Do irregularities go away eventually after lower face lift and neck lift? (Photo)

Question

I had a lower facelift and necklift 3 weeks ago. I had a hemotoma that had to be evacuated the next day. Then I had a seroma on the same side, it was drained 4 times and I wore a compression garment and it went away. Now I have irregularities on that side it's hard swollen and bumpy. My PS said to massage it. How long till it goes away. Will it go away on its own? How often should I massage it ?

Alejandro J. Quiroz, MD · Answer

After you have a face lift specially if you had a hematoma , the residual scaring will take several weeks to improved more than 12 week in some cases so be patient and be follow by your doctor

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Given your history of a hematoma and multiple aspirations for a seroma, I would expect the contour irregularities to persist for a longer duration than baseline facelift healing.  The cycle of inflammation introduced by hematoma/ seroma leads to a longer cycle of healing.  Try to be patient and stay in touch with your Surgeon.

Richard Balikian, MD · Answer

Everything your plastic surgeon has told you is correct. It is unfortunate when a seroma or hematoma happens, but it does happen. Irregularities are best treated with massage and the tincture of time. Following up with your surgeon will allow him or her to to consider options such as steroid injection, radiofrequency and subcision as adjunctive treatments to soften the irregularities.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Yes, there will be irregularities especially because you have had trauma on one side of your face, which will take longer to heal and have increased scar tissue present.  Massaging the area to soften the scar will help to speed to process.  The more you can massage the better.  A steroid injection may be needed to help as well.  All The Best

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

Thanks for sharing.  As a result of the hematoma (bleeding) and seroma (inflammatory fluid) There is inflammation in the surrounding skin causing firmness. The technical term is induration.  Sometimes untreated or under treated hematoma and or seroma may cause some internal scar tissue called fibrosis. Keep in close follow up with your surgeon so he can best direct you.  Massage, warm compresses, ultrasound, and steroid injections may be used to help treat your condition.  This is a process that should improve over the next several months.

Kevin Sadati, DO · Answer

Generally Hematoma followed by Seroma formation leads to sever inflammatory response and delayed healing.  You have to give it at least 3-6 months for healing.  Meanwhile, lymphatic drainage with Hydrafacial, Ultrasonic treatments, and manual massaging after warm compress will help.

Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for being honest about your hematoma.  Sometimes people present the picture without any details and it gives an incomplete history.  The occurrence of any hematoma or seroma will lengthen your healing course and irregularities can be expected for quite a long period of time.  Sometimes ultrasound, massage, and even RF treatments may help speed up the healing.  The main factor in healing will be to allow enough time to heal.  There is no advantage to going back in for revision right away.  You should give it time to heal and follow with your surgeon.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It's too soon to tell what your final results will be. You can have swelling which can last 3-6 months after your procedure. I recommend adding lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. It can take up to 6 months to have your final results with a face and neck lift. To improve your final results a combination approach with thermage/venus legacy and Kybella/Ultherapy. I recommend getting a formal consultation with an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Nicholas S. Karter, MD · Answer

Having a hematoma post-op can be very frustrating. Even after the hematoma is evacuated, there is still generally a small amount of clotted blood stuck behind. This will go through some changes, including being lumpy and bumpy for a while. The changes can take many months to resolve and that area will often lag behind the rest of the face in healing. In most people it will totally resolve after the full healing process, but in some the area may have persistent scar tissue. I would recommend you continue to follow with your plastic surgeon and give it the full one year to heal. See what things look like at one year and go from there. There is nothing special that should be done to speed the process, you just need time. I hope this helped, good luck!!

Do irregularities go away eventually after lower face lift and neck lift? (Photo)

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