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Hard Swelling and Brusing on Lower Cheek After Face Lift Three Weeks Ago

asked 9 months ago by concerned for wife
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 451 times
Tags: 3 weeks post-op, harden, swelling

My wife had a face lift three weeks ago. After first week, returned to Dr's office, he noticed abnormal swelling on Lower cheek that was hard and bruised about 3cm x 4cm in size) it swelled out about an inch from the rest of her cheek. Was told to do nothing about it. Stated that the hematoma should go down and not to worry about it. My wife dosent want a picture taken, due to the size of the swelling. All I am asking if this is normal. Im just trying to get info and help her out...Thanks

13 answers to Hard Swelling and Brusing on Lower Cheek After Face Lift Three Weeks Ago

Possible hematoma

Each situation is unique and only your surgeon knows the specific details of your procedure and should be the person commenting on post-operative questions such as this

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face lift swelling in lower cheek that is hard 3 weeks after a facelifting procedure

Swelling at 3 weeks is not unusual. At this point you likely have around 40% of your healing. We usually tell people that they will have 60% of their healing / recovery complete by 6 weeks, 80-90% by 6 months. 100% can take as long as 2 years. This is based on wound healing studies and tensile breaking strength of a heal wound. This area is likely an old fluid / blood accumulation that has settle into this lump. A 3 weeks, it is possible that this fluid could be aspirated but likely it... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Swelling after a facelift, bruising with swelling, seroma, hematoma

Swelling that has occurred after a facelift will often be seen in the cheek or neck area. This is usually either a hematoma or a seroma( the liquid part of blood). I will usually recommend letting the fluid resolve over a period of time, and this may be as long as several months. If you desire a quicker resolution to this problem, ask your Plastic Surgeon if there are any other options, such as a needle aspiration of the fluid or limited suctioning. There may be some... more

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Hard swelling 3 weeks after facelift

I vote that this is probably a hematoma, just like your doctor said, and that it will almost certainly resolve with time (think 3-6 months). I think you try not to worry, reassure your wife and that continued observation and patience is the answer.

Lawrence Kass, MD
Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

Hard Swelling and Brusing on Lower Cheek After Face Lift Three Weeks Ago

A small amount of blood clot or hematoma is not an uncommon finding after a facelift. There is truly nothing to worry about at this point based on the size of what you are seeing besides giving it time and patience. All will be well once your wife is farther out from having a major procedure completed. I would not recommend reexploration AT ALL 3 weeks after surgery. She should do great. Cheers! Dr. Shep

Shepherd G. Pryor, MD
Scottsdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Swelling after facelift

Uniform swelling and some bruising after facelift can be expected. However, asymmetrical swelling or excessive bruising is unusual and must be investigated. While hematomas usually occur in the first hours to days, it is possible to have a delayed hematoma. Your surgeon can drain the fluid in the office. However, if they are unsure of the diagnosis, then they can arrange for an ultrasound guided drainage. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Brising and swelling after a facelift

A firm area of swelling along with bruising indicates a hematoma. If this is small it may liquefy and respond to aspirations, however this seems a little too large, and if left alone can leave permanent deformities. I would ask your surgeon about evacuating the hematoma. This can sometimes be done with a very fine liposuction cannula, without having to re-open the entire surgical incision. Good luck.

Johan E. Brahme, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Bruise cheek after facelif

One week after a facelift and you have a firm region in the cheek it probably represented a fluid collection. This is common and in my patients i usually place a fine needle into the region and try to remove any fluid. If not removed it will only get firmer as the fluid collection becomes more solid. It will eventually become soft as it starts to dissolve.

Stephen A. Chidyllo, MD
Red Bank Plastic Surgeon

Hard, raised swelling 1 week after Face Lift

If there was a raised, hard swelling at 1 week after a Face Lift, IMHO, it's one of three things. A deep hematoma....in this case, a needle aspiration would reveal bright red blood indicating an active bleed, dark red blood from a previous bleed that's now a dissolving blood clot, or nothing that means the blood clot is recently formed and not yet liquified. An accumulation of clear fluid with needle aspiration that indicates a salivary leak into the tissues. A... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bruise after facelift

You are describing what is likely not a bruise but a small hematoma which is a collection of clotted blood. When one of these forms each surgeon uses his/her own judgement on how significant they are and how aggressive to treat them. Large expanding ones need to be opened and drained. Smaller ones can be aspirated or allowed to organize and resolve on their own. This approach can take 6-8 weeks and have a firm area during this time. Talk to your surgeon about how/she anticipates this... more

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Large facelift hematomas should be promptly drained.

Hi. What you are describing is pretty large, and may leave a deformity. Three weeks is pretty late, but drainage may still be indicated. An ultrasound of the area may help choose best management.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How long will bruises last after facelift?

When a hematoma becomes large, it has the potential to organize and persist for some time. At about 3 weeks, it should be possible to begin some vigerous massage to help break this up. Over time it should go away completely.

Joseph Campanelli, MD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Normal enough.

Bruises or, in medical speak, hematomas do occur after lower facelifts. When they are large and it is immediately after surgery, I will often explore the face, remove the clot, and cauterized the blood vessel responsible for the bruise. This can often be done in the office procedure room under local anesthesia. When the hematomas are small, it may not be worth this effort. Yes, the do resolve on their own. The issues is that it delays healing and it can be many... more