SMAS Facelift: Q&A
Ask a QuestionShould I Worry SMAS Facelift (Short-scar) Had to Be Reopened During Surgery? (photo)
After being closed, my cheeks started bleeding (while I was having my eyes done) and both were reopened and suctioned. That was six weeks ago, and I'm experiencing increasing lumpiness (mostly small bumps under the skin)and have had slight indentations on each cheek since the surgery that have not gone away. Does this sound typical or more like aggravations from the reopening; in other words, should I be worried?
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11 Doctor Answers |
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anon
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Lumps after 6 Weeks Following Facelift
Lumps can persist for months as these can be little pockets of swelling, areas of suture, or underlying remodeling. Hematomas sometimes occur, and evacuation is the treatment. I am not sure that looking at your 6 week results that I would have been able to guess that you had a large hematoma evacuation. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
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Lumps after facelift
Its too early to worry. At six weeks, your face is still healing, both along the incision line, and under the skin. Your surgeon did the right thing when he re-opened the incisions to evacuate the hematoma and stop the bleeding. There shouldnt be any complication from having to re-open you. I would give it at least 6 months to fully asses the "final" outcome. If you have irregularities at that point, discuss it with your surgeon to see if there is any treatment to improve it.
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Hematoma and SMAS Facelift
Opening the incisions and evacuation of the hematomas and stopping any bleeding was absolutely the appropriate care during your procedure. The small lumps under the skin are more likely related to the surgery and hematoma rather than having to reopen the incisions. These irregularities should improve with time. Continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
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Significant Hematoma after face lift should be addresses ASAP
Still too early to tell. Your surgeon did the right thing by reopening your incisions and removing any blood clots (hematoma). In this case 6 wks is a bit too early to determine final results. There many be traces of blood that still have to resolve naturally, and more swelling on that side. If there is no improvement after 3-6 months, then it is worthwhile discussing with your plastic surgeon what he feels will be the result.
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Hematomas after SMAS Facelift
Whenever you have bleeding after a case is closed you must open the area back up suction the clots out and find the source of the bleeding and then cauterize those blood vessels. You then go back to suturing and closing the facelift Incisions. So most importantly was that your surgeon did go back in and stop the bleeding. Secondly the lumps you are seeing may just be inflammatory areas that should dissipate over time. I would go in and see your surgeon and discuss your questions and...
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Lumps after bleeding in surgery
Although the majority of the blood that accumulated during the bleeding episode was cleaned out, there will be some inflammatory response in the body while it tries to digest the small amounts still there. With time and massage, that should all get better, but the skin might look a little lumpy for a while
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Should I Worry SMAS Facelift (Short-scar) Had to Be Reopened During Surgery?
It was certainly imperative for your surgeon to reopen your incisions if you had excess bleeding. A facelift requires lots of elevating of the skin and bleeding can occur. Facelifts without bleeding can be a little lumpy for several months because of the deep sutures and movement of tissues under the skin. I would wait several months before worrying, but why not visit your plastic surgeon for his opinion? I would expect this lumpiness will resolve with more time. As a matter of interest,...
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Short Scar Facelift
It sounds like your surgeon did the right thing. Nobody wants to take a patient back to the OR but due to vomiting or high blood pressure in the immediate postoperative period, a hematoma can form and it is imperative that it be evacuated. The lumpiness is normal especially in facelifts that utilize a cranial suspensiion suture. This usually resolves. The reality is there is nothing to do for it now. I would suggest waiting 6 months and then revisiting the problem if there is no...
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Facelift healing process
Good question. it is definitely possible to still have swelling and some contour irregularity 6 weeks after a facelift. If you had a hematoma during the case that required re-opening and evacuation it is possible that this may cause a delay in the healing process. That being said, I would not anticipate that this would compromise your long term outcome. You pictures look great and I would expect that these irregularities will resolve with time.
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Edema after surgery
Thank you for your question. What you are experiencing sounds like typical postoperative swelling. In general, 6wks is very early in the wound healing process. These "lumps" can happen even when the incisions are not reopened. The space below the skin is very limited, so any swelling or fluid deposits will be noticeable externally either by sight or feel. These lumps will typically resolve over the first 8-12 weeks postoperatively. Best of luck and please...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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