“Emotionally and physically scarred after mini-lift”
Mini lift: NOT worth it
Pain: Severe
I had a mini face lift almost eight weeks ago, in March. At first I liked what I saw but the more I “heal” the more I’m realizing this might actually be my final result.
For the first few weeks after the procedure the swelling was terrible, especially concentrated in my cheeks and working outwards toward my ears. This is part of the normal healing process for a mini lift so I wasn’t concerned. I also bruised very badly and built up blood pockets under the skin. Again, this is supposed to be normal but it was also very frightening! I don’t think these doctors should send patients home like this because it is very scary to be alone and looking like this. You don’t know if you’re going to have problems or not.
Now I’m two months “recovered” and the swelling has lessened but it’s still there in my cheeks. I have also developed hard little lumps in my cheeks that can’t be massaged away (I’ve tried). My doctor told me to do massages at first to smooth out the area and to keep doing them but they didn’t seem to be doing any good. Then he told me it was fluid build up and went in and drained the area. This didn’t bring noticeable results either and I am still swollen and awaiting a call back about the next step. Part of my face is still numb too.
At this point I am worried that if I stay swollen much longer then my skin will be permanently stretched and I will need another mini lift. I don’t think there’s anyway to avoid it but this was not the results I expected.
May 18, 2007Comments and replies (10)
unregistered guest
30 Aug 2007
NO ONE EXPECTS THOSE RESULTS AND IT SEEMS QUITE A LOT OF US ARE HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I FOR ONE WOULDNT LET ANOTHER OF THEM AT LSL, AFTER THE INITIAL SURGERY, TOUCH ME!!! I DEVELOPED, WHAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT YOU HAVE, A HEMATOMA. IT'S BLOOD THAT WASNT ABSORBED BY THE BODY. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO ANOTHER, WELL A "REAL" PLASTIC SURGEON, TO TAKE CARE OF ME. HE HAD TO DRAIN IT E/O DAY FOR THE PAST2 WEEKS. I KNEW THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING THE MIN. THEY BEGAN SURG. IT WAS TOO LATE, BUT I WASNT GOING TO BE A STATISTIC OF A FACE LIFT GONE BAD!!!! SO I WALKED OUT B/F THEY HURT ME AND RUINED MY FACE ANYMORE... GOOD LUCK, YOU SHOULD BE RESTING. HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN SWOLLEN? MINE WAS FOR 3 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN DRAINING EVER SINCE. I'VE BEEN SEEN BY MY PS MANY TIMES AND THAT TOO WILL COST ME!!! AND IT AIN'T GONNA BE CHEAP, TRUST ME. MY FACE IS WORTH THE CORRECTION.
258 posts
21 Oct 2008
How are you doing now?
258 posts
21 Oct 2008
Has anyone had a chicago area LSL done? How did it go& were you happy? Please feel free to click on my username if you want, to privately email me. Am very curious how it went, where it was done& how you liked the staff/ doctor.
1 post
15 Nov 2008
has anyone had a quick lift or botox around the mouth and forehead in the Charlotte area or gastonia area, if so could you please let me know the dr. and results from this.
unregistered guest
3 Feb 2009
It has been three weeks since my "mini Face lift". I am still quite swollen and sore all around my ears and numb in front of my ears. There is a noticeable scar and a hard lump under my chin. I am told now that it will take six months to fully recover [after being told 2-3 weeks before I had it done]. It has been a real ordeal and I am still frightened that it won't fully heal or feel natural again, or even that it looks improved frankly. If I had know what it would take psychologically and physically I definitely would NOT do it and will never let them cut me again. They make it sound so easy and show you only the good results and say there is nothing that can go wrong. I feel like a real sucker. It cost $4500 plus a week alone in a hotel room with horrible huge bruises. I also had my upper eye lids lifted and see some improvement at the center of the lid with a droop at the outside corners that looks even worse to me than before, plus protruding noticeable scars [this was an addittional $1300]. Maybe it will eventually be something I am glad I did, but at this point I fully regret it.
258 posts
5 Feb 2009
Your story sounds like the beginning of our stories. I pray you are the one to heal, but fear you may not. I am not a DR, just one of many who had the LSL & our stories sound so much alike. Keep the faith, we eill pray for your recovery. Give it a month& see a board certified P.S. elsewhere. There are many good Dr's on this site to choose from, possibly living near you. God Bless& feel free to personally email me under Bits
8 posts
26 Jul 2009
I am in the same boat. I had a mini face lift about 8 weeks ago and was told in the beginning that the swelling would (for the most part) go away in a few weeks. Now that a lot of swelling is still around my under eye area it has turned into a few months. WHAT?? You are right in that we should be told this to begin with. We are left sitting at home looking at someone in the mirror (in shock) wondering what we should do next. I still have swelling on my face and I am also worried that it has stayed swollen so long that my skin will be stretched. I am hoping for the best and if my swelling does go down, I will report back that I was wrong in judging too fast. But for now, I am worried and wish I had been told about the months thing b/c I have to go back to work looking like this which I did not expect. When you pay this much money for something, you expect fantastic results not weeks of worry.
24 posts
30 Jul 2009
Hello in AL, did you have an LSL like some of the othrs? I am considering a mini-lift as well, but not the LSL as I have heard horror stories. I have had blephs and lipo under my chin. I had swelling off and on for 3 months. I had a knot under my chin that felt like an eraser for several weeks. All of that improved though. Also, has anyone had a mini-lift by Dr. Mike Nayak in St. Louis. His before-and-afters look great. I'd just like some first hand testimonials though, if possible.
24 posts
9 Aug 2009
Thanks, I hope things get better. Like I said, it took 3 months for my swelling to go away. Some people do not have as much swelling as others, but I have a lot. I have learned to triple their estimate for swelling and then to expect some morning swelling months after. Keep us posted!