How Long Does the Swelling Supposed to Last After a Face Lift and Neck Lift?

Swelling after a facelift is normal and expected. On average, patients can be presentable (with makeup) in 14 days. I don't recommend video appearances for 21 days and flash photography for 3 months. These are averages and so there are patients on either sides of these numbers. In general, if you have a fuller face, you have more soft tissue than most so you'll hold on to fluid longer and have swelling after facelift longer. If you tend to bruise easily, your body has to clear the bruising so that will increase swelling in the area of the bruise more than average. Patients who have a robust immune system and heal well sometimes will swell even more because it's trying to do it too quickly and it will then take the fluid, from the increase in resources over a short period of time, time to dissipate and increase swelling after facelift. Thicker skin individuals, such as african-americans, asians, hispanics, and oily caucasians, will sometimes take longer to return to normal as well since thicker skin is like having a thicker sponge so swelling takes longer to resolve. Each person is different, but, on average, most people can plan on 14 days for noticeable swelling after facelift and to be presentable, with makeup.In the end, the lymphatics, or drainage system, of your face has been interrupted by the surgery and recreating all these small vessels takes time and, in general, most people feel they look they're best around 3 months. Having said that, you are presentable at 14 days as almost 60% of the swelling is improved by then and 70% will improve by 6 weeks and then 80% around 3 months, on average Healing tissue takes a full year to mature in any part of the body so the last 20% will take 6-12 months depending on the person. You can improve swelling after facelift by keeping your head elevated the first 2 weeks, applying cool compresses religiously the first week, minimizing activity after surgery, minimizing salt intake 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery, using a steroid pack from your doctor, using a prescription version of arnica montana, and minimizing medications that can make you bruise 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery such as aspirin, ibuprofen, herbal supplements especially green tea, gingko biloba, flax seed, fish oil, and multivitamins, especially those containing Vit E. Participating in lymphatic massages 10 days after the facelift can also help mobilize the fluid and minimize swelling; have a lymphatic massage once a week until the swelling has resolved.

While some degree of swelling is normal postoperatively, to have extreme swelling and stiffness with heat and itchiness is a bit unusual, or at least it would be for my patients. I do not know the techniques or skill level of her surgeon, but because it’s better to be safe than sorry, I’d have her call her surgeon to report these symptoms directly. It is normal for swelling to fluctuate with positioning and activity after surgery. At this point though, four months postop, patients should have full movement of the head and neck. I highly suggest a follow-up appointment to determine that she is healing appropriately.

Thank you for your question. Every patient is so different. What you describe is not uncommon. Total healing can take a year or more. Follow-up regularly with your surgeon. They want a great result as well.

Some element of swelling can be present for many months after a facelift procedure, but most of the swelling will be gone within the first month after surgery. The first week is the worst, and with each successive week, the amount of swelling should continue to decline, although this might fluctuate on a day to day basis.
Keeping the head elevated, especially while sleeping, and using a compression garment of some kind can both be helpful to reduce swelling.
All the best,

While for most patients the majority of the
swelling after a facelift resolves after two weeks, with further minor swelling
lasting for another few months, each patient is different and swelling may
resolve at a different rate depending on the patient’s individual healing rate,
the type of surgery done, after care, and more. I would encourage your mother
to visit her surgeon for a follow-up visit to make sure that everything is
healing properly. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear that your mom is still experiencing
discomfort after her facelift. Although it's uncommon for these symptoms to
persist for 4 months after surgery, it does happen. It doesn't sound like your
mom is at risk of any dangerous complications, but the symptoms you're
describing are probably worth a call or visit to her surgeon's office. The
staff there is more familiar with her case and can recommend different
therapeutic options to help ease her symptoms. Best of luck!