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Excessive Swelling And Pulling Down Around Earlobes After Facelift
asked 1 year ago by Fort Lauderdale9483 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 1,486 times
Tags: age 45-54, earlobe, male
I am a 46 year old male had a facelift on Dec. 22nd 2010. After three weeks time, most of the swelling had gone down except for some numbness around the check area to be expected. However, I have excessive swelling and pulling forward and downward of my earlobes which looks like my earlobes are attached to my cheek. Is this normal for this time period and for this area? When i move my jaw side to said the earlobe goes with it. Will it retract? and is this excessive swelling normal?
33 answers to Excessive Swelling And Pulling Down Around Earlobes After Facelift
+2
Excessive Swelling And Pulling Down Around Earlobes After Facelift
Swelling soon after Facelift surgery is common and should resolve over time. Your ear lobes however should not be pulled down and this may require some minor surgical revision. Revisit your surgeon to discuss your concerns.
Mark Preston, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+2
What if earlobes are PULLED FUNNY after a facelift.
It is still early....but ...PULLED EARLOBES MAY BE A CONCERNING PROBLEM. Go see your surgeon and talk to him or her. This may be temporary but may not and you will need a revision at 6 months. occasionally this can and does happen although it idelly should not. The good news is that it is easy to correct when it occurs. Hopefully as you heal this will resolve, I hope. See your surgeon. Part of a surgeons job is to be supportive and solve complic
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+1
Excessive swelling and earlobe displacement
It is very difficult to answer your question without seeing your pictures or examining you - truly excessive swelling after a lift is something you should see your surgeon for.
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Pulled earlobes after Face Lift.
The earlobes can be pulled forward or downward, after a face lift, depending on the amount and manner in which the skin is trimmed around the earlobe. This will not, IMHO retract and may even continue to move in the direction this pulls occurs. It's best for you to ask your face lift surgeon for advice on the matter. There is a localized touch up procedure that can correct this issue.
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Ear lobe pulled down after Facelift (Pixie Ear) will require revision most likely
Unfortunately ear pull down or Pixie Ear is best avoided during skin closure after a Facelift.
Ear position is definitely distorted after every Facelift but by 6 weeks to 2 months final ear shape and ear lobe position should have returned. If the ear lobe is too low at 2 months revision will likely be required
Pixie ear can be corrected by opening the Facelift incision and elevating the ear lobule with a suture suspended from the cartilage in the external ear canal, however the...
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+1
Earlobes can be the big tip-off of a facelift. But there is hope!
How the ear lobes are handled in a facelift are one of the most often overlooked or mis-managed nuances of this type of surgery. It is a seemingly minor maneuver during the surgery. But it can tell the whole story: "I had a facelift!" On the up side, we do ear lobe revisions all the time to correct this defect. So you don't have to live this way or have an entire facelift revision to reverse the "attached" ear lobe look.
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Ritu Chopra, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1
Facelift Results
It is not unusual for facelift patients to have swelling for several months following a procedure. However, it is unusual for the earlobes to be pulled down following a facelift. You should discuss these results with your surgeon,
Michael Sullivan, MD
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Swelling after Facelift
Three weeks after a Facelift, some degree of swelling is expected and is totally normal. However, if too much tension was placed on the skin at the point of earlobe inset, an undesirable phenomenon known as a "pixie" ear can occur. It is best to discuss your concerns with your Surgeon. Unfortunately, if a "pixie" ear deformity has occurred, it cannot be corrected without further surgery.
+1
Pulled earlobes after facelift
Since it has only been three weeks since your surgery, some of the effect may be related to post-op swelling. Time will tell.
If there is too much tension on the earlobes when they are inset during the tailoring phase of your facelift, a pulling effect can result long-term. This is known in the trade as a "pixie ear". This may require a surgical revision. Speak with your surgeon about your concern.
