Facelift: Q&A
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I Am 3 Weeks Post-op from a Facelift and Now Have a Crooked Smile. Permanent?
I am 3 weeks post-op from a facelift and now have a crooked smile. How can I tell if this is permanent? My right bottom lip won't move down, so when I smile and I look like "Popeye." When I try to make the right bottom lip go down, there are little muscles under my lip that jump around like they are trying to work.
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22 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
popeye13
in Pennsylvania
+3
Weakness in smile after facelift
Although it is very concerning for any patient to see some weakness in muscle movement after a facelift, permanent nerve injury is not very common. It is more common to see weakness due to stretching or swelling around the nerve branches which move the muscles of the face. Something to note would be if the smile has changed at all over the 3 week period since the surgery. Although it may take a number of months for nerve weakness to resolve, you should slowly start to see increasing muscle...
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Crooked smile after facelift
You describe a weakness of the right marginal mandibular nerve. if the lip flickers then i expect continued improvement. even if the flicker is in different muscles, at 3 weeks weakness is not necessarily a sign of a nerve being cut. much more likely it is a neuropraxia (injury that will heal). unfortunately, permnanent injuries do occur so continue to see your surgeon often to asess your progress. If there is no movement at 3 months consider exploration and repair of nerve, this needs to be...
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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
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Assymmetries after facelift likely will resolve with time
The corner of the mouth/lower lip is pulled down by the depressor anguli oris muscle, which is innervated by the marginal mandibular nerve. This nerve is one of the branches most commonly weakened after a facelift. Usually movement will recover in 6 to 12 weeks, although complete recovery may take longer. The incidence of permanent injury is fortunately low. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon. Exercising (trying to use the affected muscle) may improve recovery.
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Facelift - Crooked Smile at 3 Weeks
Fortunately, the majority of these situations resolve spontaneously - it may take a few weeks or even a few months this deficit to get better, but most likely it will. There is a small percentage of patients in whom these problems are permanent, but while it may be possible to assess that (in theory an MRI could show a complete division of a nerve, for example) it is more likely not to show anything. And the fact that you have some twitching is a good sign. You should...
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Facelift Crooked smile Usually will improve over weeks and months
Facelift Crooked smile Usually will improve over weeks and months. This can be due to swelling and sometimes, more rarely, facial nerve stimulation to injury. The fact that you can have some twitching is a good sign and likely that you will have a full recovery. I would wait at least 6 months before considering doing anything or being concerned.
Thanks for reading, Dr Young
see video
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Lip weakness is almost always temporary after facelifting surgery
Although it is quite rare to have weakness of the lips after a face lift, it occasionally does occur. It is most likely from minor injury to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve ( the nerve that controls facial expression on the face). This can be caused by stretch injury to the nerve or using electrical cautery to stop bleeding in the immediate vicinity of the nerve. In almost all cases the function will return with time. Unfortunately, sometimes this can...
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Facelift and muscle movement
As most have already stated a face lift it a very technical procedure whereby the skin, muscles and underlying foundation of the face are tightened, shaped and recontoured. There are many small and larger nerves in the face which may become bruised during this procedure. Rarely there is permanent injury to these nerves. At three weeks it is far to early to make any conclusions concerning your smile it takes up to three months for all of the swelling and bruising to resolve and for healing to...
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Red Bank Plastic Surgeon
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Too Early to Worry, Smile will Return
The key to giving you some piece of mind is how early you still are after your operation. As others have alluded to this type of mild asymmetry is one of those things that can happen. Your surgeon negotiates through your tissues and its his or her job to know where these nerves become more superficial. I would give you a 98% chance of recover within 6 more weeks. Try not to stress to much, be patient.
+1
3 Weeks Post-op from a Facelift and Now Have a Crooked Smile
Based on your description it appears that you have weakness of one of the branches of your facial nerve. This typically resolves with time, but can take up to 6 months. Botox (to the normal side) can often help reduce asymmetry
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Crooked Smile After Facelift
Dear Popeye13,
Your facial nerve most likely has been bumped, bruised or stretched. Fortunately, the weakness is usually temporary and lasts weeks to several months. In rare occasions the weakness may last up to a year. This can be a very stressful time while you are waiting for the nerve to come back. Please try to be patient and know that permanent damage is very rare. The fact that you are feeling twitches is a good sign. Good luck.
