Unfortunately, one of the most common results of an amateurish facelift procedure is distortion of the ear. Because facelift incisions are made around and in the ear, care is required to avoid distortion of any portion of the ear or the sideburn or hairline around the ear.
The term “pixie ear” refers to a possible complication following facelift surgery. When it occurs, the earlobe essentially looks stretched. It can also cause detached earlobes to look attached. For those who know what to look for, it can be a dead giveaway of a facelift.
An additional factor to consider in regard to earlobes is the changes that can occur after facelift surgery. It is so common to see changes to the earlobe that can be improved after facelift because some techniques will really drag the earlobe downward.
Earlobes Swollen After Facelift
The detached earlobe is section of tissue at the bottom of the ear, so, as ear lymphatic drainage flows downward, it will gather in the earlobe making them swollen.
Raisin Ear
Wrinkly earlobes? During a face lift, surgeons sometimes detach the earlobe from the face, pull the skin tight, and then reattach the earlobe. If done hastily, says Dr. Youn, this can create raisin-like wrinkles in the lobe.
In facelift procedures, the earlobe is dissected and separated from its base. It is then sutured at the end of the procedure so that its postoperative shape is natural and well rounded, without downward stretching due to pulling of the submandibular and cervical tissues.
Many people regret having had cosmetic surgery, either because the outcome does not match the hoped-for image or because of complications. Research by Medical Accident Group found that 65% of people they polled regretted their surgery, though 28% were very happy with its results.
Although you will experience additional signs of aging, this may not occur for several years, and, even then, your skin quality will always be firmer and smoother than it would have been without the surgery.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks. Keep in mind that facelift surgery cannot stop natural aging, so we encourage patients to continue to take care of their skin and make healthy lifestyle choices.
Once the swelling wanes, that tightness feeling should dissipate in time. Your skin will also start to slightly stretch as it adapts to the new shape. You can expect the face to feel tight for a few months following the facelift surgery. The tightness can last for about 2 – 3 months.
A collection of blood (hematoma) under the skin is the most common complication of a face-lift. A hematoma causes swelling and pressure. It usually forms within 24 hours of surgery. When a hematoma forms, prompt treatment with surgery helps prevent damage to the skin and other tissues.
If you are worried that the procedure you want is too risky for someone your age, worry not. Most sources say that the safety of plastic surgery for people over the age of 60 mostly depends on situational factors, not age.
How much younger does a facelift make me look? According to a study in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (the American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Patients who have undergone a facelift rate themselves as looking at an average of 12 years younger after facelift surgery.
You must wear the chin strap continuously for the first two weeks after surgery except while eating and showering/cleaning incisions. The strap helps fight the forces of gravity immediately after surgery and helps improve any swelling.
In general, you should expect to look ten years younger and see dramatic, but natural-looking, anti-aging of the face and neck. Facelifts don't stop the aging process, but results are permanent. That means ten years down the line; you can still look a decade younger.
Drooping skin, creases, and wrinkles are the most common complaints. The benefits of a facelift last an average of 8 to 10 years. After that, some men and women begin to see signs of aging. Drooping skin, creases, and wrinkles are the most common complaints.
In some cases a facelift can be done early in life but, in most cases, a facelift works best for people who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, when the signs of aging begin to appear more prominently on your face. Those deep lines, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin you see are indicators of the aging process.
Most people interested in drastic cosmetic results undergo facelift surgery during their 40s, 50s, or 60s. Having a facelift during the 40s may yield more subtle results, as the signs of aging may not be as drastic as they would be in your 60s.
Expect to Look Worse Before Looking Better
Don't be alarmed by significant facial swelling and bruising. These effects are typical after a facelift, but gradually diminish as you heal.
“The study shows that patients are extremely happy with their decisions to have a facelift and with the results,” Dr. Thorne tells Cosmetic Surgery Times.
Earlobe deformities such as pseudoptosis, also known as pixie ear deformity (Figure 1), and ptosis grades III to IV are still common after facelift surgery.
Patients do complain of a feeling of fullness in the ears or pain in the ears for the first few days after surgery. This is caused by swelling, and improves fairly quickly. Most of my patients take prescription pain medication for the first couple of days before transitioning to Motrin or Tylenol.
Can you see facelifts scars? Ideally, you do not see facelift scars. They are hidden in the ear, in the hair, around the ear, even under the chin. The idea is to allow patients to be able to wear their hair any way they want without thinking about scars.