Alpharetta Doctors

I Had Upper Eyelid Surgery 4 Days Ago and There Has Been Swelling by my Cheekbones...is This Normal?

How long will it take to go away? It's making my face look like my cheekbones are sunken in.

Swelling over the cheekbones and even down into the midface and cheek is fairly common after upper eyelid surgery.  This usually resolves within one to two weeks.  If there is concern over excessive or progressing swelling you should see your operating surgeon to further evaluate.

Mark Beaty, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

If a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Uses Glue on the Tissue As Well As Sutures is There Any Hope for Normal Facial Sensation?

I feel like I'm wearing a clay mask and it's been a year since my face/neck lift.

Tissue glues may be used to reinforce and seal suture closures of incisions in a facelift.  Fibrin sealants may be used to improve adherance of the skin to underlying tissue after closure, reducing swelling and the incidence of seroma formation.  In either case the sensory nerves of the face should not be affected.  It is normal to have decreased sensation of the face after a facelift but this should resolve in two to three months.  I recommend discussing with your surgeon to identify a cause and treatment.

Mark Beaty, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

4 Weeks Post-op Facelift--left Side Doing Well--right Side Has Huge Lump Behind Right Ear. Will It Heal?

behind ear lobe. Also neck is quite wrinkled and hard& still shows where the drainage tube was. Massaging has been done twice daily. Wrinkle in front of rt. earlobe which dr. may have to fix. My neck does not look good and have been wearing turtlenecks in hopes it will improve.Looks like a facelift for sure on rt. side. Will these go away and how long must I wear turtlenecks? Thank you!

The complete healing process following most facelifts progresses over several months.  While most of  the obvious bruising and swelling should dissipate after two to three weeks, it is not unusual to have areas which are firm and somewhat bumpy for a longer period.  Massage does help these areas to improve faster, sometimes it is helpful to use localized steroid injections.  Close follow up with your surgeon should help obtain the fastest resolution.

Mark Beaty, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon