What type and how often should Ultrasound Therapy be performed for post 5 weeks facelift hematoma residual effects? (photo)

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  Hematoma, a collection of blood underneath the skin, is certainly a risk of facelift surgery.  The best initial management is evacuation of collected blood from the potential space between the skin and underlying tissues, followed by compression to prevent re-accumulation of blood or fluid within the space.  Sometimes this may require serial aspiration or evacuation of fluid from the space as it heals, or placement of a drain.  The presence of collected blood under the skin can create an inflammatory reaction that can delay healing and cause firm ridges, bumps, and skin irregularities.  These issues will typically resolve with time, but it may take several months before the tissues return to normal.  Simple measures such as gentle massage, low dose steroid injections, and ultrasound treatments may help the inflammation resolve more quickly.  Rarely, revision surgery may be required, but this should be delayed until at least one year after the initial procedure to allow the body to heal optimally prior to any further intervention.  Each surgeon likely has a protocol for managing this type of complication, based on their own experience and expertise and factors related to each unique case.  However, the majority of these cases will improve significantly with time and patience.  I would encourage you to discuss your concerns with your primary surgeon, be compliant with their recommendations, and be patient with the healing process.  I wish you the best in your recovery.

The best treatment is time. It may be more than several months before you see marked improvement in your results. It's probably not worth paying for daily ultrasounds. Massage is good and you can do that yourself. It's best to be patient.

It is very unusual to have to drain a facelift hematoma through a neck incision so I am assuming you had a significant problem.  I would not try any scar treatments without consulting a board certified plastic surgeon.  If your original surgeon was not one, find one.  In my opinion heat is a mistake and I do not think ultrasound therapy will give any significant improvement in the scar.  Good luck, Jane. 

I know that you probably aren't going to want to hear this right now, but time is going to be the best healer. I don't really think that paying for daily ultrasound is really going to be worth it. Kindly,Kouros Azar

This can happen after a hematoma as the residual blood can be an irritant. Light massage, ultrasound, and even dilute kenalog can help. Often time is the best healer.

Anxious Nellie, I can see why you are anxious but unfortunately I cannot help you with this problem. I'm not aware of any research that shows ultra sound is beneficial for your particular problem nor if it is how it should be applied. I would ask your surgeon but it appears to me that you may have more going on than just a post op resolving hematoma. Always trust your face to a surgeon that does "only faces" and if need be get a second opinion. Good luck!

it certainly looks like you developed a hematoma in the neck which has created this thick ridge.  As previously suggested I am not sure Ultrasound treatments will make a big difference.   Better option is to use repeated injections, about 3 weeks apart, of small amounts of dilute Kenalog solution (10 mg/cc)right into the ridge followed by gentle massage.  Chances are this will resolve but may take months.  In some situations, revision surgery may be necessary.