Facelift drains filling up with fluid 1 year after surgery. What can I do? (Photo)

Question

Female age 55 I had a facelift a year ago and it seems like where the drains were it fills up like w/ fluid. probably isn’t fluid but It’s so strange. Everyday I’m massaging it and using warm cloths and it hasn’t gotten any better. I’ve asked my surgeon and he told me that since he couldn’t see it that I should concentrate on the lift he did under my chin. I’m sort of happy but this feels like I’m being chocked. I’ve asked another Surgeon and he didn’t know what to do either.

C. Blake Perry, MD · Answer

Likely this is just a skin redraping issue. If the neck skin isn’t sufficiently undermined and redistributed, it can bunch in certain places. You need an in person consultation to determine the exact cause.

Sergei Kalsow, MD · Answer

Hi, that is most likely not fluid, but some excess skin.  It is a normal occurence after a facelift, since results are never 100 percent perfect.  The way to prevent that particular fold is to pull the skin behind the ear further back during a facelift.  Right now a touch up, where skin would be pulled in a more posterior vector behind the ear, perhaps will help.

Edgar Torres, MD · Answer

Hi Sillybutsweet.From my point of view, it is very difficult for a liquid in such a small quantity and with such a lateral and high location (the liquids seek the lowest areas influenced by the force of gravity) to remain a year without being reabsorbed. I would say that it is rather a skin fold that is solved by redistributing the tension towards more posterior areas of the neck.

Facelift drains filling up with fluid 1 year after surgery. What can I do? (Photo)

Answers (3)