When you’re considering a facelift, safety and comfort are just as important as the final results. One of the most common questions patients ask is what type of anesthesia is used during the procedure and how it will affect their overall experience. At Mark Fisher Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Westport, Connecticut, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Fisher brings elite fellowship training in craniofacial surgery to ensure each patient not only achieves their ideal results, but also feels fully supported throughout the process. Here’s what you need to know about anesthesia and your facelift.

How Anesthesia Supports Safe, Precise Results

Facelifts are intricate procedures designed to restore youthful contours by tightening underlying tissues and lifting sagging skin. Because they involve delicate work around the face and neck, anesthesia plays a vital role in keeping the procedure safe, controlled, and comfortable:

  • Maintains comfort and relaxation throughout the surgery
  • Provides controlled conditions for delicate facial work
  • Ensures patient safety during complex adjustments
  • Allows Dr. Fisher to focus on precision for natural results

What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

Before your facelift begins, you’ll meet with Dr. Fisher and the anesthesia team to review your plan in detail. Once anesthesia is administered, you will be comfortably asleep for the duration of the procedure. Surgery typically takes between two and four hours, depending on the complexity of your treatment plan. Afterward, you’ll spend a few hours in recovery where our team monitors you closely before you return home the same day:

  • Meet with Dr. Fisher and the anesthesia team to review your plan
  • Anesthesia is administered, and you are comfortably asleep
  • Surgery lasts two to four hours, depending on your treatment plan
  • After the procedure, you’ll recover under close monitoring
  • Return home the same day once you’re cleared

Before and after of a facelift

Safety First: Dr. Fisher’s Approach

As an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a surgeon trained at Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and Northwell Health, Dr. Fisher follows the highest standards in anesthesia and surgical care. His advanced fellowship training in craniofacial and reconstructive procedures gives him a unique level of expertise. Patient safety is always the top priority, while results are refined and natural in appearance.

Recovery and Comfort After Anesthesia

Most patients feel drowsy immediately after surgery, but this typically fades within the first day. Dr. Fisher provides detailed aftercare instructions, including guidance on pain management, activity restrictions, and methods to minimize swelling and bruising. By following his recovery plan, patients usually resume normal routines in about two weeks, with strenuous exercise delayed for four to six weeks:

  • Expect mild drowsiness immediately after surgery, usually resolving within a day
  • Follow Dr. Fisher’s detailed aftercare instructions for optimal healing
  • Resume normal routines in about two weeks
  • Wait four to six weeks before returning to strenuous exercise

Ready to Begin Your Facelift Journey?

Understanding anesthesia is an important part of preparing for facelift surgery, and Dr. Mark Fisher ensures his patients feel fully informed and confident before moving forward. With board certification, extensive fellowship training, and a reputation for creating refined, natural results, Dr. Fisher is a leading choice for facelift surgery in Westport, Connecticut. If you’re ready to restore your youthful appearance with safety and comfort as top priorities, contact Mark Fisher Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery today to schedule your personalized consultation.


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