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Six Months After Full Face Lift and Eyes Surgery...

asked 1 year ago by ZY in Australia
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 1,436 times
Tags: female, 6 months post-op, Asian, swelling, tightness

I did my full face lift and eyes lift surgery 6 months ago in KL. Happy with the results. I went to see my surgeon 4 months ago to make sure everything was right, andasked my GP. People say I'm looking fresher than before.. But, from the inside my skin face and neck I still have some questions: -Why I still feeling tight around my face, ears and neck? -What happened inside, sometime feel itch and a bit puffy still on my face? -When all this will be gone? -What I must do and don't?.. Thx

24 answers to Six Months After Full Face Lift and Eyes Surgery...

Tightness and numbness after facelift surgery

It is normal to experience tightness and numbness after facelift surgery. There are some non-invasive treatments such as ultrasound that may minimize the discomfort to you and maximize your healing. This is especially important if you have hypersensitive or painful areas.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tightness and itching "relax" after facelifts

Facelifts work by resuspending the tissues under the skin - with the anchoring sutures around the ears and back of the neck. That is why these areas feel "tight" for up to a year after surgery. Lifting the skin also interrupts nerves and vessels, which have to grow back. This process can feel "tingly or itchy" for 6-12 months as well. The skin may also feel dry. All of this is normal and you don't have to do anything special - other than... more

David Magilke, MD
Portland Facial Plastic Surgeon

Healing takes much longer than we often realize.

Ho Initial healing from this type of surgery may only take 6 to 8 weeks before other stop asking questions about your surgery. However, the actual time frame for healing is much more like 2 years. The issues you describe experiencing including the transient swelling, itchness, and sensation of tightness are exactly issues that take the longest to resolve. These are normal sensations that will diminish with more times.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Still tight a t 6 months, sounds good to me

The maturation of scars can take up to two years. the "internal" scars are no different. this doesn't mean you will feel tight for two years though, and If I were a betting man I 'd guess in 3 months you feel almost normal. good luck

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Tightness after facelift...

It is normal to experience tightness and numbness after a facelift. After your skin is elevated your surgeon used sutures to tighten the muscles and may have put a "sling" in for a tighter and smoother appearance of the neck. Excess skin was removed and sutured around the ear area. It is natural with any healing process to have some itchiness for about a year, but it will get better. Most swelling will be gone in about 6 months, but there may be... more

Andrew Miller, MD
Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.associatesinplasticsurgery.com

Palm beach facelift surgery

It is normal to experience a sensation of tightness and some of the other symptoms you are experiencing after a facelift and eyelid surgery. you did the right thing by seeing your doctor to confirm that all was well. some patients just take longer than others to completely heal from those unusual sensations that you are experiencing. If you were my patient and felt you needed further reassurance, i would recommend getting a second opinion from another facelift surgeon.

Anita Mandal, MD
Palm Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Puffy 4 months after face Lift

Traditional Face Lifts can feel tight, look puffy, have numbness or pinching sensations under the skin. Tightness is because the SMAS was tightened and skin was removed to make things tight...this will loosen and feel less tight over time, typically about 1 year. Puffiness is residual swelling that can last 6-12 months. Time will take care of all of these issues and you don't need to do anything, IMHO.

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

Tightness after facelift surgery

Mrs. Ho, Many of the symptoms you describe are normal. The tightness could be from sutures used to tighten the muscles under the skin along with some of the normal healing that is still taking place especially around the ears, in front of the ears and along the jaw line. The itching is from nerves regrowing into the skin and some swelling is still to be expected. It may take a year, sometimes longer, for all of these changes to pass. Massage and applying pressure to... more

Mark Loury, MD
Fort Collins Facial Plastic Surgeon

Still Tight 4 months after a Facelift

I believe that a well done face lift will take quite a while for things such as tightness and itching to fade away. I have seen settling down occur as soon as 4-5 months, and as long as 14 -18 months. If done well a lot of sutures were placed to elevate the deeper tissues. Little nerve endings will continue to grow back into your skin for up to 18 months. I agree external ultrasound is helpful. you look great.

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

Tightness and itching after facelift

Dear Ms. Ho, The tightness, itching, and occasional puffiness are to be expected with a faceilft. While the outside my appear fresh and the incisions have begun to fade, there is a lot of healing that is occuring on the inside. As long as you don't feel too tight, you should be fine and these symptoms that you are having should resolve with time. Itching and other feelings that we call paraesthesias will also fade with time. Many of my facelift patients... more

Gregory Branham, MD
Saint Louis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tightness and paresthesias after facelift

The symptoms you describe are normal with both the tightness and unusual sensations. These should disappear over time and may last up to a year. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Massage at this late date will help.

