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Can a Too Tight Face Lift Improve with Time?
asked 1 year ago by sukietawdry in Asheville
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 2,362 times
Tags: bulging, swelling, tightness
I have significantly noticeable bulges beginning slightly below either side of my mouth and radiating towards my ears where my skin has been pulled. I am three weeks post surgery and still have swelling on the sides of my face.
45 answers to Can a Too Tight Face Lift Improve with Time?
+3
Improvement of Tight Facelift
If your skin is too tight, fortunately this will improve with time. The bulges may improve or actually look worse for a short time as the swelling decreases. Ask your surgeon if massaging the bulges or ultrasound therapy will accelerate the healing process.
+6
Resolution of tightness following a Facelift
Three weeks is still prettly early, and you can still anticipate some degree of tightness following a facelift. Most facelifts look a little tight right after the surgery, and this generally goes away as swelling resolves and your skin relaxes somewhat. This can take up to several months.
There are many different techniques used to do facelifts. Some techniques emphasize just the tightening of the skin which can result in the overly tight or overdone look following a facelift....
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Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon
+5
How To Avoid An Overdone Facelift
An overdone facelift, or one that is too tight or has a Hollywood windswept appearance may improve with time, but it will not ever be normal. It is very important to shape the face based upon pre-operative facial analysis and to perform a true “Lift & Fill” Facelift to allow for rejuvenation and restoration of the normal face. After all, as Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, we are into the “face protection” not “witness protection” program for you as a...
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+5
Early Facelift Swelling will go. Patience is a must!
YES. You will favorably improve with time. At 3 weeks you should look okay but you still have a lot of healing to do. Swelling takes time. Firmness takes time. Remember the healing process is defined as 1 year. Every day you will look a little better. When you get up in th morning think....its a great day and I look better than yesterday. You will. Good Luck.
+4
Can a Too Tight Face Lift Improve with Time?
Some feeling of tightness is normal in the early days after a face lift. You will still have significant swelling and as this improves the feeling of tightness will improve with it. If you are concerned discuss it with your surgeon.
Mark Preston, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+4
Facelift swelling and tightness will go away!
Yes, your swelling and tightness will subside in time. It is not abnormal to feel tightness three weeks after surgery and each day should bring along some changes for the better. As far as the visible bulges it is difficult to comment on without knowing the exact procedure and technique used. I would suggest going in to see your surgeon as soon as possible and he/she should be able to answer your concerns and hopefully give you some peace of mind. Best regards and remember time is on your side.
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+4
Early post facelift swelling and skin tightness
That early from a facelift...you will have some swelling, so that should get better and it may be normal. Too much skin tightness after facelift, while less than ideal, will most likely "relax" with time. Sometimes, regular moisturizing of tight skin can help it feel better and adapt (strech) better.
A. John Vartanian, MD
Glendale Facial Plastic Surgeon
Glendale Facial Plastic Surgeon
+4
3 weeks after a facelift: swelling and irregularities
it is normal to see some irregularities and swelling three weeks following a face lift. So much depends on the type of surgical procedure you had. The middle part of the face can stay swollen for many months in some cases. See your physician regularly. He/she may recommend lymphatic massage or other modalities to help with this process.
Jeffrey Kenkel, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+4
Too-tight facelift three weeks post-op, with cheek bulges!
The tightness will resolve as time goes by, but at three weeks you may "feel" tight, but should not have much in the way of visible bulges. If this swelling or bulging is symmetrical, it is likely something that will settle as you get farther along your healing course, but you should also be sure that these areas don't represent collections of blood, fluid, saliva, or perhaps herniated buccal fat pads. Each of the latter require recheck by your surgeon, who can give you good...
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+4
Lines in Cheeks after Facelift
What you describe is a problem that is usually present before surgery if you search for it, but is accentuated by most facelift techniques. Fortunately, if due to skin pull, it will relax some with time. If this does change, it will take some time. I would not consider doing anything to modify this for at least 6-9 months if this does not resolve.
Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon
Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+3
Swelling after facelift
3 weeks after facelift surgery, one would expect to have some residual swelling. Rest assured, this will continue to decrease over the next 2 months. Many of these lines that you are seeing will improve as a result. Make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Samer W. Cabbabe, M.D.
Board - Certified Plastic Surgeon
St. Louis Plastic Surgery Consultants
Samer W. Cabbabe, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+3
After a facelift, the face and neck can feel tight
Feelings of tightness after a facelift is not terribly uncommon. Your swelling can certainly improve over time so that you look and feel more natural.
Jen Yuan Chow, MD
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
+3
Time is the key!
Patients can have some anxieties about the result of their facelift in the immediate post-operative period. In order to achieve a natural, lasting result the skin has to be released from the underlying tissue and placed under an appropriate amount of tension which initially can give a "pulled" or drawn appearance. Not to worry, the skin is a very elastic tissue and you can expect a "relapse" in skin tone in about 90 days after surgery which...
