12 days out from a mini lift with a submentoplasty. Would like a second opinion on recovery.

Your healing process in general can take up to one month for the majority of swelling to subside, incisions to close, sutures to come out, and for bruising to completely go away. #Recovery time from a #facelift varies from person to person, but patients can generally expect to be presentable within three weeks from surgery. Patients should expect swelling, bruising, and discoloration of the skin during this phase of recovery (swelling normally goes down after 48 hours; most bruising will go away within two weeks). When the skin is separated from the underlying tissues during surgery, small sensory #nerves are cut. Varying degrees of numbness will be present after surgery and will improve gradually as the nerves reconnect to the skin. This process can take from 2-6 months for face, neck and cheeks, and to 9-12 months for the forehead and scalp. Muscle weakness may also be present around the mouth especially if liposuction is used. This typically recovers fully in the months after surgery. 

As the nerves regenerate, the itching, burning, tingling and shooting #sensations will occur. Ice, moisturizers and gentle #massaging are helpful during this phase of the #healing process. Frequently there is a tight feeling in the neck, jawline and cheek after a facelift. During surgery, not only the skin but the underlying muscles are tightened to create a better and longer lasting result. Additionally, the #swelling will move downward in the first week and the neck will feel even tighter. Do not be alarmed: the sensation will decrease during the first month. 

Some degree of firmness or lumpiness under the skin is normal after surgery and will resolve with time. Local #massage of the areas may accelerate the resolution of this problem, which normally takes 2-4 months to disappear completely.The marks from a facelift can easily hidden with “camouflage” make-up which you can learn how to apply. The scars from a facelift mature within six to twelve months from the surgery date. It is during this time that the rejuvenating effects of the facelift will become apparent and the real result will be seen. If you have certain concerns about the procedures and #healing process, it is recommended to call your board-certified surgeon or their medical staff and discuss those #concerns.

It is hard to say without photos. Nonetheless, at this point there is nothing surgical to attempt.  Check with your surgeon to see if gentle massage of the area can be performed.  This usually improves slight irregularities in the postop result.  

Without photos, it is difficult to comment on lines on your face.  Follow closely with your surgeon or post photos for us to comment.

Without knowing any specific details of the type of procedure you had, or seeing any images to reference what you are talking about, my comments will have to be very general.  I can tell you that 2 weeks after any kind of facelifting procedure is very early indeed, and it is not at all unusual to still see some distortions, irregularity of texture, swelling, thickness of incisions, and maybe even a "pulled look" in some areas.  Again, these things depend on EXACTLY what was done during your procedure, what you looked like going into the surgery, and how the tissues were managed.  The term "mini-lift" is not standard by any means, and it is used by many people to describe many different procedures.  The one thing I can say about most, if not all, "mini-lifts" or short scar or minimal access procedures, is the generally because the length of the  incisions is much less, there is less access to the the tissues, and there is less incision length to distribute irregularities and to remove excess skin over.  Thus, we often have to rely on some degree of "gathering" excess skin to make things fit.  Typically we try to keep this behind the ear where it doesn't show so much until it relaxes.  In most instances, this will relax with time, but that may take about 4 - 6 months to fully complete the process.  When there is still some residual irregularity present, even after enough time has elapsed, we may consider a small revision under local anesthesia, but we would never want to do anything like this until things were completely stable and done healing naturally.  These are sort of "the trade-offs" for getting a shorter scar and a less involved procedure, as these also come with limitations sometimes.  Most people think they are still worth it.  But, the bottom line is that what you are describing sounds pretty typical for a mini-facelift recovery.  Maintain close contact with your surgeon during this time, and be sure to advise them of any developments in your course.  This is a case in which patience is definitely a virtue!  Best of luck.