3 weeks post op Facelift/ Fat Transfer, I have asymmetry of my cheeks. How long do I have to wait to be symmetrical? (photo)

All patients heal differently, but at 3 weeks the majority of swelling has settled.  If you give yourself another week you should be fine to return to class.  If you are very worried about people knowing you had a procedure done, go have your hair cut and styled different than usual.  That way your classmates will take notice that you have changed your hair and not focus on the lift which will be less obvious.  good luck.

#Asymmetrical #swelling is not uncommon following surgical procedures, including a #facelift. Do not be alarmed if one side of your face is slightly more swollen or numb than the other. This is common and usually disappears within a few weeks.Its best to remain patient because 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. Nevertheless, 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.

Thank you for your question.

Some asymmetry post a face lift is very common. That being said, I recommend that you consult
with your physician regarding the extent of the procedure and the outcome. I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you for your picture. You are early in your recovery.  Your asymmetry will most likely improve over time.

Healing is seldom symmetrical so the picture doesn't demonstrate anything at the moment that's alarming. As long as the trend is favorable over the next few weeks you should be fine.

You do not show us your before pictures so I can't comment on your change/results, but you seem to look great.  You do have slight asymmetry which is not unusual.  Nobody has perfectly symmetric face, and you may have had some asymmetry before.  Also since it's been only three weeks, expect that your face will continue to go through changes.  Finally, with fat grafting, it takes over 3 months for all results to settle.  You may loose some of the grafted fat and that will show over the next 3 months, leading to further changes.

As you have likely noticed, the facial healing from weak to weak can be dramatic after a facelift. If you have any hesitation about returning to dance class than you should follow your instincts and wait another week. Also, if your dance class is quite strenuous, it may be a good idea to hold off on the physical activity another week anyhow. When in doubt, discuss with your surgeon. I hope that's helpful!

Although there is asymmetry I would think that you probably had some asymmetry beforehand. As long as the scars have healed and there are no other issues I would doubt that even an eagle eye would notice your surgery. The swelling will decrease and relax further over the next couple of weeks and you may become more comfortable in public after that. Overall results take at least 6 weeks to become apparent. See your PS if you have concerns.

Thank you for your question. I agree that there is a small amount of asymmetry that is evident particularly in the lighting of your postoperative photographs. You are still relatively early in your postoperative healing course. I suspect that asymmetries will be less noticeable over time.I often will speak with my patients regarding concern relative to friends, colleagues, or others in the community that may detect changes from their surgeries.  As I speak with my patients over the several months of recovery, they often note that friends and family do not mention or address personal plastic surgery procedures.In addition, I believe is very important for patients to resume normal activities as soon as possible. This is important for healing both the operative area as well as your own personal strength.Speak with your surgeon regarding specific questions you may have relative to movement around your operative site to be safe!

From the pictures that you have provided, you appear to be healing normally. Three weeks is still relatively early in the healing process, however, the majority of the visible swelling should be gone. If you wait another week you should be fine. A good hair stylist will be able to help you camoflouge the incision line behind the ear.