifestyle. To help patients prolong their results, we’ll help them schedule a skin care appointment with our esthetician who will provide a complimentary facial peel and skin care plan. This will help further protect the skin and prevent signs of aging. We can also discuss treatments like dermal fillers or laser treatments if you are interested.
Head to the bottom of this page to view our YouTube videos regarding your recovery schedule!
Why Choose Dr. Castellano & His Team of Experts?
Dr. Castellano is the top choice for patients considering the ImageLift™ Facelift, because he has developed these techniques specifically for patients to achieve facial rejuvenation without needing a traditional facelift. As a double board certified plastic surgeon with 17+ years of experience, he has performed over 10,000 cosmetic procedures of the face and neck, making him one of the most experienced facial plastic surgeons in the U.S. today.
Patient Reviews
Your Questions Answered!
We offer five ImageLift™ options to best address each patient’s unique goals: Mini-ImageLift, Mid-ImageLift, The ImageLift, Deep ImageLift, and the Men’s ImageLift! To learn more, click here!
Very Important Recovery Questions
Can I Wear My Hair Back After My Facelift?
Yes! When the incision is performed the correct way, your incision may be a little red or dark for sometimes a month or two after your lift. Normally, this is hard to see, and if you need to you can cover it with makeup, although it is rarely necessary. When you wear your hair back, the incision hides around the ears and in the hairline so you should be able to wear your hair back without revealing any scars.
How Long Do I Have to Wear a Head wrap?
Traditional facelifts are well known for requiring drains, surgical staples and a head wrap during the recovery process. Instead, Dr. Castellano uses tiny sutures that do a better job of holding the skin together throughout the healing process. We advise that patients wear the head wrap for 3-4 days for 24 hours a day. Afterwards, it can be worn exclusively at night until one week after your procedure. The goal of this wrap is to hold pressure on the skin and avoid the need for surgical drains.
How to Heal and Hide Incisions?
A large benefit of the ImageLift™ Facelift is that the incisions are carefully placed in inconspicuous areas around the ears. Once the incisions heal, they are almost impossible to see. However, there are a few things you can do to help these incisions heal, like avoiding the sun and using scar creams with silicone.
View Our Videos To Learn More!
Frequently Asked Questions
All of our surgical procedures are done under local anesthesia! So there’s no need to go “under” for any of our treatments. Additionally, we offer a number of relaxation medications to ease discomfort and nerves during treatment. Patient safety and comfort is one of our core principles here at ImageLift.
Our ImageLifts have 3 total incision points. For each ear there is an incision that runs along the tragus, under the earlobe and behind the ear. This placement ensures that the scar is well hidden. The last incision is located just under the chin.
While scarring is just as unique as each individual person. Our expert team will asses your skins individual needs to minimize scarring.
Our minimally invasive treatments allow patients to continue their daily routines within just a few days! Typically healing can be anywhere from 4-10 days on average.
The ImageLift™ Facelift is ideal for patients who want the benefits of a facelift but without the extensive surgery, lengthy recovery periods and scarring that is typically involved. Many patients who are good candidates for a traditional facelift find the ImageLift™ Facelift to be a preferable treatment. You may be a good candidate for an ImageLift™ Facelift if you are concerned with signs of aging, particularly in the lower face, including:
- Jowls
- Smile lines
- Neck bands
- Sagging skin
- Noticeable Yet Natural Results
- Safer, Less Invasive Surgery
- Reduced Recovery Time
- In-Office Comfort
- No General Anesthesia or Hospitalization Required
- Gentle Numbing & Oral Sedation