Steven A. Hanna, MD

As this chapter has come to a close, I’m grateful to The Aesthetic Society for this recognition of my time serving as Vice-Chair of the Young Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Committee.

It was a privilege to work alongside colleagues committed to mentorship, education, and the future of aesthetic surgery. I’m thankful for the conversations, friendships, and opportunities to contribute along the way.

Looking forward to staying involved in the work ahead.

Rhinoplasty recovery takes time, but that does not mean you have to wait for the final result to start enjoying the change.

This patient is just over one month after rhinoplasty. At this stage, there is still swelling present, and the nose will continue to settle and become more refined over the months ahead. But even early in the healing process, meaningful changes in profile, proportion, and balance are already apparent.

The longer recovery after rhinoplasty is about allowing time for swelling to resolve and the final details to emerge. The result you appreciate early is not necessarily the result you will see months later.

Patience is part of rhinoplasty recovery. Fortunately, so is progress.

Facelift: What to Expect

A facelift is not about tightening skin. The goal is to reposition and support the deeper tissues of the face and neck, restoring facial shape while maintaining a natural appearance. Here is a general timeline I discuss with my patients:

Preparation: I typically have patients begin preparing 2–4 weeks before surgery. This includes reviewing medications and completing any necessary preoperative workup, arranging time away from work and responsibilities, and planning for help during the early recovery period.

Surgery: A facelift and neck lift typically takes approximately 5–6 hours, depending on the anatomy of the patient and the procedures being performed.

Recovery: Most patients should plan for approximately 2–3 weeks of social downtime. Bruising and more obvious swelling improve considerably during this period, although some swelling, tightness, and changes in sensation can persist as healing continues. One of the most important things to understand is that recovery and final results are not the same timeline. The face continues to settle and soften over the following weeks and months.

If you are planning surgery around a wedding, major event, or important photographs, I generally recommend leaving more time than the minimum recovery period.

Facelift surgery can also be combined with complementary procedures when appropriate. Laser resurfacing can address skin texture and surface changes, while fat grafting can restore volume in areas where it has been lost.

Every facelift is different because every face is different. The operation and recovery plan should be tailored to the individual patient, their anatomy, and their goals.

Save this as a quick reference if you are considering facelift surgery.

It was a pleasure discussing professionalism online with the University of Toronto plastic surgery residents today, and what that means for us as surgeons.

The value of being online is not in chasing trends or trying to manufacture attention. It is in sharing useful information, contributing thoughtfully to the conversation in our field.

The same standards we expect of ourselves in the clinic and operating room should extend to how we present ourselves online.

I’m honoured that our article, Positioning the Nasal Tip in Rhinoplasty, received the 2026 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) Best Paper Award for Best CME Paper.

The position of the nasal tip is one of the most important and technically demanding, aspects of rhinoplasty. Small changes in projection, rotation, and support can have a profound impact on both facial harmony and nasal function.

Our paper reviews the anatomy and surgical techniques that guide nasal tip positioning, helping surgeons thoughtfully address projection, rotation, and symmetry while developing an individualized surgical plan.

Research and education are an important part of my career. They challenge us to continually refine our techniques and clinical judgment, with the ultimate goal of providing better care for our patients.

As always, I am grateful to my truly fantastic co-authors for their collaboration on this work, and to the editorial team at Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for this recognition.

Dr.richard.reish
David Mattos, MD @
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/fulltext/10.1097/prs.0000000000012163~positioning-the-nasal-tip-in-rhinoplasty

I’m grateful to be included in Post City’s newly released 2026 peer-selected list of Toronto’s top plastic and cosmetic surgeons.

Recognition from colleagues is especially meaningful. Thank you to those who put my name forward, to the exceptional team I have the privilege of working alongside, and to the patients who place their trust in my care.

This photo series follows the same patient from before rhinoplasty through the first seven months of swelling and healing.

The one-week photograph was taken at her routine postoperative visit immediately after her splint and sutures were removed. At this stage, swelling is often at or near its peak, particularly in the nasal tip. While patients are understandably excited to see their nose for the first time, it’s important to remember that the day the splint comes off is only one milestone in the healing process.

By around two weeks, most patients feel comfortable returning to work and social activities. With a small amount of makeup, any remaining bruising can often be camouflaged, and many friends, family, and coworkers won’t realize they’ve had surgery. However, subtle swelling continues to improve over the following months, allowing the nose to become progressively more refined.

Every patient heals at their own pace, and patience is an important part of the process.

When I perform rhinoplasty, I’m not optimizing for the one-week result. I’m optimizing for the result at one year and beyond.

We’ll share her one-year result in a future post.