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Lumps on Side of Face After Neck and Cheek Lift.

ORIGINAL POST

I am happy with the procedure overall. The pain...

Dee in Seattle
WORTH IT$12,000

I am happy with the procedure overall. The pain was minimal and for the most part the healing has gone well with the exception of the ridge line on my cheek. I am very concerned that this will not go away.

I have a ridge line/lumps on my cheek after a neck and cheek lift 3 months ago. I have been told that this is the suture line and it will go away. How long does it typically take for this to heal properly?

Updated on Jan 31, 2010

Dee in Seattle's provider

Replies (94)

July 9, 2009
I would like to know the answer to this one.
February 11, 2010
I was at the doctors office yesterday 2/10/2010 with the Master Esthetician (im sure i misspelled this)for a follow up facial. This I am told helps the healing process. She gently massaged my face and neck which is to help break down the "lumpiness". She use to work for another surgeon who had retired and has been doing facials for over twenty plus years. She also had a face lift to include: brows, eye's face and neck. She said she was pleased with her outcome at three months and that the lumpiness could take up to six months and that gently massaging the area helps to heal and break it down. So I am exactly six weeks today and can't wait for my three months to get here. I feel my face looks great except that it looks "full" as the sides of my face have the lumps near my ears and some down the sides and i think it looks fat! Also my forehead is still a bit numb and "shinny". Again, Patience is the key but is difficult each time I look in the mirror as I dont see me yet! Thanks and good luck to everyone.
(unregistered guest)
April 3, 2010
I hope your lumps/bumps disappear. I'll be 2 weeks post op on 4/6/10. I just started to develop 3 small long ridges on my cheek and was worried about it. Tell me about 'patience' LOL. I'm only 2 weeks after surgery and already fretting about some of the same problems you have. GOOD LUCK and it would be nice for you to do an update later.
April 4, 2010
On thurs April 8 It will be Three months and 1 week since my surgery. All is looking better!!! I still have some small lumps on the outside of each ear and down through my jaw line. More so on the right side than the left. My face still looks a bit full on each side (not as much)from the ear lobes down each side of my face. My forehead is becoming less and less numb as I feel the pins and needles effects more often and it is more so in the middle of my forehead. Still a small amount on the top of my head. I hate it when you feel it tingle and you scratch it but can't feel it! Also my neck is still a bit tingly as it too takes a while to completely get full feeling back (sometimes I feel a little tightness). As for my eyes, well I do love theml except the lines that look like crows feet (interior stitches) are healing slowlly and should fade over time but when I look in my MAGNIFIED make up mirror I'm so much more picky than before. Over all I have a wonderful and great doctor. Doctor Denk of Associates in Plastic Surgery in Va Beach. Just tell them Penny sent you. They take great care and follow up with you. My next concern is the small lines on each side of my mouth, they go slightly down and I tried a CO2 Laser and have little to NO results at all. Healing time was about 10 plus days, red, peeling, itchy, like a sunburn. Any suggestions please let me know cuz right now they are the only lines I see all else I am very comfortable with but feel that the six month is where I will be lump free and hopefully have feeling back in my Numb forehead. good luck
(unregistered guest)
June 24, 2010
I'm exactly 3 months today, and I do still have a FEW little ridges, that are almost gone. I still have some hardness in my neck and chin area as I know it is still healing. SLIGHT hardness on the side of my cheeks and in front of my ears, and a tingling, sometimes tiny little electric shocks in the area by the front of my ears. All part of healing. I see the Dr today for my 3 month checkup so if you search my name here, you'll get to see what my Dr says, as well as my progress since the surgery.
July 20, 2010
It's now been six and 1/2 months and all is looking great! The only thing that is bothering me is my forehead. It tingles, it itches and is still a little numb. Funny how I can lean over and accidently bang my head on something and hardly feel it. After the procedure it funny that I look closer into my magnified mirror and all looks wonderful and still find minor flaws. I'm not the type to go any further as the little lines and small wrinkles help make us who we are and no one is perfect. Going the extreme like some people is NOT what I will ever do. Other than that it's almost 7months and i'm still a bit numb in the forehead. All the bumps disappeared, All the swelling is Gone. We just have to be patient as it does not heal overnight.
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September 14, 2010
Hi I am at three weeks post op today. I know I should have more patience but at this point I am concerned about the ridge I see running from the corner of my mouth upwards. My PS who is well respected said I am healing well. That everything will be fine in a little bit of time. I am scared though since I am one of those people that worries about everything. i guess I thought that i would be completely healed and everything would be perfect in two weeks time. Please someone tell me that I am over reacting and that they experieced the same and that it does clear up. Thank you so much... The wonders of the internet : )
(unregistered guest)
September 16, 2010
I'll be six months post op next week (9/24), and those ridges, lumps and bumps have almost disappeared.
(unregistered guest)
September 16, 2010
I'm almost six months post op. The sides of my cheeks and in front of the ears, and under the neck are still SLIGHTLY hard with the tingles and little electric shock like sensations. Same feeling in my upper eyelids too, so this is all part of healing. I guess it does take longer than six months for complete healing. I agree, we have to be patient. Glad you are happy with your results :)
(unregistered guest)
September 16, 2010
Congrats. Don't worry. Those lines will disappear. I was worried about mine, but I'm six months post op next week (9/24) and my lines have almost gone. One lady here is 7 months post op and she is still healing, so don't worry. Try to be patient and wait the six months for the total effect. You will be happy.
December 27, 2010
Yes, you ARE overreacting. I am 2 months post-op and have lumpiness below my ears and on the sides of my face, as well as itchy ears but I am really liking how I look thus far. I have been told by my surgeon that it takes up to one full year to be COMPLETELY healed from a facelift and for things to settle in. The hardest part about any of these procedures is being patient and giving oneself time. We all want it to go faster but everyone heals at their own rate. So, BE PATIENT and you will be thrilled with the end result.
April 8, 2011
sounds like we had a similar surgery, I am 3.5 weeks po, still have swelling and lite bruises and hardness on both cheeks, from what I am reading, its normal, right, so in a few months all should be fine, but I am still a little worried mostly the hardness

