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Swelling After SMAS Facelift

asked 2 years ago by dahlia5 in nyc
Latest answer by Philip Young, MD
Question viewed 1,927 times
Tags: jaw, jaw line, jowls

Had smas lift and jowls are still swollen after 4 weeks post up. Also had fat injections. This is the second one - had a mid face lift 2 years ago.

How long does swelling usually last after a SMAS facelift?

10 answers to Swelling After SMAS Facelift

+3

Jowls after face lift

Something doesn't sound right to me. You should not have jowls after a face lift. I think a trip back to your doctor with a frank discussion is in order.
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling after SMAS face lift

This is not uncommon after 4 weeks. At this point you likely have around 50% 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. The fat injections could take up to 2-3 months to really start looking good. And it can keep improving for another year.
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

SMAS Facelift

I tell most of my patients that you loose 80% of your swelling by 6 weeks after surgery. The remaining 20% may take several more months to resolve. You can expect your final results to be anywhere from 6-12 months after the initial surgery.
Jenifer L. Henderson, MD

Silverdale Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift swelling

You mentioned that you are 4 weeks post facelift and fat grafting. 4 weeks is just a short time after the procedure. It may take months for all the swelling to go away.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat grafting is probably the culprit for your extended facial swelling

Given your history of having had a midface lift, previously, I imagine that your face lift was intended to improve the appearance of your lower face (jowls, jaw and neck).  Occasionally, I will recommend structural fat grafting to the cheek hollows, but this technique can prolong the period of post-op swelling.  The fat graft survives by absorbing nutrients from the surrounding tissues and can expand significantly in volume and firmness, as a consequence.  The net effect... more
Lavinia Chong, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling after a SMAS face lift may take several months to go down.

 This is especially true if fat is injected at the same time. It depends on the patient's tissue as well as the surgeon. Discuss this with your surgeon as he knows what he did during surgery.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini face lift swelling

Swelling varies from individual to another, and depend on how much was done, as well as many other factors. The fat injection also contribute to the prolonged  swelling. You will have to wait it out. 6-12 weeks. Then you can evaluate the result. Meanwhile, elevate the head, low salt diet will help.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling after SMAS facelift varies quite a bit

Swelling after a SMAS facelift can vary quite a bit. Some patients can look great at a few days while others can stay swollen for weeks or even months. My personal regimen for post op swelling minimization includes elevation and ice for 7 days and taking it very easy for 2 weeks. At that time, additonal physical activity can be slowly worked in- no exercise for 1 month (all that would be accomplished would be more swelling). There is often a small swelling spike when full activity and... more
David Shuter, MD

Jupiter Plastic Surgeon
+1

Face lift / mini-face lift swelling

Swelling after a facelift is technique dependent. You will swell and bruise more after a formal full facelift but should have a longer lasting result. Shorter and less invasive procedures such as the life style or quick lift or similar procedures will have less bruising and swelling. In my personal opinion, the results are not as lasting as a full facelift procedure. After a full facelift, most of the swelling is gone by 6 weeks and the rest by 6 months.
Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling after a facelift.

Swelling after a facelift can be effected by many factors including technique and vary tremendously among individuals. Certainly the fat grafts can contribute to prolonged swelling as well. We generally allow 6 months for resolution of swelling and fibrosis prior to obtaining satisfactory representative post operative photographs.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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