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.
Small lumps in the neck are common after a facelift and typically are felt when rubbing your fingers over them, but not visible or only barely so. There are a number of reasons for them with some requiring treatment, but most are treated only to accelerate their resolution.
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.
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.
Swedish massage focuses on light, upward touching of the skin that helps to return sensation to the affected area. Lymphatic massage uses gentle, upward strokes to increase blood flow, activate lymph nodes and trigger lymph drainage. Scar massage is focused on softening the healed incision scar to reduce its thickness.
Even after 30 days, it's normal to experience some residual effects of your surgical procedure, including minor swelling, tightness, hard spots, and so on. This could last up to about six months in some cases, so don't be alarmed if symptoms continue.
You may have some itching or shooting pain as the feeling returns. It may take several months for the numbness to go away. Most people recover in 4 to 6 weeks. But it probably will take 6 months or more to see the final result from the surgery.
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.
Noticeable Incisions
Visible scars are glaring signs of plastic surgery. Generally, facelift incisions run from the hairline at the temple and continue in front of and behind the ears and extend to the lower scalp.
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.
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.
In other words, while the newly enhanced skin, muscles, and tissues may feel tight or artificial, the patient's face won't look that way. For most patients, this sensation goes away after about 6 – 8 weeks, though it can take up to 3 – 4 months in some cases.
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.
It is common to experience sensation changes around facelift incision sites for up to 12 to 18 months. However, many patients begin to feel normal sensations three to six months after surgery.
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.
In addition, some patients may experience weakness of the facial muscles. Though in rare cases this weakness can last up to six months, in most cases normal feeling returns to the facial muscles within three to six weeks.
Despite every recovery process being unique to the individual patient, facelift results generally begin to look final around the four-week mark. Subtle changes and side effects, such as tightness and light bruising, may occur up to six months after your facelift as the healing process finishes.
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.
Facelift procedures can take 10-15 years off of your appearance. The procedure can produce life-changing results for the right candidate.
Stage 2 (Post-Op Days 7-14)
During the second week post-surgery, you will likely still have swelling and bruising around the affected areas. Some patients report strange sensations, such as tingling, numbness, or tightness. These sensations are commons occurrences following a facelift and are not cause for concern.
Symptoms of Skin Necrosis
The affected area may look pale at first but will quickly become red and warm to the touch. In more advanced stages, the skin becomes violet and will have fluid-filled blisters.
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.
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. It will give you a surge of energy as well.
Compression is just as important to facelift surgery as the surgery itself. Without it, you would face excessive bruising, scarring, and swelling. You would also have larger, more visible scars and a puffier face.