All the best,
+1
Skin Retracrion From a Facelift
This comes from not anticipating the amount of skin retractrion. That is why the earlobes appear more prominent after my facelifts. It is a dead giveaway that the procedure perhaps was done by a mildly experinced surgeon. For example, Paul Simon's earlobes have the similiar problem - unacceptable.
Mitchell F. Grasseschi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pixie ear deformity
It sounds like what you are describing is a pixie ear deformity which is a known complication of facelift surgery. There are techniques to prevent this from occurring such as careful incision placement to preserve the infralobular crease where your ear meets the skin of the neck, not placing the pulled skin under excess tension, and careful closure of the skin under the ear. What you are decribing may improve as the swelling decreased and the pulling may diminish somewhat,...
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Mark Ginsburg, DO
Media Facial Plastic Surgeon
Media Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pixie ears after facelift
In general I would agree with a surgeon below who stated he did not think it would get better. If the earlobe has just been attached to the skin in a "pixie" fashion during closure of the facelift, it often just gets longer and lower with time.
In patients who present initially with an "attached earlobe" before surgery, my partners and I generally let them know it will not be that way after surgery. Hopefully your surgeon has a great technique...
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Byron D. Poindexter, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon
Reston Plastic Surgeon
+1
I don't like pulled earlobes
Pulled earlobes are an unfortunate complication of facelift surgery and often have nothing to do with the surgeon, but rather are due to the consequences of the healing process. I would discuss your concerns with your surgeon, massage the earlobes upward, and consider a minor surgical revision if the earlobes don't normalize over the next several months.
Andrew C. Campbell, M.D.
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pixie Ear Deformity Following Facelift
What you are describing appears to be a "Pixie Ear" deformity which is regularly seen after excess tension is placed on the earlobe during closure of facelift incisions. During closure of a facelift, much attention is placed on the final conformation of the earlobe in order to prevent this abnormality. Care should be taken to prevent excess skin tension from the facelift flap on the lobe. You are currently early on in your recovery, and it is possible this may...
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Pulling earlobes
This may improve with time.If there is excessive tension on the earlobes as the surgeon tailors the skin and closes it,there may be pulling down.You can massage to see if the improves and if not your Doctor may have to reset your lobes.
Robert Brueck, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobe issues after a facelift
Plastic surgeons are trained to be very aware of NOT making your ears look "pixie" after a facelift by how much of an opening in the skin you cut to re-inset the ear. Hopefully this will settle down but maybe you could send a photo.
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Earlobe Position after Facelift
When earlobes are pulled down and forward after a facelift it usually indicates too much tension was placed on the facial skin during the surgery. This can be revised, but only after skin laxity has returned. Persistent numbness 2 months after surgery is normal - this will improve.
+1
Earlobe Elongation after Facelift
The condition of your earlobes is known as "Pixie ears". Unfortunately, I would expect this not to improve over time. Rather, this may become worse as the skin along the jawline settles.
Pixie ears are difficult to correct early after facelift surgery as they result from lack of facial skin in this area and usually rquire a secondary lift.
+1
Pixie Ears after Facelift
I would wait a little more time and see how it looks after more swelling has resolved but you may have "pixie ears" that will need to be revised later by your plastic surgeon.
Robert N. Young, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobes pulled down after facelift
Distortion of the earlobes is one of the telltales that you have had a facelift and therefore is not desireable. It is unlikely that this will resolve with time. Heal from the first surgery and then allow you surgeon to revise this area to restore your earlobes to their correct position.
Douglas Stevens, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pixie ear or Satyr ear deformity = attached ear lobule to cheek following face lift
The Satyr or Pixie ear occurs when the ear is attached to the taut cheek skin at the conclusion of the face lift. As the overcorrected cheek relaxes and then retracts, it pulls the ear lobe and creates a tethered look. If it does not subside, it may require a V-y advancement to release and advance the ear to a more natural position.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobe deformity and excessive swelling after facelift
This is likely the result of having too much tension at the junction of the cheek and the earlobe. You may also notice that the lower part of the ear is angled forward. These are both telltale sign that a person has had a facelift. It is not likely that this will improve with just time. You will need to contact your surgeon about probable revision.
