What is the chance of crooked smile and face paralyse after mini facelift?

Question

What is the chance of crooked smile or nerve injury or damage and face paralyse after mini facelift?

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

Good question.  A crooked smile is caused by injury to the marginal mandibular nerve. In experienced hands it would be very very rare for it to be permanently injured. On rare occasion you can have temporary weakening from swelling or bruising in the area and this returns to normal function. I would not let this rare complication prevent you from moving forward with your mini lift as the patient satisfaction is high for the procedure and we want you to enjoy your rejuvenated appearance.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

For unique cases where a variety of modalities could be used to treat the condition, I would suggest an in-person or virtual consultation to develop a custom and effective treatment plan.  It is difficult to precisely define the best option without collecting the same information. I suggest reaching out to an expert for a consultation with surgical and non-surgical methods to get a comprehensive option. Best, Dr. Emer.

Jonathan Pontell, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi and thanks for the question.  The chances are incredibly small that you would have a paralysis.  Even with a bigger traditional facelift, the incidence is very low, but with a mini-facelift, I don't think that you have to worry about this.  I have never seen any paralysis from a mini-facelift.

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

Facial nerve injury can occur with facelifts but it is rare and quoted at less than 1% risk.  You should go to an experienced plastic surgeon that is board certified.

Dilip D. Madnani, MD, FACS · Answer

The risk of facial paralysis is low overall, especially in the hands of a surgeon who specializes in facelifts or does them on a regular basis. The risk from a mini lift should be even smaller, as there is less dissection around the nerves that is performed.

Lawrence Kass, MD · Answer

The chances of injury to the facial nerve with standard facelift procedures is estimated to be about 1%.  The chances of this happening with a mini facelift should be markedly less than this number.  This procedure is safe and can give wonderful results for the right patient.  I hope that this answers your question.  Good luck!

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

You appear under 30 years of age? Best to understand your options in categories or combination of categories. #1. Non Surgical - HA fillers, toxins, peels, laser resurfacing, Plasma Helium Bovie. Can improve skin quality with minimal to moderate tightening. Most have no downtime over a week. While the Plasma bovie has 3 weeks+ downtime. #2. Minimal Surgical options: Fat grafting to face, Silhouette InstaLift, PDO Thread Lift (or combination of both which I offer), One Stitch FaceLift, combination of these with #1. #3. Surgical: mini FaceLift is all that would apply in your case presented. I recommend a few in person opinions with only private practice boarded PSs. Limited facial nerves risks with minimFL.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  Facial paralysis is the result of damage to one of the branches of the facial nerve.  This should be an exceedingly rare event with the more invasive traditional SMAS and other aggressive facelift techniques and much more rare with a minimally invasive SMAS type facelift based on the limited dissection.  The nerves are at greater risk of injury with deeper or more extensive tissue dissection, hence the greater risk with those types of facelift techniques.  
 Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.  Conversely, men look chiseled and handsome with angularity in the cheeks, chin and mandibular angles.
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and an indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
My most popular facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
no incisions within the hair = no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
Hope this helps.

What is the chance of crooked smile and face paralyse after mini facelift?

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