Why does my face look round like a football after face & neck lift?

Question

51yr& had a face & neck lift. Its been 9 days since surgery the muscles under my cheek were lifted &stiched back to place, now my face looks like a football, or like an alien with a pointy chin , before surgery I had a sculpted appearance & a heart shaped face. I know have swelling but looking at other people's pictures day 9 after surgery they look swollen but they dont look like a football face. If my round face is not due to swelling can something be done to get a more sculpted face?

Paul S. Nassif, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for the question. 9 days is still very soon after surgery and there is a great deal of swelling present. In general, it can take 6-12 months for the final result to be evident. I would recommend following up with your surgeon regarding any post-operative concerns, as he/she knows the details of your procedure and will be able to advise you. I hope this information helps, and I wish you the best of luck with the remainder of your recovery.

Dilip D. Madnani, MD, FACS · Answer

Its definitely too early to judge your final results after 9 days and I would suggest waiting a few months before you make a decision on the results. Compare with your before pictures so you get an accurate comparison of results and preop appearance.

Arnold Almonte, DO · Answer

at 9 days post op you are still in the very early stages of healing. Continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon and give it more time. Good luck

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

First and foremost, its best to remain patient. It is still early in to your recovery. The 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). 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.

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear TybaThank you for your question!  Each patient recovers differently. Please check with your surgeon .  The big changes are in the first month following surgery.With Warm RegardsTrevor M Born MD

Philip Solomon, MD, FRCS · Answer

I understand your concerns but generally, most patients do experience quite a bit of swelling at this point post op. Everyone does heal at a different pace but if you're overly concerned I would suggest you follow up with your plastic surgeon.  A proper examination would likely put you at ease.  Dr. Philip Solomon

Jeffrey Joseph, MD, FACS · Answer

Swelling is quite normal after a facelift procedure.  Depending on the type of lift you had, you may have swelling for 4-6 weeks.  Without seeing photos, it's difficult to evaluate your particular case. I assume you are seeing your surgeon for check ups and suture removal, so discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS · Answer

This can still be normal swelling post operatively. I recommend to see your surgeon ASAP. Sometimes there are small maneuvers you can do in clinic or with pressure dressing to help contour the face in the early stages.

I have recommended frequently on here about low sodium diets. A sodium restricted diet to less than 1000mg / day for the next two weeks will significantly help your swelling and your face will start to sharpen as that goes down.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck,

DrC

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

You are correct that there would still be some swelling present 9 days after a face and neck lift.  The amount of swelling can vary from patient to patient, so not everyone will look the same at this point in time.  It will take several months for the swelling to resolve before you have a better idea of your results.  I would not recommend doing anything at the moment, other than just giving yourself more time to heal.

David Rosenstein, MD · Answer

It truly is too soon to predict what your final results will be. It takes 6 months to see a close representation for your final results. And it will continue to improve the following 6 months to the 1 year mark. I recommend that you concern yourself less about what you look like now and more on just positive healthy healing. Fillers such as Sculptra and Juvederm can always add more definition later on if you're still unsatisfied. Best of luck to you.

Why does my face look round like a football after face & neck lift?

Answers (18)