24 days post. I’m worried my face is not tight enough. Can anything be done after surgery to tighten a bit more skin?

Question

I think I should have had more skin removed. Seems like my cheeks are still a little saggy. Can anything be done after surgery to tighten a bit more skin? I’m trying to be positive.

David Gilpin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  I'm sorry you are having these concerns after your facelift.  At 24 days postoperative, you still have quite a bit of swelling.  This can certainly give a false appearance that there is still loose skin in certain areas of the face and neck.  It can take anywhere from 6 months to a year for all the swelling after a facelift to resolve.  Be sure to follow up with your surgeon and follow all postoperative instructions just as they were given to you.I hope that this helps!
-David Gilpin

Jeffrey R. Raval, MD, FACS, MBA · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. Unfortunately at one month post-op, you are still too early in the healing process to be evaluated for a revision procedure. It is not uncommon for the swelling to start to go down and for patients to be concerned with residual sagging. I would try to be patient as your face continues to heal and consult your board-certified surgeon in 6 months to discuss if revision surgery would be a good avenue for you. Good luck!

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

You are less than 1 month after your procedure so it is very early in your healing. All patients note their initial tightness relaxes as their swelling goes away and the skin doesn't look quite as tight.  You should wait approximately 6 months before considering a revision and be sure your surgeon understands your concerns.  Most revisions can be done under local anesthesia only, patient willing.  It is hard to make any meaningful comment about whether you would benefit from this without at least photos but ideally a face to face examination.  Best wishes.

James H. Rogers, MD · Answer

At less than one month after surgery, it is too soon to evaluate your results. Most patients experience some degree of disappointment as the swelling decreases, because some of the finer wrinkles and lines reappear. There are always revisional procedures that can be done to address areas that may be a problem. I recommend waiting two to three months before making that determination. Express your concerns with your surgeon and follow their recommendations.

Michael Kulick, MD, DDS · Answer

Without pictures, it is impossible to answer your questions. Typically, patients feel they are too tight within the first month. Hopefully, you have stayed in contact with your surgeon. In the web link provided, you can see patients two weeks, 1 month and long term when receiving a vertical facelift. Best, Dr. KASAPS, ASPS member

J. Phillip Garcia, MD, FACS · Answer

At this early point in your recovery there is still swelling present that will subside. It is difficult to tell how much in most cases.  Although it may look like excess skin the problem may actually be swelling. I would recommend patience and allowing your surgeon to reassure you at this time.

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

It's a bit early to make any final judgements about your facelift. 1 month post-op is an early stage after surgery and you are still healing. You should give it some more time and let yourself heal first. There are minimally invasive methods for tightening skin. Depending on your needs, fillers or fat injections might help. Also there are fractional radiofrequency system devices such as Scarlet S. They can be quite effective in tightening skin.

Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

It can take several months for the face and neck to heal after a facelift.  I would wait at least 3-6 months after the surgery before having a better indication of your results.  It may be possible to perform a slight revision if there is still some excess skin after this time.

Ravi Dahiya, MD · Answer

There is one simple option that can sometimes deliver a little extra skin tightening after a facelift if you are a candidate for it - laser resurfacing. I often perform some type of skin resurfacing at the same time as a facelift. I believe that although a lift can certainly tighten the deeper tissues layers but the skin itself needs to be improved independently in order to achieve the best most comprehensive result. I am not suggesting that you do this immediately but it is certainly worth discussing with your surgeon and is better than further surgery in most cases.

Scott C. Lindsay, DO · Answer

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your recent proceure! You're very early in the healing process and should expect to see additional small changes throughout the next several months. Should this continue to bother you, and you could use a little peace of mind, you could always schedule a follow up with your surgeon to reevaluate your PreOp pictures along with your current outcome. Good luck and congratulations, again!

24 days post. I’m worried my face is not tight enough. Can anything be done after surgery to tighten a bit more skin?

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