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Leo Lapuerta, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+3
Tightness early after a Face Lift
Hi sukietawdry in Asheville,
Face lift surgery has evolved over the years, but still involves tissue repositioning and tightening. The tight sensation will resolve as the tissue relaxes. One month is still early after the face lift, and many patients report this sensation.
Yes, to a degree skin is pulled, but more importantly the tissue and muscle beneath the skin is tightened. This deeper layer is the secret to face lift surgery. The covering skin displays what is happening...
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+3
Facial lumpiness
As you can see from the responses, most of what you are seeing can be quite normal and expected after a facelift. This is seen in our practice frequently particularly if liposuction is performed in the neck and cheek.Years ago, the trend was to inject steroids into these lumpy areas and they would get better over 3-6 months. Then we would not do anything and they would still get better in 3-6 months!
Timothy Fee, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+3
Excessive tightness 3 weeks postop
The good news is that you are only 3 weeks after your facial rejuvenation surgical procedure. You are likely experiencing some postoperative swelling and this will get better with time. Talk to your plastic surgeon about your concerns.
+2
Facelift swelling and results
There are some early changes after facelifts that do go away- bruising, swellings, some tightness, numbness. Be optimistic about improving over time!
However, there can be some changes that can last- and occasionally a group of long folds from the area near the corner of the mouth to the outer cheek can be one of these stubborn problems.
In patients with very loose skin, if the "pull" direction is not balanced ideally between upward and outward, ...
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+2
Too tight Facelift softens by 6 weeks-bulges mouth to ears may be direction of pull problem
The feeling of being too tight after a Facelift usually goes away after 6 weeks so be patient.
It sounds as though the tightness is below the bulges you mention that run from your mouth towards the ear.
These may also resolve as the tightness relaxes. If they do not, the surgeon may need to do further tightening of the mid and upper face above the tightened area to flatten these bulges. This can happen when the direction of pull of the Facelift is not perfect.
+2
Face Lift, Mini Face Lift, The Palmer Celebrity Face Lift, Beverly Hills Face Lift
At 3 weeks from a traditional face Lift, these minor pleats could certainly be from localised swelling. I'd mention them at your next post Face Lift visit but would give myself 3-4 months to see the final result.
+2
Healing from a facelift
Healing from a facelift happens in three phases. The first 2-3 weeks you will see the initial swelling go away and get some sense for the results. It takes two to three months for most of the swelling to subside and the tissue to soften back to normal. It can take up to a year for some areas to become normal again, particularly with regard to sensation (some areas can be numb for a long time). At three weeks you are WAY too early to be concerned with your results. Try to be patient and you...
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+2
Tightness after face lift
Some tightness after a face lift is not uncommon. Over the next two to three months you should notice an appreciable softening of the skin and more natural look. It is often preferable to have a SMAS lft as well as a skin lift. They appear more natural and keep their result much longer.
Wishing you all the best,
Tal Raine MD Elmhurst, IL
Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facelift too tight
You are probably still experiencing some swelling. This will resolve in time. Please consullt with your surgeon if you are concerned.
Michael Sullivan, MD
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facial swelling and irregularities 3 weeks after surgery.
At only 3 weeks after surgery it is very common to have swelling still present in the face. This may takes several more weeks to resolve. The extent and duration of your swelling depends on the type of face lift you had. In the meantime, follow up with your surgeon regularly and ask if there may be other modalities available to speed up the resolution of this problem.
+2
Too tight better than too loose
A too tight facelift will generally get better with time. Just as your face ages naturally so will your facelift. Don't be anxious or nervous your a still in the healing recovery portion of your surgery. Conversely however if your facelift starts out to loose it will never regain its tightness. Hope this helps ...Good Luck..
Ritu Chopra, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facial Tightness
Faces will relax with time and healing. This is expected and will improve over several more weeks to months.
Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling after facelift
It is not unusual to see swelling at three weeks after a facelift. From your description it sounds like there is still significant swelling, which would explain the visible bulges. Gentle massage of the area may be helpful and I would recommend following up with your surgeon to discuss expected time frame for resolution.
+2
Facelift results improve as swelling resolves
There are several ways to do a facelift so that it can be customized to each person's individual needs. It is possible that your surgeon intentionally overcorrected slightly, anticipating the relaxation of the skin that occurs as the swelling resolves. You will of course talk this over with your own surgeon.
+2
3 weeks post facelift
I think you are very early in your healing process. You can expect substantial improvement in the lines of tension and swelling over the ensuing months. Hang in there and give your body time to heal. Maintain close followup with your surgeon and follow your postop instructions carefully.
I wish you a safe and happy recovery.
Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2
Swelling After Facelift
Three weeks after a Facelift, some degree of swelling is expected to be present. In other words, what you are seeing does not constitute your final result. You will see changes for up to a year and potentially longer as the skin and soft tissues relax to some degree, and the process of Collagen remodeling reaches a steady state.
+2
Tightness after a facelift
It is not uncommon to have tightness or bulges after a facelift. Invariably, there is some expected relaxation which occurs within the first 2 to 6 months following the procedure so I would just be patient at this time.
Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Be patient with your facelift results
After 3 weeks, depending on what type of facelift was performed, it is not that unusual to see some areas that don't look quite normal or right. Be patient, discuss this with your surgeon, and gently massage the areas. More than likely you will look great in a few more weeks.
Andrew C. Campbell, M.D.
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facelift Swelling
Swelling after a facelift will vary from person to person and also depends on the technique used. However,, at 3 weeks after surgery, the majority of facelift patients still have swelling that can create some of the symptoms that you describe. It is best to speak with your surgeon about the healing expectations after their facelift technique.
+2
Too tight facelift 3 weeks post op
Hi,
It sounds like you may still have some swelling and/or small blood clots which form bulges, this should resolve with time. It can also be an unevenly pulled muscle layer which may not improve. The tightness usually always improves over time.
Best,
Dr.S.
+2
Too tight face lift
At three weeks this swelling may still be normal postop edema which will gradually resolve. Did you also have jowling? If there is jowling with fat and liposuction was not performed then this swelling could be from repositioning of the jowl fat pads from the lift so they now sit upward and more posteriorly along the outer side of the mandible. Your facial plastic surgeon is the best one to evaluate you at your next visit.
Mark Loury, MD
Fort Collins Facial Plastic Surgeon
Fort Collins Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Can a Too Tight Face Lift Improve with Time?
A posted photo would be helpful. Best to see your surgeon ASAP! Advise is to be patient. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski
+2
Skin usually loosens over time after facelift.
You are still early in your healing process at 3 weeks after having a facelift. As the swelling continues to subside, you probably will feel less tight and notice relaxation of the bulges. It is also possible that you are seeing fat under the skin (buccal fat pads) that have been accentuated by the pulling. This will probably look a little better over time. Sometimes the skin is pulled in an unnatural direction and this can cause the "Nike sweep," as Dr. Rand noted--if that is the...
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Theda C. Kontis, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Poor facelift
It sounds like you have either a "lateral sweep" where the cheeks look like a Nike Swoosh sign from too upward a pull on the skin especially in a sun damaged patient. The other thing that may be showing up are buccal fat pads. Check back with your doctor for a discussion, you are still early in the recovery but things should be looking great by now.
+1
Can a Too Tight Face Lift Improve with Time?
3 weeks is still relatively early in healing process after your surgery. There are still irritated nerves and tight muscles. Be patient and continue to follow up with your surgeon as directed.
+1
Tightness and Swelling following Facelift
What you have described is very common at 3 weeks following a facelift and most patients will experience swelling in the lateral face and cheeks. This swelling can persist for 3 to 6 weeks but will resolve with time. It can take 6 to 12 months for the scars, both in the incision line and under the skin (where your surgeon did the dissection), to remodel, soften and fade. You can help speed this process by gently massaging the cheeks, using a topical moisturizer, ...
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+1
Appearance after facelift
Because no photo accompanies your question, it is impossible to venture a diagnosis of your problem. Best direct your concern to your surgeon. If the problem improves with time, this is a good sign, and may obviate the need for specific secondary treatment. If the problem becomes worse, some sort of revision procedure may be indicated.
+1
Face Lift Too Tight?
After a facelift things can take several weeks to look less tight or plastic like. Generally would never want it to look "pulled" or "wind swept" though. Sometimes that bulge down by the mouth is actually a buccal fat pad. If you push in on it and it goes away and then "slithers" back out when you take your finger off, it is the buccal fat pad and that will not get better with time, it will need a different procedure to make it...
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Byron D. Poindexter, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon
Reston Plastic Surgeon
+1
Facelift and swelling
Swelling at three weeks after a facelift is normal and this may take some time to settld down. Same goes for tight feeling.
+1
Swelling after Facelift
At 3 weeks after facelift surgery, it is too early to start getting worried about results. The swelling still needs to resolve and the tissues need to settle. Without before and after pictures, it is impossible to give you specific advice or comments on your results. It is possible that you were pulled to tight or with an unnatural vector or direction of pull. Hopefully, you were operated on by an experienced plastic surgeon.
Good Luck.
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+1
Too tight after facelift
Too tight after facelift was a common occurrence in the past when facial rejuvenation was postponed until later in life and a dramatic lift and pull was followed by several weeks of recover. The key in facelift today is an upward lift on the deeper tissues or foundation, and a snug though gentle lift and re-draping of the skin. Bulges and lift lines are not the norm for those who expect a rapid return to active life. Your face will relax some over the next several weeks, and it is likely...
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Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Facelift Recovery Takes 2-3 Months
For any facial surgery, there can be a fair degree of swelling and edema that persists for 2-3 months. Anyone who is only three weeks out form a facelift should not worry about bulging areas, different swelling, etc. Be patient and I think you will be suprised at the changes that still are going to occur over time. If you still have any questions, do not hesitate to talk with your surgeon. I hope this helps
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon
Barrington Plastic Surgeon
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