The skin of the face may feel tight for a while due to the swelling. You may feel that it interferes with your smile; this will disappear within a few weeks. The swelling may became more pronounced along the jaw line and is generally worse when you first arise in the morning.
Though most patients can usually smile as usual after one or two weeks, it takes others as many as six weeks. The full facelift impact will take a bit longer, from six months to a year. However, your natural smile should return in short order. Lip and mouth asymmetries after a facelift should resolve with time.
Motor nerve damage affects the movement of the face. Damage to the nerve that moves the lower lip is most common and can lead to a crooked smile, though this only occurs in less than 1% of patients. Full facial movement usually returns within a few weeks.
Despite being temporary in most cases, facial asymmetry typically lasts for 3 months. We present a treatment protocol for post-facelift facial nerve injuries using botulinum toxin type A (BTXA).
How long does it take for nerves to heal after a facelift? Facial nerve sensation will largely be restored within one to two weeks post-op; the neck area may take up to six weeks. Most patients will recover full feeling throughout their face within a few months, but it can take up to 12 months for some.
Tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or burning are the most common signs and symptoms of nerve damage after surgery. Numbness is the most annoying and troubling problem caused after surgery. It is basically losing sensation in a particular area of the body that affects a person's lifestyle.
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.
Though “recovery” – i.e., the amount of time it will take for you to get back to a relatively normal routine after your facelift – is about two weeks, the time it takes for all of the residual swelling, bruising and changes in skin sensation to resolve themselves is a full year.
Move your mouth from side to side, up and down, smiling, and in a “kissing pout.” These movements will help your facial muscles regain strength, and because they are natural movements, they can help to promote reactions to the brain.
Will I be able to smile after a facelift? Yes. Your face will feel somewhat tight for the first week or two after the surgery, and you may have some difficulty smiling. This will go away, and patients will be able to expose their smile and enjoy their rejuvenated appearance.
Facelift surgery will not affect your smile when performed appropriately. You can help to ensure the most pleasing and reliable results by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure.
“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.
Why? When the facelift is performed, the skin is tightened and it can flatten out the jowls because the skin is tighter. However, over time as the skin relaxes, the full fatty jowls will restretch out the skin and the jowls will reappear.
Beginning on day 2 or 3, light walking is recommended to help promote blood flow which speeds healing. Short, easy walks is the only form of exercise that should be undertaken. Many patients start to feel less discomfort over the first few weeks as bruising and swelling subsides.
When performed correctly by the hands of a skilled surgeon, facelift results can be some of the most natural looking of any cosmetic procedure and can leave you with a rejuvenated and more youthful facial appearance. Your skin produces less collagen each year as you age.
Walking is hands down the best form of exercise to do post any kind of surgery including a facelift. Walking in the initial phases of recovery will promote blood circulation, prevent blood clots and promote healing.
In fact, Dr. Swanson's research reported that 97% of facelift patients were happy with their results, and 90% of patients reported that they received positive feedback from others. Forty percent of patients researched said their results were even better than they expected.
In most cases, a bad facelift can be corrected with a procedure known as a revision facelift. It is a more complicated procedure than a regular facelift since the surgeon faces more challenges due to the surgically altered structure of the face and the presence of scars.
A facelift often will enhance the appearance of your cheek, jaw line and neck region but is considered major surgery. You should think carefully about your specific expectations and communicate your goals to your plastic surgeon.
How do I know the nerve is recovering? As your nerve recovers, the area the nerve supplies may feel quite unpleasant and tingly. This may be accompanied by an electric shock sensation at the level of the growing nerve fibres; the location of this sensation should move as the nerve heals and grows.