Bad Results from Face Lift by Facial Plastic Surgeon? (photo)

Whenever I learn someone has had a "partial facelift" I wonder why the person did not get the whole facelift. You would not shop for a partial car you would shop for a whole car. I am a huge fan of minimally invasive surgery but if someone needs a facelift then they should get what works not a fad procedure that often disappoints. I agree with the other post that really we can not help you online given the information you have posted. Good Luck!

It is very hard to see what is making you unhappy in this photo.  I agree with others comments in asking you to look at your before and after photos with your surgeon and try to figure something out.  Good doctors want happy patients and will usually bend over backwards to make that happen.

After 9 months, you basically are looking at the final result after your facelift.

I would suggest that you  schedule an appointment with your surgeon to review your concerns and appreciate everything by viewing your before and after photographs. A second surgery is not always the best approach, even in situations of suboptimal results.

In addition, you may want to get a second opinion from an experienced facelift surgeon to see what else can be done to meet your goals.

As other Surgeons have noted, the photo does not provide adequate information to render any judgment on your result. The best course of action would be to sit down with your operating surgeon and review the pre- and postop photos.  Although the limited photo does not appear "droopy" at first glance, much depends on how you looked prior to surgery.  I believe that Dr. Minniti's response is thoughtful and concise; the real issue is whether your expectations were or were not met with primary surgery and whether revision surgery will be beneficial.

    I would post preop and postop pictures from at least front and lateral gaze in good lighting.  That would allow for some evaluation of results.  With regard to the result now, you should probably go to see another surgeon for an opinion.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who has performed hundreds or thousands of facelifts.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

From the single view that you provided - your neck and jawline look pretty good. But the photo quality is bad, so who knows what I'm missing. Have your surgeon take a proper 5 view set of post op photos and compare them to your pre-op photos. Critically evaluate the results that you see and discuss them with your surgeon. Keep in mind that your surgeon wants you to be happy and pleased with your result.

Hello,

I am sorry you are not happy with the outcome of your facelift. As the others have said, it is difficult to assess the quality of your result with the single photo you provided.  I think that the best thing to do is to sit down with your surgeon to assess the clinical photographs of your result. Three things should be established at this meeting: 1. Will a revision surgery improve your results  2. Do you want your surgeon to do the surgery. 3. Payment of the revision surgery.  

The first two points should be established before the third should be addressed; in fact, most surgeons have policy that you probably signed off on regarding payment responsibility for revision surgery.  If you feel that a second opinion is in order, than seek it.

Finally, I would like to say that a common viewpoint has developed among the masses regarding plastic surgery which has been significantly shaped by television and the internet.  Specifically, that anyone with enough money (or celebrity) can get a perfect result with no risk of complications, and minimal need for recovery.  However, this is not the case at all.  In fact, some of our most thoughtful surgeon scientists have addressed this issue, specifically in regards to the facelift.  In the December 2012 issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr Val Lambros discusses the biomechanical limitations of a facelift and the inability to predict who will need a revision.

I am not suggesting that you personally had this viewpoint regarding plastic surgery, nor am I defending your surgeon.  I want you to know that results are frequently imperfect and revision can usually yield a result that is satisfying and lasting.

Best of luck!

Complications from facelift need good before and after photos to be properly evaluated and to give an opinion. You should get a second opinion from an experienced facelift surgeon.

IT is very difficult to assessor situation based on the photograph that you provided.  However, it is often very helpful to get a second opinion by a board-certified plastic surgeon.  Your preoperative photographs, and the operative note will be very helpful.

It is difficult to fully evaluate your concerns with one photograph.  Please discuss your concerns with your surgeon and if you are still unhappy then get a second opinion.  Please bring all of your pertinent records such as photographs and OP note.