How Long Should Swelling and Numbness Last After a Facelift?

I usually tell patients to expect about 10 days to two weeks for bruising to resolve after a facelift.  Many times it can be earlier, but I have heard so many patients say that "I am a good healer and will be less", and then it is still 10-14 days, that I want to be realistic and conservative.  I have also experimented with different aspects of the lift, including bigger, bulky dressings, tissue glue, and/or drains and none of them have appreciably improved healing time over other means. 
The swelling is typical, and begins to create a horizontal fullness to the face through the first week.  The second week the face looks more like patients expect, but can still be heavy or masculine along the jawline. By about a month, the face takes on a more natural, heart shape that showcases the strengths of a rejuvenating facelift.  But there is clearly swelling to the incisions, jawline, and neck to three months.  As swelling resolves, gravity draws it lower in the face.  So the jawline and neck take longer to resolve than the cheeks.

Swelling after a facelift is typically 2-3 weeks, but many patients can look good at 7-10 days. Numbness, however can last for several months. Most patients find the numbness quite tolerable and have very little discomfort post op. As the numbness resolves, some patients will experience a burning or itchy sensation, dude to nerve recovery. This is very normal and resolves over time.

In performing a facelift, the surgeon undermines an area of skin around the ear, dividing small sensory nerve branches.  This is entirely normal.  The nerve branches grow back slowly.  It takes months, even a year, for the feeling to return to normal.  Men have to be careful shaving around the ear because of this temporary numbness.  For women, it is not usually an issue, just something they notice.  Swelling takes about 3 months to go away but is not usually objectionable.  In fact, swelling can make you look even better because it tends to smooth the lines (which is why surgeons prefer to evaluate results that are at least 6 months after surgery).  I attached a link to my website in case you wish to read more.

I generally tell my patients that they will be public ready in about 14-17days with makeup. It takes a good 4 weeks for most of the swelling and bruising to be gone. However I have seen patients look amazing after 4 days and I have see other patients who are still recovering 8 weeks later, so it all depends on your body and how you heal. The numbness may last for months but generally comes back to pre-op conditions thereafter.Hope this helps.

The major part of the swelling typically lasts for 7-14 days after a facelift. After that, there may be minor swelling that is difficult to see, but may be present for a few more weeks. Numbness takes a bit longer to resolve as the nerve endings have to grow back into the skin, and this process can take 3-12 months. These all are normal things to experience after a facelift so continue to follow your post operative instructions and everything should get better.

This is a great question!
I would say generally swelling after a facelift begins to resolve after the first 2-3 weeks, however the time for complete resolution of swelling can vary from patient to patient. The majority of this occurs over the first month, however this process continues over the first few months after surgery meaning that the degree of improvement after surgery often gets better over time as things heal and swelling resolves. That being said, the swelling will typically resolve in different portions of the face at different times. For example, swelling of the jaw and neck can sometimes take longer to resolve due to its position and the effects of gravity.
Regarding the numbness, it is normal to have some numbness along the incision lines for several weeks to a couple months as there are cutaneous nerves in the skin that are disrupted as part of surgery.
Hope this helps!

Hello,

The majority of swelling after a facelift resolves in about 2-3 weeks. The mild residual swelling can take another few weeks to fully subside but is hardly noticeable. When fat grafting is also performed, swelling can take a bit longer to resolve, especially in the lips.
Numbness can last anywhere from 3-6+ months and varies greatly from individual to individual.

Warm regards,
Dr. Pedy Ganchi
Village Plastic Surgery

This is a common question and concern for many patients. I usually tell my patients that 3-10 days is the peak time for bruising and swelling. Most people are ‘restaurant ready’ by 2-3 weeks after facelift surgery, which means with make-up on and under not-too-bright lighting. Glasses, even non-prescription versions like blue-light glasses, can help to hide bruises and swelling around your eyes, especially if you also had a blepharoplasty. Milder swelling can go up and down, depending on the day, for 2-3 months. Though this does not usually affect daily life, you want time to heal fully before a big event. Numbness in areas of the face, neck, and ears is common and may take as long as a year to resolve. Most patients find that it has improved enough by 6 months that they don’t find it bothersome. It is possible that some areas to remain numb long term.As always, I advise patients to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial surgery and find someone you connect with and trust. Good Luck!

There are many variables that contribute to healing. Genetics, lifestyle/diet and age can all play a role. Generally, patients can return to work feeling confident 2-3 weeks following Deep Plane Facelift surgery.  Residual swelling and numbness may still be a factor, however both will dissipate over time, anywhere from 1-3 months on average.  Facial fat transfer may cause generalized swelling to the treatment are which should settle down within 2 weeks following the procedure.  Many patients feel completely healed 1 month following both procedures, while others may require a bit more time. Dr. Philip Solomon MD FRCSCSolomon Facial Plastic, Toronto

Hello and thanks for the question. There is a lot of variability regarding the recovery following the procedures you describe. Numbness around the sides of the face and ears is quite common and can take several months to fully resolve, though it generally improves with each passing week.  Swelling is similar in the sense that much of it improves in the first few weeks, however it continues to slowly dissipate over the ensuing weeks and can take a few months to fully resolve.  Hope that helps and good luck

Our practice sees patient return to work and social engagements at 10-14 days.  You will still have residual swelling and numbness at that time which will continue to resolve over the coming months. Our practice is founded in a holistic approach to healing and we use many complementary medicine techniques to help nurture the healing process.  There are homeopathic supplements, prescription medications, as well as treatments (lymphatic drainage, myofascial release) that can help expedite this healing process if used in a safe and appropriate way.