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How Long Do Surgeons Generally Follow Up After a Face Lift?

asked 1 year ago by lrfred1 in Prescott AZ
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 336 times
Tags: follow-up, long-term

It has been four months since my SMAS facelift. My surgeon has moved to Florida (hated to see him go). I haven't had any serious issues since my surgery, healing is still taking place (still some very minor swelling along the jawline, minor tightness and numbness around sides of face). He had told me at the onset that he likes to follow up for several months to a year on facelifts. Is it necessary to have further check-ups?

23 answers to How Long Do Surgeons Generally Follow Up After a Face Lift?

Follow Up after Facelift

I fortunately continue to see some of my patients 20-25 years after their facelifts. Ask your surgeon what he recommends for you - perhaps he will refer you to another physician in your community.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Maintaining a relationship with your surgeon helps to maintain your result

In over 25 years of practice, I believe that maintaining a relationship with your surgeon helps to maintain your overall rejuvenation result with facelift surgery. In my practice, I see my patients after facelift surgery frequently for the first six months. Then they enter an anniversary period where I see them on the anniversary of their procedure or their birthday, every year, if possible. During their visit, photographs are taken to see how they are aging. I try to emphasize good... more

Edward Szachowicz, MD, PhD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long should I follow up after my facelift?

I personally see my patients weekly for the first month after a facelift. I prefer that they have the ability to return for examinations at 1 month 6 onths and a year.

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Facelift follow up is a personal choice

I personally follow my facelift patients for 6-12 months. This really depends on how far away they live. I have many patients that travel long distances to have their facelift with me, some even overseas. I ask these patients to stay for 2 weeks, but many can only stay for 7-8 days, then they go home. We do check in on them occasionally to make sure they are healing as expected and to answer any questions they may have. If you have any concerns, I'm sure your surgeon would love to... more

Andrew Campbell, MD
Milwaukee Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.campbellplastics.com

Follow up after lift

This varies surgeon to surgeon. At your stage (4 months) there is no absolute need to follow up as long as you are happy and have no issues

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Routine follow up after Facelift is day 1, 5, 10, 6 weeks, 3 months and one year

I routinely see my Facelift patients the day after surgery to check the viability and circulation of the skin and remove drains. Sutures on the visible skin are removed day 5-6, and those in the hair bearing areas at 10-14 days. I follow up at 6 weeks to asses the results and healing. I like to see the patient at 3 months and one year for final post op photographs and to evaluate the result. Each surgeon will have his/her own routine

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

Face lift follow-up depends on the face.

The short answer is: No problems, no more follow up. At four months there is no longer risk of infection, healing complications, etc. We sometimes will laser red scars at this point, but if there are no issues you can feel confident and enjoy your results until you need something else done. Maybe begin a relationship with a medi-spa for some non surgical maintenance. That way you will develop the contacts and referral system for your next intervention... more

Ritu Chopra, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Face Lift, Mini Face Lift, The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift, Beverly Hills Face Lift

The amount of follow up time after a Face Lift depends on the individual Face Lift surgeon, how invasive or involved the particular Face Lift was and how the patient is healing afterwards...which is the most important part. If you are healing well and have no issues after 4 months post-op, it's not unreasonable not to see you for follow up unless you had some questions or issues. I often have Face Lift patients from all over the world that are great and don't require... more

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

Follow-up after facelift

Most of the post-op changes have settled down in 3-4 months after a facelift. Scar maturation and resolution of numbness, however, take longer - about a year or so. In terms of follow-up, each surgeon will have their own routine. If you have any questions or concerns about your current situation at 4 months post-op, I would certainly seek out a local plastic surgeon for an opinion. Perhaps your old surgeon has made arrangements with a local MD for ongoing care of his... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Follow up after Facelift

Every facelift surgeon has his own routine for follow up. Most of us would agree that a follow up after 1 year +/- is helpful because this will truly show the final outcome. After this, normal aging will take over.

