4 Weeks Post-op Facelift--left Side Doing Well--right Side Has Huge Lump Behind Right Ear. Will It Heal?

asked 4 months ago by Linda in Brighton in Brighton, MI
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 129 times
Tags: bump, improvement, recommendation, uneven

behind ear lobe. Also neck is quite wrinkled and hard& still shows where the drainage tube was. Massaging has been done twice daily. Wrinkle in front of rt. earlobe which dr. may have to fix. My neck does not look good and have been wearing turtlenecks in hopes it will improve.Looks like a facelift for sure on rt. side. Will these go away and how long must I wear turtlenecks? Thank you!

7 answers to 4 Weeks Post-op Facelift--left Side Doing Well--right Side Has Huge Lump Behind Right Ear. Will It Heal?

4 weeks post-op

It is very difficult to answer your question without seeing your pictures but 4 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.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

4 Weeks Post-op Facelift--left Side Doing Well--right Side Has Huge Lump Behind Right Ear. Will It Hea

One can have such scenarios if there was more of a blood collection on one side versus the other. The blood can cause the tissues to become stiff and indurated. Usually with time and massage, that will get better. We also use an ultrasonic physical therapy massage machine and find that helps quite a bit.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

Healing Process

Sounds like you may have a problem that will need revision. You need to wait at least 6 months before going back to do revision work.

Richard Galitz, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

Scars must mature and swelling must decrease after a facelift.

Scars must mature and swelling must decrease after a facelift before you can see the full result. Having said that, things should be looking significantly improved by one month -- at least things should be looking symmetric. Make sure you keep returning to your physician to be given directions on healing.

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Facelift healing progress

Unfortunately, many mass marketing cosmetic companies have peppered the airwaves with commercials advertising amazing facelift results with little to no down time. Unfortunately, this is completely false. A facelift if a very effective procedure that can produce fantastic results. In order to achieve these results there is a lot dissection in the face as well as the neck. The muscle layer of the face is manipulated and anchored in order to provide the strength of the lift. The result of the... more

Todd C. Miller, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Firm areas after a facelift will usually resolve

The complete healing process following most facelifts progresses over several months. While most of the obvious bruising and swelling should dissipate after two to three weeks, it is not unusual to have areas which are firm and somewhat bumpy for a longer period. Massage does help these areas to improve faster, sometimes it is helpful to use localized steroid injections. Close follow up with your surgeon should help obtain the fastest resolution.

Mark Beaty, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

I am so sorry to learn that you are having issues after your facelift.

Linda A facelift covers a lot of territory. Healing does take many months. Typically the face goes through healing process that can make the tissue under the skin feel lump bumpy. This will be at its worst 6-8 weeks after surgery. After that things do soften. It is not unusual for the problems you are describing to soften and be much less dramatic as time passes. Even wrinkles that look like they may need touch up surgery can soften and disappear with... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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