When can I drive after a facelift?

The short answer: most people can drive after a facelift at around two to three weeks. That is not because driving harms the healing. It is because you need to be able to turn your head freely, see clearly and react quickly, and in the first fortnight most people simply cannot do that safely. If you have had a smaller operation, such as upper eyelid surgery on its own, it is usually sooner.

It is one of the most practical questions I am asked, and one of the most important. Planning lifts for the first few weeks is far easier before surgery than after it, and knowing the answer helps you plan work, school runs and appointments around your recovery.

“Nobody has ever told me they regretted waiting an extra few days to drive. The aim is to get you back behind the wheel when you are genuinely safe, not just when you feel you ought to be.”

Mr Siva Kumar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Why it takes two to three weeks

There are three practical reasons.

Turning your head. After a facelift the face and neck feel tight. Swelling peaks at around two to three days and then settles, but for the first couple of weeks turning to check a blind spot, or looking over your shoulder at a junction, is uncomfortable. Many people stiffen up and avoid it, which is not safe. If you have also had a neck lift, the tightness under the chin and along the jaw adds to this.

Swelling around the eyes. Bruising and swelling can track down from the face and puff up the eyelids for the first week or so. Even mild swelling can narrow your field of view, particularly to the sides.

Painkillers. Some painkillers make you drowsy or slow your reactions. In the UK it is illegal to drive if any medicine, including a prescribed one, affects your ability to drive safely.

When most people can drive again

How to tell you are ready to drive

Before your first drive, sit in the car with the engine off and check honestly:

• Can you turn your head fully to both sides without pain or hesitation?
• Can you see clearly, with no swelling narrowing your vision?
• Have you stopped any painkillers that make you drowsy?
• Could you do an emergency stop right now?
• Can you wear the seatbelt comfortably, without it rubbing on a wound?
• Can you wear your usual glasses or sunglasses comfortably?

If the answer to any of these is no, give it a few more days. Start with a short, familiar journey in daylight rather than the motorway or a long drive at night, and take someone with you the first time if you can.

Insurance and the law

There is no fixed legal waiting time for driving after a facelift in the UK, and you do not normally need to tell the DVLA about cosmetic surgery. The responsibility is yours: you must be fit to drive and in full control of the car. It is worth checking your insurance policy before surgery, because some insurers have their own rules about driving after an operation, and it is far better to know before you need to. If in doubt, ring them.

What can change the timing?

Adding other procedures. A facelift is often combined with a neck lift or eyelid surgery. A neck lift on its own usually means about two weeks before driving. Upper eyelid surgery alone is usually about seven days. When they are done together, it is the combined recovery that counts, so plan for the longer end.

The type of facelift. After a smaller lift, such as a mini facelift, some people are ready to drive a little sooner, often at around ten days to two weeks. After a deep plane facelift and neck lift, plan for two to three weeks, as with any full facelift. I have written about the difference between deep plane and SMAS facelifts if you are weighing up techniques.

How you heal. Some people bruise and swell more than others. Smoking slows healing a great deal, which is one of several reasons I ask patients to stop at least six weeks before and after surgery.

What if I need to drive for work or family?

If driving is part of your job, or you are the only driver at home, it is worth planning your surgery date around that from the start. A few ideas that my patients have found helpful:

• Choose your date carefully. Many people book their facelift before a quieter period at work, or a school holiday when someone else can share the driving.
• Set up a rota. Friends and family are usually happy to help with school runs or appointments for a couple of weeks if they know in advance.
• Use deliveries. Book online food shopping and arrange for any prescriptions to be delivered for the first fortnight.
• Talk to your employer. If you drive for work, agree a phased return, or a spell of office or home working, before your surgery.

If you care for someone who relies on you to drive them, please mention it at your consultation. We can plan your recovery around it, and in some cases a smaller operation with a quicker recovery may suit you better.

Driving after a neck lift on its own

A neck lift on its own usually means about two weeks before driving. The main issue is the tightness under the chin and at the sides of the neck, which makes turning your head uncomfortable at first. Swelling around the eyes is less of a problem than after a full facelift. The same checklist applies.

Being a passenger

You can travel as a passenger from the day you leave hospital. A few things make it more comfortable:

• Use a small travel pillow or rolled towel behind your neck so you are not tempted to turn your head sharply.
• Recline the seat slightly and keep your head above the level of your heart.
• Take a bottle of water and your painkillers for longer journeys.
• Avoid long car journeys in the first week where you can, and stop every hour or so to walk around, which helps lower the risk of blood clots.

Plan your lifts in advance

You will stay one night in hospital after a facelift, so you need someone to take you home. Your stitches come out after about a week, and that appointment falls before most people can drive. Arrange lifts for both before your surgery date, so you are not tempted to drive before you are ready. If no one is available, a taxi is a perfectly good option.

“I ask everyone to sort out their lifts before surgery, not after. It takes the pressure off, and it is one less thing to worry about while you heal.”

Mr Siva Kumar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Your facelift recovery timeline

Driving is only one part of the picture. As a general guide:

• The first night: one night in hospital. Your face feels tight and swollen rather than very painful.
• Days 2 to 3: swelling and bruising peak. Rest with your head raised on two or three pillows.
• About a week: stitches are removed and the bruising begins to fade.
• Two to three weeks: most people are driving and going out, sometimes with a little make-up to cover any remaining bruising.
• Two to four weeks: most people are back at desk work, depending on how visible any swelling is and how public-facing the job is.
• Four to six weeks: back to the gym and normal sleeping positions.
• Three to six months: the remaining swelling settles and the scars fade.

What not to do in the first few weeks after a facelift

• Do not drive until you pass the checklist above.
• Do not bend, lift or strain for the first two weeks, as this raises the blood pressure in your face and increases swelling and the risk of bleeding.
• Avoid hot baths, saunas and steam rooms for a few weeks.
• Do not smoke or vape.
• Avoid alcohol for the first week or so, especially while taking painkillers.
• Do not colour your hair until the scars have healed, usually around six weeks.
• Protect your scars from the sun for the first year.

Questions I’m often asked

Can I drive after a mini facelift?

Often a little sooner than after a full facelift, typically from around ten days to two weeks, provided you pass the checklist. It depends on the extent of the lift and how much swelling you have.

When can I fly after a facelift?

Short flights may be possible after about a week, once the stitches are out. For long-haul flights I usually advise waiting longer because of the risk of blood clots and the swelling that flying can cause. Please check with me before booking.

When can I go back to work after a facelift?

Most people return to desk work between two and four weeks. If you work from home, you may be able to do some work sooner. If your job is physical, plan for longer.

Can I wear my glasses after a facelift?

Yes, usually straight away, although the arms can rest on tender areas behind the ears at first. A lighter pair can help for the first week or two.

When can I drive after upper eyelid surgery?

Usually after about a week, once the swelling has settled and your vision is clear. You can read more in my guide to upper eyelid surgery.

Planning your facelift

If you are planning a facelift, I will go through a realistic timeline with you at your consultation, based on your work, your family and how you get around. There is more about the operation on my facelift page, and guide prices on the facelift cost page. You can book a consultation at one of my clinics in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.