Asymmetric Swelling – Often one side of your face will be slightly more swollen or numb than the other after facelift surgery. This usually disappears along with all the other swelling and bruising. If you favor sleeping on one side more than the other, this can lead to the uneven swelling.
The facial swelling may be uneven, or more pronounced on one side of your face. This is normal too, and it doesn't mean the results of your facelift will be uneven. All of this is a natural part of facelift recovery.
General Facelift Recovery
You'll continue to see gradual improvement as any residual post-operative swelling subsides. In general, the results from your facelift will look very good after about 1-month and you'll look your best at 6 months. A facelift can produce long-lasting results for years to come.
Having an asymmetrical face is both normal and common. Often it is the result of genetics, aging, or lifestyle habits. While a person may notice their own facial asymmetry, other people will probably not be aware of them.
Lumps, bumps, or nodules, if present, are often temporary and fade with time. These issues are usually due to swelling. Small blood clots, stitches, or scar tissue are other possible causes, which also resolve gradually.
As you research and consult with plastic surgeons to perform your facelift, keep these 4 signs of a bad result on your radar. Visible scars, pixie ears, alteration of the natural hairline and an obvious pulled skin appearance are easy to spot.
On their own, these lumps might take a few months to resolve, but with steroid injections can be cut down to a few weeks. Lumps from normal anatomical structures like saliva glands will of course not go away.
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.
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. Weight loss prior to face lift surgery is very important for these people.
While a facelift is considered an invasive surgery, it provides some of the most age-rewinding results possible. Having a sleeker, tighter visage can shave a decade off your appearance. Yes, a facelift will change the look of your face but not the appearance of your unique features.
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.
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.
Likewise, with Plastic Surgery, there are common emotional ups and downs that patients go through in the time period after surgery, illustrated above. There can include: Panic – “What have I done?” Anxiety, regret or remorse – this is a totally normal response to having a procedure done with downtime.
Muscle usage – Using the muscles on one side of the body or face more than the other side causes asymmetry or unevenness also. The muscles become stronger on that side of the body that's getting more of a workout from repetitive use. This also can change how the muscles move and the size of that side of the face.
Initially, your facial skin may indeed appear tight simply due to postoperative swelling, however, this tightness will relax as swelling subsides. A skilled plastic surgeon should not pull the skin so tightly that a stretched appearance or tight feeling lasts long-term.
In many cases, the procedure led to the pulled tight, “windswept” look that is often maligned these days. The too-tight appearance can also occur is a surgeon uses too much tension when trimming excess skin and tightening the muscles and skin.
While jowls are harmless, some people may feel uncomfortable about how they look. Many medical options exist to treat them, including neck lifts, injectable fillers, and radiotherapy. Less invasive alternatives are becoming more popular, as well. These include acupuncture, facial massage, and facial yoga.
Why Do Some Facelifts Fail? Facelifts usually fail because of a surgeon's lack of expertise. 90% of facial plastic surgeons perform superficial facelifts, which tighten the skin and do not treat supportive musculature. Surgeons may also pull facial tissue too tight, which makes patients look startled and unnatural.
With an expertly performed facelift, it becomes exceedingly difficult to notice any signs of surgical rejuvenation. The facial contour appears natural and the incision lines are well-placed in the areas around the ear where they are not visible.”
A 2018 retrospective published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery looked at over 26,000 outpatient plastic surgeries between 1995 and 2017, and found that complications occurred in less than 1 percent of cases.
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.
Any swelling and/or bruising will peak three to four days following your surgery. It is recommended that you sleep on two pillows for the first two weeks following your surgery to help alleviate swelling. Do not underestimate the importance of keeping your head elevated.
One way to support recovery after a facelift is through facial massage. This will support lymphatic drainage which helps to reduce swelling, bruising and discomfort. Your facelift aftercare instructions will include information on how to perform facial massages, but here we will explain it in greater detail.
Most nerve damage will recover spontaneously (without treatment) within six months to a year. 2 In some cases, it can take two to three years for complete recovery. As nerve function returns, you may experience itching, shooting pains, or electrical shock sensations.