What Can Be Done to Reduce Swelling and Lumps After Lower Facelift and Platysmaplasty?

asked 1 year ago by Danielle1231 in California
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 2,093 times
Tags: neck, lumps, reduce, swelling

I had a lower facelift and platysmaplasy 9 weeks ago and still have swelling,numbness and lumps. Can I use ice and heat alternately? Can is use Bromelain and Arnica again to help? Is there something else I can do or take? Thank you for any advice that will help.

10 answers to What Can Be Done to Reduce Swelling and Lumps After Lower Facelift and Platysmaplasty?

Home ultrasound device for lumps after facelift

In my practice I have found that a small home ultrasound devices are very helpful to eliminate the early postoperative lumps that sometimes form. They cost about $100.

Josh Korman, MD
Monterey Plastic Surgeon

Swelling and lumps 9 weeks after lower facelift and platysmaplasty--what to do?

At just over two months post-op lower facelift and platysmaplasty, numbness is entirely expected and should gradually return to a new "normal" over several months, and reach maximum improvement at about one year. Scars also take 6-8 months (or longer) to completely soften, settle, and fade maximally, but you must avoid ultraviolet exposure (sun AND tanning beds of any kind) until your scars have lost all pinkness in order to prevent unwanted hyperpigmentation. Swelling and... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Swelling and numbness associated with lower facelift surgery

Dear Lower Facelift Patient from New Jersey, Healing process varies person to person. As swelling subsides after any facelift surgery, sensory nerves begin to function, therefore numbness will subside. Nine weeks post op majority of swelling associated with facelift surgery should subsided, and the remaining will resolve over next few months. Massage and external ultrasonic treatments are good options. Good luck and good healing.

Kevin Sadati, DO
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.galleryofcosmeticsurgery.com

Swelling and numbness is to be expected- this is what helps

Here is what I have found to help in many cases: Localized lymphatic massage - your surgeon will demonstrate for you Continued head elevation Ultrasound treatment Low Salt diet No heavy lifting or intense exercise Use of injectables such as steroids are contoversial and should be discussed with your surgeon I don't think alternating ice and heat, Arnica or Bromelain will be of benefit at this stage

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and numbness/swelling associated with it

At nine weeks post-op I would use warmth and massage (gentle) only. Not cold or compression.

Richard Galitz, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.aventuraplasticsurgery.com

Face lift swelling after lower facelift and platysmaplasty

This is not uncommon after 9 weeks. At this point you likely have around 65% of your healing. We usually tell people that they will have 60% of their healing / recovery complete by 6 weeks, 80-90% by 6 months. 100% can take as long as 2 years. This is based on wound healing studies and tensile breaking strength of a heal wound. For the lumps, I would suggest steroid injections, tape and pressure dressings. Bromelain and Arnica will not help at this point in my opinion.

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lumps and swelling after Facelift

Despite meticulous attention to controlling bleeding during a facelift and even using drains, blood can get trapped under the skin flap, without a localized hematoma requiring drainage. Blood products are extremely inflammatory. This can cause unwanted lumps or nodularity after a face lift, particularly in the neck and under the chin where it they might collect from gravity. These are best recognized and treated early. My colleagues and I have found that a dilute concentration of steroid... more

Edmund Fisher, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Swelling after Facelift Surgery

It is not unusual to still have swelling and lumps 9 weeks after Facelift surgery, in fact for some it can take many weeks for it to resolve. At this point ice and arnica will have little effect. Massaging may help, and I recommend sleeping with an extra pillow to keep your head elevated.