What is the Outcome of This Lateral Sweep?

Everyone wants an immediate result - including surgeons! Unfortunately this just isn't how we heal. Four weeks is just too early to tell. There are many predictable portions of the healing process that ALL PATIENTS EXPERIENCE. Although both doctor and patients would like to not have this happen, it is part of the healing process.  Massage can some times be of benefit during this time period These Side effects refer to what you will be experiencing from the facelift healing process: Here are some of the common things you will experience. The common side effects include: swelling which is maximum 2-3 days later, bruising (highly variable), numbness which takes several months to resolve,  tightness takes several days to months to resolve, discomfort chewing (technique dependent), discomfort (generally mild with this surgery, nausea (variable) and in some patients emotional lability in some. Although most of the visible edema resolves in 2-3 weeks in mini-lifts and 3-4 weeks in traditional facelift approaches, residual firmness (edema you feel but don’t see) can linger for several months. Skin suppleness also takes a while to return as does scar maturation. I tell my patients it takes up to a year for final resolution of the healing process. In my experience, the above rough time table is usually delayed in smokers, when multiple procedures are performed together and when resurfacing procedures are done at the same time as the lift. The same is true if complications occur such as infection, hematoma, skin loss or compromise, etc.  Facelifts and all surgical procedures for that matter share several possible complications - such as excessive bruising or bleeding (e.g. hematoma), injury to deeper structures, anesthetic complications and so on

It's difficult to tell from the photo if this is a lateral sweep or a ridge of collagen or tissue from your lift 4 weeks ago.  We all heal differently but in general after a facelift, our body recruits collagen to the area of surgery and can create a ridge.  This starts around 2-3 weeks and can get fuller until 6-8 weeks before it starts to settle down.  Ripples, ridges, dimples, mounds, etc., can occur as a result of this collagen recruitment to the areas of healing and generally subside starting at 10weeks after surgery. It is not common and the vast majority of patients do not develop such issues but some can, and though it is inconvenient, it should resolve with some massage and time.  Partner with your plastic surgeon to get the best result. 

In the initial healing phase of all types of facelift surgery there can be lines, sweeps, creases and pinched up areas on the face and neck. This is a normal part of the process. The vast majority of these will disappear within 2 weeks. Depending on type of facelift done and your inherent healing, some may linger on for 3 months. Anything lasting beyond 3 months needs to be examined and addressed by your surgeon.

Be well,

Dr. J