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Full Facelift Recovery Results. Healing Well, But Concerned About Results?

I am 53 and am healing from my facelift which was done 10 days ago. I am healing well but am concerned with the results. One side of my mouth seems to have a line swooping from it..I always called that the joker line. My swelling isn't bad now on my face but is still on the cheeks. Will this line go away or in your opinion was I pulled too tight? Also my upper lip seems to be a little swollen (not much) which is making my fine line wrinkles show more. Is all of this just normal recovery? TY

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age 45-54 lines swelling 10 days post-op

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Winnipeg3792

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (0)

Face Lift Results

Thank you for your question about your face lift. Days 7 - 14 after a face lift are the worst! Everyone worries! Yes - cheeks stay swollen longer, Mouth lines may be exaggerated by swelling, A face lift shouldn't permanently change the mouth wrinkles. See your plastic surgeon often to be checked and reassured, Most likely, in a few more weeks, you'll see your face lift result emerging. Hope this helps!

Facelift Healing

Thank you for the question. Without pictures it is difficult to say exactly what happened, but only 10 days after a facelift is quite early. Many of the differences in swelling between sides, or slight irregularities, will smooth out over time. Make sure to stay in touch with your surgeon and discuss your concerns. Sometimes gentle massage or other techniques will be used to help. Best of luck!

Lines After Facelift #facelift

Your concerns are in line with what I hear a lot. First, you are 10 days post surgery which is so early in this process. You can expect months of healing to come. You will have lymphatic build up in the skin from lifting it and that can take up to 3 months to completely resolve. I have had a couple of patients have lymphatic swelling that once I sent them to a lymphatic massage specialist it seemed to resolve with just a few treatments. Some of the little lines and creases you speak of will... more

Facelift swelling and lines

Only 10 days out from surgery is a time when there is still significant swelling. At about 1 month 80% of swelling is gone and the rest goes away over 6 months. Try to relax and see your doctor for his or her recommendations.

Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

Yes, we al worry about how we look 10 days after surgery. Give your lift a few months to heal and then review your original photos. Much of your concerns are normal. Discuss this with your surgeon. Thomas Narsete, M.D. Austin, Tx

Recovery 10 days after Facelift

You are describing some normal aspects of the facelift healing process. You will appreciate significant changes over the next 5 weeks. Now is not the time to look at fine minutiae of your face but rather at the overall impressions of early benefit. After a facelift, it is difficult to maintain the patience and confidence that most imperfections will improve with time.

Face lift issues

At ten days you are still in the very early healing phase. It is best to be evaluated in person once things settle down in a few months.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Facelift recovery

Without pictures and without knowledge of your situation, it is very difficult to give meaningful advice. However, 10 days after a procedure is too early to judge your results. I would recommend a conversation with your Surgeon and a tincture of time.

Full Facelift Recovery Results. Healing Well, But Concerned About Results?

You are still in the very early recovery phase. I would wait and review your preop photos with your surgeon. The items that concern you seem to be something that will probably fade with time.

Facelift 10 days ago

Your surgeon is the best one to answer this question. You may want to discuss your before pictures, and the results as you are healing. At 10 days, you still have swelling, and the results are not at the final stage.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD

4 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Joker Line at 10 Days after Facelift

The joker line at 10 days following facelift may very well go away in a few weeks, particularly if you have cheek and lip swelling. Your plastic surgeon is in a better position to answer whether this is normal or not. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Beware the 'Joker' line!

The 'Joker' or 'Black Orchid' line describes an unnatural sweeping crease from the angle of the mouth to the root of the ear that may arise following facelift often in the patient with thinner looser skin. It is a pitfall for the inexperienced surgeon who might have obtained good results with a sharp upward pull of the cheek skin in a younger patient or one with a different skin type. The look is avoided by modifying the vector of pull to suit the patient. Having... more

Tension lines after facelift will sometimes soften

Without a photo to refer to - its tough to give you opinion about what is going one - but it sounds like you have a mild traction line where the skin is under some tension laterally - creating a crease in the cheek. I think this crease will fade with time and massage. Talk with your PS about your concerns.

Lines after facelift

Traction or tension lines after a facelift seem to occur in those with very thin skin and can stand out for several weeks after facelift. Some however are operator dependent and most of us would wish to avoid the experience altogether. Stay in contact with your surgeon for advice.

Healing from face lift

As with any surgery, you have to wait until healing process is complete. Approx. 6-9 months. There are times when small revisions are possible sooner than that.