CC, guest
July 17, 2009
i had mini facelift and neck lift it's been 31/2 wks. everything o.k. except the ridge along left cheek and still swelling and bruise on right cheek. i can't seem to find any real info how normal this is and how long for it to go away
July 19, 2009
Actually, the ridge on my cheek is finally going away. It's been almost 4 months since I had my procedure done. I would give it some time because mine is finally healing and the results look great!
October 17, 2009
Thanks for the follow-up. It's helpful and comforting to know that it's improved!
July 20, 2010
Thank you for posting what your process has been and how the ridges have progressed. I am 1 mo nth and four days post op with a ridge on my left cheek (kind of the shape of a college banner flag) and some squishy bumps both sides of my mouth/chin region. My doctor tried aspirating fluid today, but none could be aspirated. He has had me massaging and doing ultrasound treatments daily. He shot some Kenalog (spelling?) in the bumps today and I am hoping that decreases them. He thinks it is coagulated blood/protein under the skin and the tissue is inflamed. He says it will go away with time. But the one lump/ridge on my left cheeck actually seems like the skin sages down over the ridge. I am hoping that when the blood is broken under the skin that the swelling/lump/sage will just snug up to look more normal. Anyone who has had experience with this I would love some reassurance that it will heal!
July 20, 2010
Be patient, They will disappear. its been almost seven months now and I have no more ridges, bumps, or swelling. Just a little numbness in my forehead. Six months is a good time frame but we all heal differently good luck
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September 18, 2010
I have ridges and bumps from the corner of my mouth towards and upwards to my temple... It bothers me and I need to know it will go away. When I look in the mirror that is what I see first. Please someone tell me it does get better
(unregistered guest)
September 27, 2010
Susie, the lines and ridges will eventually go away. I'm currently six months post op and those lines appear and disappear. Some people heal quicker than others. Try not to worry, they WILL eventually disappear.
(unregistered guest)
September 27, 2010
Lyndie, those problems WILL eventually go away. It might take some time. I'm currently six months post op, and still have lines appear and disappear, and I know that in my case, I am a slow healer so I'm giving myself a few more months for full healing. You'll be ok, just give it some time.
July 20, 2009
Doctor told me normal healing time is between 3 to 6 months.
(unregistered guest)
September 27, 2010
I agree AngelLady. Some people take longer to heal. In my case, I'm STILL healing at six months, so I know I do have a few more months of the healing process to take place.
August 7, 2009
Seems terms are used loosely - what is the difference in procedure between a mini-face lift and a traditional full face lift? (I was told that a face lift includes the neck lift but yet this is considered a "mini lift"). My problem areas are lower area of face - don't need eyes or forehead done - other than fat transfer in lower eye lids.
August 7, 2009
Please explain the face lift (including neck lift) procedure. Is it true that they actually remove the skin down to the nasal area and re-drape it? Is it true that a crow bar device is used to displace skin? Is it true that screws are placed in the skull? (Scary!) I was ready to go forward until someone told me she saw the entire procedure on the discovery channel. Please explain?
February 11, 2010
For anyone curious as to how they do a procedure please check out this site: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Patients_and_Consumers/Procedures/Cosmetic_Procedures/Facelift.html It will show you step by step as to what is acutally done and will put you at ease if you decide to go with the procedure. MAKE SURE YOUR SURGEON IS BOARD CERTIFIED. IM NOT SURE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT, CHECK IT OUT: BUT I HEARD THAT THE DOCTOR ON THE TV SHOW DR. 90210 IS NOT BOARD CERTIFIED AND HE HAS HIS OWN SHOW! THAT SCARES ME! HERE IS HIS SIGHT: http://www.drrobertrey.com/ So be very careful when choosing your doctor. Board Certified is the way to go. This is your Face and if it gets messed up, it's hard to fix. Look at Mickey Roard, Bruce Jenner, Kenny Rogers etc. Be careful
October 17, 2010
Talk to a real certified plastic surgeon.