Numbness and Lumpiness After Facelift?

Feelings of uneveness and lumpiness under your facial skin are normal signs of swelling and healing. In addition, if you would not have some numbness of the cheeks and neck, I would be concerned that your surgeon did not do an appropriate face and neck lift...
Joking aside, all of the things you are describing are within the expected range of normal 3 1/2 weeks after your facelift. Stay in close touch with your surgeon so that you can discuss any abnormalities or concerns if they should arise.

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). 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.

Numbness and swelling are both common side effects following a surgical facelift. That lumpiness you feel is most likely swelling, and is perfectly normal following a facelift. While the majority of swelling should dissipate fairly quickly, minor swelling can persist for months. Numbness as well can last for up to a year in some cases, depending on the individual. If you are concerned about your healing process, I recommend visiting your surgeon for a follow-up visit to make sure everything is progressing well.

After any surgical procedure, it takes time to heal. How much time this takes depends on the patient, and the nature of the procedure. With most procedures inflammation lasts six weeks, and it can take several months for the lumpiness and scar maturation to occur. The numbness occurs every time we make an incision and elevate skin. This may never completely get better, but sensation usually comes back to a great extent. I know that patients want things to recover faster, but these things take time and are limited by our biology. I like to use analogies, and an analogy most patients can relate to is.... If you sprained your ankle on the day of surgery  you would still be in pain six weeks out. Recovery from a facelift is no different.

It is common for numbness to occur after a facelift. It can take a few weeks for numbness to go away, but sometimes it may take up to a year. Nerve regeneration will slowly occur over this time, allowing you to have sensation again.

Generally speaking, it can take 6 to 12 months to completely heal after surgery. Please keep in touch with your surgeon or his/her clinical team to discuss your ongoing concerns.

Hello! Thank you for your question! Numbness after any surgical
procedure is expected for several weeks to months following. As the
nerves to the area are traumatized and will then experience a temporary
neuropraxia, a transient loss of nerve conduction. This usually
resolves over the next 6-12 weeks, but depending on the procedure
performed, sometimes much longer. Typically this should resolve by 1
year. As it goes past this date, the likelihood of the sensation
returning is small. However, it can take up to 2 years. If no return
from there, it is unlikely to return. It should be discussed that
persistent sensory changes may develop following any surgical
procedure.  Numbness and neuropraxia to the muscles of your face that control animation is not uncommon, and typically resolve after weeks to months.The usual signs of the nerves regenerating and neuropraxia
resolving is itching, followed by a burning sensation and then
occasional sharp, shock-like pains. These will be normal to experience,
and actually a promising sign. Usually, normal sensation returns, but
is is also possible to have decreased sensation or even increased
sensation to the areas affected. Re-educating nerves postoperatively is
often helpful and will allow proper instruction for the affected
sensory nerves - methods include using different textures to the
affected areas when showering, bathing, applying lotion, etc. If
bothersome, there are some medications that may be helpful, including
Neurontin for pain for hypersensitivity. You can try various textures
such as washcloths, loofahs, cotton sheets, etc. Massaging the areas is
also beneficial for the incision to make the finest scar possible. The
last place to regain the sensation will be directly adjacent to the
incision/scar as the nerves will make its way from the periphery to this
location. If continual pain arises, evaluation is warranted. After
ruling out other causes, one rare explanation may be that a neuroma has
developed and may require surgical excision. This is very unlikely
unless a large sensory nerve has been transected inadvertently during
the procedure. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Lumpiness and tissue induration
following facelift surgery varies from patient to patient and is often related
to the wound healing characteristic of the patient.  The majority of tissue lumpiness usually resolves in about
two weeks following facelift surgery. 
In most cases, total resolution takes about three months.

Numbness is also common following
facelift surgery.  This is related
to elevation of the skin flaps and occurs because small sensory nerve fibers
are divided during the procedure. 
It can occur wherever the facelift dissection has been performed, but is
typically seen in the area in front of the ear.  It usually lasts about three to twelve months, but
occasionally small areas of numbness persist for longer periods of time.

It’s important to realize that more
aggressive facelift procedures cause more tissue lumpiness and numbness, which
can last for longer periods of time. 
In most cases, normal sensation returns with the passage of time.  Tissue lumpiness and numbness are normal following surgery but persistent tissue
induration should be evaluated by your surgeon.

Many patients experience numbness for up to one year post-op. Lumpiness can certainly be normal for the first month or so post op. Best of luck.

After a facelift numbness is the norm because of the elevation of the facial skin flaps many sensory nerves have been cut and need to reconnect.  The feeling of lumpinessis  is part of the normal healing process.  All of these things will vanish in a few weeks.

Your description of numbness and "lumpiness" under the chin after Facelift is completely normal and will improve.  Wound healing must go through a process (which no Surgeon can alter), until a steady state is achieved.  This process takes about a year or 4 seasons.  Good Luck!