Can I massage after a facelift to help speed my recovery?

It is generally recommended against massaging or manipulating your own face after a facelift. The reason is that you don’t want to disrupt or pull too hard on the areas as they are trying to heal and knit back together. Excess manipulation in the early phases of healing could result in incision separation, hematoma (blood collection under the skin), or seroma (fluid collection under the skin).

Some surgeons will allow for lymphatic massages postoperatively, performed by a professional that is under the direction of the surgeon. These early, gentle lymphatic massages can assist with healing by promoting blood flood to the area and helping move some of the fluid responsible for swelling out of the area.