Facelift Q&A
85%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
316 Reviews
Faceliftbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Facelift Cost: $11,225

Learn about Facelift

1,210 people and 808 doctors are talking about Facelift

Get Free Email Updates

3 Years After Facelift Still Experiencing Strange Sensations and Aching, When will this Subside?

asked 4 months ago by Liphook
Latest answer by Julio Garcia, MD
Question viewed 113 times
Tags: 3 years post-op, ache, numb, sensation loss

I had a deep plane face and necklift 3 years ago (I also had my nose and upper eyelids done at the same time). I am still experiencing aching, and strange sensations in the sides of my face, temples and up to the top of my head (together with the feeling of a tight band running from under my jaw up to the top of my head...) the whole area has altered?reduced sensation and some areas are numb. Is 'complete' recovery normally such a long process? When can I expect the aching etc to subside?

7 answers to 3 Years After Facelift Still Experiencing Strange Sensations and Aching, When will this Subside?

+2

3 years after facelift; still experiencing aching and "strange" sensations.

After 3 years of healing, scar maturation, and nerve regeneration, you are unfortunately in a minority of patients who have not accomodated to their "new normal" after surgical recovery, which in fact IS as complete as it will ever be. There are still things that may be of value here, and this will require a return visit to your surgeon, or consultation with another who is willing to address your concerns. For your part, you must realize that scar tissue and sensory nerve injury... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+1

3 Years After Facelift Still Experiencing Strange Sensations and Aching, When will this Subside

At this point what you are feeling will likely be permanent. It could be caused b scarring developing in the tissues and irritating the nerves.
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

+1

3 years post-op

After three years it is unlikely that any nerve symptoms you still have will fully resolve on their own
Sam Naficy, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Aching 3 years after facelift

Thank you for your question. Chances are, the aching will not change as the recovery period is long enough. This is very uncommon but it DOES happen. I suggest you return to your plastic surgeon for an evaluation.
Jacob Freiman, MD

Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Unusual but not unheard of result after extensive or even minor facelifting

There are a very small group of patients who will have prolonged sensory changes after any form of surgery and this includes facelifts. This can often be helped even at this late date by a neurologist evaluation and perhaps the use of several meds that they commonly will prescibe. Typically you are more likely to get help from a neurolgist than other specialists. Dr, Mayl Fort Lauderdale
Nathan Mayl, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Aching and numbness after facelift

I am sorry to hear about the symptoms you are experiencing after your surgery. These symptoms are not very common, but they can happen after almost any type of surgery. Plastic surgery, whether cosmetic or reconstructive, involves necessarily cutting nerves and blood vessels. These tissues heal following a fairly predictable pattern, but with a degree of variability. Your symptoms persisting after three years falls outside the normal range. Unfortunately, these... more
Michael S. Hopkins, MD

Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon
+1

Commonly there is some altered sensations after a facelift.

Generally these sensory changes resolve in the first 6 to 12 months after surgery. Sensory abnormalities that persist after this time frame may be permanent. In addition to this type of common sensory change after surgery, occasionally there can be somatization associated with the sensory changes. Essentially one's emotional issues are experienced thorough these altered sensations. While this statement is an over simplification, these sensory changes can take on... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Ask a question