Frank P. Fechner, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drfechner.com

Follow up after a facelift

There isn't any hard and fast rule here. For my patients, I have photos taken at six months after a facelift - I'd prefer one year but it is just hard to get people to come in that far out. So I usually take photos at six months and that is my final visit unless there are on going issues. Many patients come in after that for their fillers or botox or dysport. Your surgeon may have a recommendation if you want to see someone in your area. more

Douglas Stevens, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Follow up after facelift

While it is not absolutely necessary, I like to follow my patients as long as they will continue to come see me. I think some patients really like this, but it is not a requirement for a facelift patient to come see me four months after surgery.

Ryan Greene, MD, PhD
Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift follow-up

I like to see patients as long as they want to come back. But I do like to see them at a year if possible, funny, most patients do not bother coming back at that point.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Long-term followup for a facelift.

Sounds like you are doing well. I'd start with a call to your plastic surgeons office in florida and get his recommendations for a colleague in your local area who he/she may recommend. There really is nothing set in stone in terms of long-term followup plans.

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Follow-up

Each surgeon is different in terms of follow-up after a cosmetic procedure. For the face, it is typical to see patients intermittently for a year afterwards. However, you should never feel "discharged" from a practice after a certain amount of time. It is my preference for patients to feel that they are part of my practice for life and to return with any concerns or questions at any point.

Gregory J. Vipond, MD
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift followup depends on surgeon - up to 12 months is commonplace

Your situation is unfortunate in that the surgeon you enjoyed working with has left town. However, it sounds like you're happy with the result and not having any issues. Most surgeons will followup up to or beyond 12 months. If you have any problems at all I would recommend calling your surgeons office or contacting them by email to find a local plastic surgeon that can evaluate you. Glad that you're happy with your results. Best, Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D. Portland... more

Stephen Weber, MD
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lonetreefacial.com

Followup Facelifts

I think this is an important question to call your plastic surgeon's office. He could arrange for you to followup with a colleague in your city or have you email him photos to assess your progress. All the best in your healing process. Paul S. Gill, M.D. Houston Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Follow-Up is Variable, but Usually 6-12 months

Every plastic surgeon is different, but most will want to see you several times, up to and including 6-12 months after your procedure. The main reason for this is because healing, scar maturation, and swelling dissipation, will take 6 - 12 months after your facelift. Although most of your healing will occur right after surgery, it takes 6- 1 2 months for all of the healing to take place. Some problems, such as thickened scar tissue or... more

Roy Kim, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Follow Up

Every Surgeon you ask will have their own variation on follow-up and rationale for their answer. I like to see patients for at least a year after the surgery. The reasons for this duration are twofold: quality control on my side, and taking accurate postoperative pictures. From a patient's standpoint, the one year follow up is not absolutely necessary, especially if the patient is happy. If you are satisfied and there are no outstanding issues from your standpoint, you don't... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Facelift follow-up

The short answer is "no." After four months, you are unlikely to need your surgeon's intervention. Your result is kind of "written in stone." If you're already happy with the results, returning to see him will mostly just make him feel good (Not that that's a bad thing!).

Robert Sigal, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon

Follow up after Facelift

Hi, You symptoms are normal at 4 months post-op. Usually I follow patients 6 to 12 months after surgery. Im sure you can contact your surgeon periodically via email. It doesn't sound like you need to worry at this point. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

Facelift follow up

You do not need to see him if he moved away. What you are experiencing is normal. I personally see people as long as they like but in reality unless they are coming in for another treatment they usually drop off from follow up after 3 months.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Follow ups for facelift for out of town patients.

It is advised that you continue your follow up appointments, however, if your PS is now out of state you can ask him for alternative options. For our out of town patients who do not wish to travel back for post ops, we have them send us photos or see a local PS. Call your PS surgoen and ask him/her what they recommend. If your case was complex, he/she may want to see you in person rather than photos.