Face lift aftercare--any tips?

I am having a facelift in Costa Rica next Wednesday and was wondering if I should be stocking up on anything here at home.  I will be staying in a recovery house for 10 days after surgery but will I need to use ice packs or antibiotic ointment after I come home?  I am reading that there is considerable pain afterward--how long does it last?  Will Tylenol work to relieve it?  I am a little scared of pain and the CR doctors can't prescribe opiates outside the hospital.

I had a face, neck, and lower eye lid lift about 9 months ago.  I took pain medication for about the first 4 days.  I used frozen peas instead of ice packs but only for the first few days.  I had a compression garment that I wore 24/7 the first 7 days and then at night for the next two weeks.  There wasn't much pain.  I went back to work after two weeks.  It has taken a long time for all the feeling to come back.  I still have a few areas that when touched tingle - the surgeon said that means there is still some swelling in that area.  Swelling can take up to a year to go away.

Thanks so much for the long-term perspective.  My surgeon has said nothing about a compression garment--should I buy one on my own?  Do you think yours was helpful in healing/overall results?  Good to hear that you weren't in pain.

 Mexico can't do opiates outside the clinic either.  My doctor gave me tramadol when I left the clinic for the hotel two days after neck/face/eyelids.  I had some Vicodin that I cut into 4 from each pill and used them to supplement in small does.  The face hurt me a lot. I was in head compression 24/7 for ten days and now at night for six months.

I used ice eye mask for two days.  What I think really helped the most was taking homeopathic Arnica in strong dose.

I went to a Christmas party 13 days after face work and nobody could tell I had surgery.  I had full bodywork done three days before my face.

Good luck!

Opps. Forgot to say that I use neosporin on all of my incisions.  Behind my ear is actually looking a bit infected today so a friend/doctor just called in a script for stronger antibiotic ointment.  I'd have neosporin on hand for when you get home. My doctor sent me home from Mexico with some.

The ears were really painful.  As soon as the first bandages came off, I put earplugs behind my ears, the soft squishy ones and also in front so that the garment didn't press directly on the incisions.  I'd take a bunch of earplugs along. They saved me!

I have some leftover Vicodin from gallbladder surgery that I will take along, thanks for the tip!  Dr. Lev says he does not recommend Arnica, has some kind of effect on platelets, but he is not opposed to Arnica cream externally for bruising so I have some of that.  I am having a party 3 weeks after surgery and hope I look pretty normal! 

I will get some Neosporin and some squishy earplugs, what a great tip.  Thanks!

Considering bodywork with Dr. S in 9-12 months.  I am going to hit the gym first and see if I can get at least a little muscle on my bones before having the excess skin removed. 

So glad you are healing well and feel good.

 It sounds like you're all set!

Wishing you all the best!