Kenneth L. Stein, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobe deformity
This should be addressed and fixed as soon as possible. This will not correct itself with time. It should be a simple procedure for your surgeon to perform.
Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pulled/Attached earlobes after facelift
While some of the changes seen in your earlobes can represent swelling and may soften with increased time, it is more likely that you have some attachment of the earlobe to your face. While the best way to address this problem is to avoid it during the original procedure, it may also be corrected with a revision afterwards. I would suggest waiting six months before doing so, but to discuss this with your original surgeon. Even if precautions are taken during the original surgery, it does not...
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Gregory J. Vipond, MD
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Pulled earlobes might require revision surgery - time will tell
As my colleagues mentioned, your concern might represent pixie ear deformity. Time and massage might help reposition the ear lobe. If this is inadequate a small revision might be required to fix this issue. This can usually be performed in the office under local anesthesia if you are amenable to this.
Best,
Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D.
Portland Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Ear pulling with cheek after facelift
What you describe may be the early manifestation of what we call a pexie ear deformity. This condition occurs when the ear lobule blends into the cheek and is likely caused by excessive tension at the incision line. But don't worry, if it is mild, it may get better with time and massage therapy. And if it does not get better, there are options to correct this with smaller interventions. Please followup with your face lift surgeon.
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Earlobes should not be pulling down with your cheek with a facelift
Earlobes should not be pulling down with your cheek with a facelift. This is a common error with facelifts. You need to avoid taking out too much skin after pulling up the muscle layer in a facelift. This condition will lead to a pixie ear deformity where the earlobes are stretched down. It is commong knowledge among the facial plastic surgery community to avoid tension on the skin when closing a facelift incision. Scarring and pulling of the ear are...
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Earlobe swelling post facelift
3 weeks is way to early to assess the surgical result. The swelling will continue to improve and the earlobes should assume a more natural position. Stretching and displacement of the earlobe cab kead to a pixie ear deformity. This may require revision. If necessary, this can often be performed in the office under local anesthetic at 4-6 months postop.
Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobe Swelling and Pulling Should Go Away with Time to Heal
Some earlobe swelling and pulling should go away 3 weeks after your procedures. Depending on how healed the skin is, some time and possible massage may help with the earlobe being pulled by your cheek skin. if you develop too much thickened scar tissue around the earlobe incision, you may need a cortisone injection to correct this as well.
I would recommend that you see your plastic surgeon frequently and as directed to ensure that you're on track in...
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Roy Kim, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1
Earlobe pulling after facelift may need revision.
Swelling should be mostly settled by now, but excessive pulling of the facial skin on the earlobes will not improve over time. This requires surgical revision in many cases, and can only be avoided by proper surgical technique at the time of the facelift surgery. In essence, the "trick" is to secure the cheek dermis to the fascia of the post-auricular mastoid area (just behind the earlobe), which relieves all tension of the cheek skin on the earlobe. Otherwise, the facelift that...
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Is earlobe pulling and swelling normal after facelift surgery?
It's certainly expected to still have some earlobe swelling just 3 weeks after surgery. It's hard to assess the ear lobe pulling you describe without seeing it. Some of the perceived pulling may be from the swelling, but it is possible that it won't improve with time.
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Swelling and pulling after a facelift
At three weeks the face is still quite swollen after a facelift. Give it some time to relax. As for the ear issue, this may or may not improve with time.
+1
Swelling and pulling after a facelift.
I am assuming that the photographs attached to you question are of you. You appear to a a brilliant lift with a superb result. If those are your photographs, give your surgery and your surgeon time to let you heal. You look wonderful and in month you will look better.
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