Your concerns are very typical of the late stages of healing after a complete facial rejuvenation. Often the tightness, sort of itchy feelings, and feeling of puffiness are due to regrowth of the nerves into the areas that formerly were numb. These are "parathesias" and are often helped by massage. (Best done after the tissues are warm such as in the shower.) Begin gently and continue for two minutes in each area slowly increasing the intensity. Often... more

Nathan Mayl, MD
Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon

Puffiness 6 months after Face Lifting

It is common to have puffiness, tightness, "pulling" sensations and itchiness for up to one year after a Face Lift is performed. Some of these feelings come from the natural regeneration of surface sensory nerves that were cut during the surgery. The rest are part of the natural healing process following the procedure. In any event I would expect that most of these issues will resolve in the coming months. If you still have concerns, it might... more

Adam D. Stein, MD
Raleigh-Durham Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialdoc.com

Facelift 6mos later with tight feelings under skin

Facelift 6mos later with tight feelings under skin. This will get better with time. You get about 80% of your healing at 6 months and you keep healing for 2 years time. So I would be patient. The tight feeling is normal and this will get better. Exercise now can help with your situation. Some people advocate lymphatic massage with a medical aesthetician. Ultrasound treatments have also been suggested. Thanks for reading, Dr Young see video

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Tight Feeling After Facelift

The sensation of "feeling tight" can last for up to a year after Facelift surgery. One exception to this relates to the "rush" lifts, whereby the procedure is performed with an emphasis on speed as opposed to quality. In these circumstances, too much tension is placed on the earlobe, leading to a perpetual "pulled" sensation. This does not go away with time and can be difficult to correct with further surgery.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Tightness after facelift procedure is normal

What you are experiencing is natural in the recovery from a facelift procedure. Some patients take longer then others to heal. The tightness you describe is normal and is from the suture work that is done under the skin in the deeper facial fat and muscle areas. You may have some itchiness and often times some dryness of the skin especially behind the ear area. These are all part of the normal healing process. Most importantly is that you are happy with your results and the other sensations... more

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Healing after a facelift

I am glad that you are pleased with your facelift results. The sensations that you describe are quite natural and due to the prolonged healing that always occurs after surgery. The sensations that you have seem more intense because of all the nerve fibers in the face and the unusual sensations that they can create as healing proceeds and collagen is layed down and remodeled. All the best, Talmage Raine MD FACS

Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tightness after a facelift

Though the initial tightness after a facelift will last only the first several weeks, the tissue has a considerable way to go until fully soft and healed. A numbness or sometimes an itch will be present on the cheeks for several months, and sensitivity in the earlobe is common. We like to follow up a facelift with microdermabrasion to smooth the healing skin, and will often use ultrasound to smooth out any stiff areas over the cheeks chin and neck. Massage can also help speed the softening... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Facial rejuvenation

Mrs. Ho: You have what appears to be a well executed pan facial rejuvenation. Much of the "tightness" that you describe may represent the internal "repair" work on the deeper facial fat and muscles, which was done. Your intermittent swelling, itchiness and puffiness all represent phases of "wound healing", which typically may take up to a year to resolve. My facelift patients also offer similar observations but invariably the tenderness... more

Lavinia Chong, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.chongmd.com

feeling tight around my face, ears and neck at 4 months

It is very normal to have a feeling of tightness around face, ears and neck at 4 months after surgery. There are still irritated nerves and tight muscles. Be patient and continue to follow up with your surgeon as directed.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Feeling Tight After Facelift Surgery

It is normal to feel somewhat tight in the face and the neck for several months. The swelling may take 4-6 months to subside, however, one should be able to go back to work within 2 weeks unless one has had facial laser resurfacing as well.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Face Lift

At 6 months, you are still inflamed and healing. Itching is new skin sensations as well. Your collagen is enhanced at the healing sites of the incision and will feel tighter there. They will reduce after a year to 18 months.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Tightness and itching after facelift

Full healing from a facelift can take at least a year. The symptoms you describe are not uncommon and should improve over time. I would direct any questions regarding the healing to your plastic surgeon as he would be much more expert in this matter than a general practitioner.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tightness after a facelift

The sensation of feeling tight can persist for a variable amount of time after a Facelift. I suggest some range of motion exercises and possibly some ultrasound therapy done at a physical therapy clinic. There are also anecdotal reports of topical DMSO helping.