Facelift: Q&A
Ask a QuestionSwelling and Bruising After Facelift
It has been 3 weeks since I had facelift as part of removing the cyst on my face. I experienced severe hematoma after the surgery, but it seems that everything is healing as expected. I'm concerned about the bruises, since they still look very dark in some areas. The swelling on my cheek and jaw still a bit noticeable and feel so tense. Should I be alarmed? what can I do to better the situation? Thank you for your answer.
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25 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
cindymd
in Rockville, MD
+3
Swelling, pain, and bruising normal after Facelift
Hi,
Thanks for your question.
Pain, bruising, and swelling are typically experienced two to three weeks after surgery. The symptoms should subside after that in most cases. However, every individual heals differently. Since you had a hematoma, this adds more time to the healing process and usually results in a firmer feel to the skin flap. So give it a little more time to heal. If you are still concerned after that, it is always a good idea to pay a visit to your plastic surgeon.
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+3
Bruising after Face Lift can last a while
Bruising can last a while after a Facelift. Sometimes the breakdown products from the bruise (blood) can take a while to be absorbed.
Some patients don't absorb the swelling as quickly as others. Plus, the swelling may be worse on one side of the face, than the other. This may have little to do with the surgery; and more to do with the physiology of the individual.
The total healing process can last a long time. Even though the initial issues of healing may lessen in a few weeks, things...
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Germantown Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3
Bruising and swelling after Facelift
Bruising and swelling can be normal after a facelift and is often asymmetric. Considering you had a hematoma, it may take a little longer to subside. As long as the hematoma has been removed and the skin is healthy, things should heal well.
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Bruising from a facelift
Hard to address your situation without photos. You are still early in the healing process. Moreover, if you had a hematoma, the process will be longer for you. It will take a while for things to settle in. Please make sure you go to your appointments with your surgeon. They may be able to guide you as far as additional treatments that they have found helpful.
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Hematoma delays healing after any surgery.
Dear Cindy
Three weeks is very early from your surgery. Generally it is true that a this point in time if you did not have a hematoma, you would be looking pretty good. However, the hematoma takes time to resolve. The extra swelling and bruising is going to clear eventually. However, it is likely that this process may take a full additional 2 months to completely dissipate. It is hard to believe but you will heal. Please check back with Realself.com and let us know how you've done....
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+2
This sounds normal given your complication
After a hematoma, there will be more time needed for the resolution of bruising and there can be swelling on that side that persists beyond the time for healing of the normal side. Time and gentle massage will help.
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Asymmetric Bruising and Swelling after Facelift
Given that you had a hematoma after your facelift, having remaining bruising and noticable swelling on the side of your hematoma 3 weeks after your facelift should be expected. Firmness may represent healing tissues and could easily last for 6 to 8 weeks. The most important aspect in your recovery was the removal of your hematoma which, according to your description, has been accomplished.
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It is all normal
The swelling and firmness are normal and can be helped using ultrasound treatments to reduce the swelling. Even for minor bruising it seems to work very well.
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Swelling and Bruising After Facelift
As others here have said, without the hematoma you experienced, you might be further along in the healing process. However, every individual heals differently, so I wouldn’t get too discouraged. As long as you’re continuing to see improvement and don’t feel that you’ve reached a plateau in the healing process, it sounds like things are progressing normally. Some degree of bruising following a facelift is normal. Patients from my practice often take a few weeks to heal completely....
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+1
Swelling and Bruising after Facelift
Thank you for your question. Though it is normal to have some bruising and swelling after a facelift, this should be resolving by now. In addition, pain is uncommon after the first few days and can be a sign of infection or a hematoma. You wrote that you had a hematoma post-op, and I assume that this was drained. However, in some cases, blood will recollect. This can lead to firm swelling or even early formation of scar tissue. You will need close follow up with your surgeon, and, in my...
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Comments (2)
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.
depressed. At my one week office visit he took out some stitches and tried to ease my concerns but it didn't work. The scab on my one ear is very slowly chipping off but both my ears are a sick shade of green from bruising. I still look like a pulled pork . I should have read these comments first. Had I known it was going to be this bad I probably would not have done it. But then again most PS will never tell you about the recoupe
I was told 10days and I would be out. No way! I am sure it will be about 3 weeks before I don't scare people in public. The only hope I have is that the Dr. is as good as all said he was and the final result will be natural.
Thanks for listening