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Lower Lip Weakness Following Facelift
While weakness of the lower lip can be devastating both functionally and aesthetically, this does not necessarily mean it is permanent. Often times, this is caused by stretching of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve and recovers fully. Sometimes, permanent weakness can result which requires attention of a facial plastic surgeon who specializes in treatment of facial paralysis. In your case, it it too early to say whether this is permanent or not. I...
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Crooked smile after facelift
Facial nerves and muscles are quite finicky. Despite having performed thousands of procedures on the face both cosmetic and for tumor work which actually involves dissecting and preserving the facial nerve I am still humbled by the variable response to surgical trauma. i have done procedures with extensive pulling and tugging on or around the nerve and seen patients wake up without a trace of weakness and also have seen complete temporary weakness after barely touching or being near the...
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Lip is weak after Face Lift
You are describing a weakness, of the lower lip depressor muscle, from weakness or paralysis of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. If the lower lip depresses at all, that's a better sign which points more to a nerve injury.
However, if the lower lip can't be depressed at all, this could be the result of a nerve transection. You should return to your Face Lift surgeon for his examination, evaluation and treatment. Nerve...
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Sounds like a marginal mandibular injury.
Permanent motor injuries from facelifts are rare but do occur. You are only 3 weeks after the facelift. While that does not preclude recovery, it does suggest a more significant injury that could take months to fully recover and you might be left with a slight motor deficient. It is important to bring this issue to your surgeons attention so you can be carefully followed for this issue.
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I Am 3 Weeks Post-op from a Facelift and Now Have a Crooked Smile. Permanent?
This is one of the most common nerve problem after facelift and liposuction of the lower face and neck and fortunately, it is temporary but it may take several weeks to 6 months to resolve. Follow up with your surgeon as schedulled and regularly.
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
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Lip weakness after facelift
Peipheral branches of the facial nerve can be temporaliy injured. The most common lip weakness we see is due to the xylocaine injection we use before starting surgery. We do this to reduce bleeding and to give post operative pain relief. However ocassionally we inject near rhe nerve and cause a 12 hour weakness that always resolves. Be patient, nerves heal very slowly but, think you will be fine.
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Lip weakness after facelift
Lip weaknesses after facelifts are obviously very distressing findings to a patient. It is always difficult at this early time to know if this will be of a permanent nature, or will it improve slowly but fully over the next several months. Onlt time will tell. Try to stay relaxed and continue to follow up with your Plastic Surgeon.
Good luck to you.
Frank Rieger M.D. Tampa Plastic Surgeon
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Face Lift
You should see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and have your face evaluated. You are still fresh from a surgery and inflammation is present so this all may return to normal, but you do need to be evaluated. See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is in your area and one who does a lot of facelift procedures.
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See your plastic surgeon
Although this could be nothing to worry about, I would suggest making a follow up appointment with your plastic surgeon to discuss as soon as possible.
see video
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I Am 3 Weeks Post-op from a Facelift and Now Have a Crooked Smile. Permanent?
Sounds like injury or more to the right marginal mandibular facial nerve. Best to discuss with your chosen surgeon or seek in person opinions. I believe over the next few months this "should" resovle but over the internet I really can not be certain.
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Crooked smile after facelift
It is difficult to tell what muscles are affected without seeing pictures or better yet performing a physical exam. Injuries to the branches of the nerves that control movement around the mouth are a rare but devastating problem. Fortunately, majority of the injuries of this kind that are reported in literature are temporary. Permanent injuries are extremely rare in the hands of an experienced and well trained plastic surgeon that specializes in the area of the face. In addition,...
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Tacoma Facial Plastic Surgeon
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Lip Paralysis after Facelift
You may have a mental nerve injury, which is a complication after face/neck lifting. You should be sure to have close followup by your Plastic Surgeon after something such as this occurs. This is usually resolved with conservative treatment.
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