Is Greater Tightness & Discomfort on One Side Vs. the Other Normal After Facelift?

Question

I had a facelift 5 months ago. My right ear and neck have been tighter & more uncomfortable since day 1and they still are (although now it is more intermittent than earlier.) Is this normal? If so, what what could cause the disparity? Thank you.

Dilip D. Madnani, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi. Tightness on one side more than the other is a relatively common feeling within the first few week or so after a facelift. The fact that you are still feeling it after 5months is more of the issue. The good news is that you state above that the feeling is intermittent now, thats a great sign, and you should expect it to further improve over time. What causes it is usually from different amounts of scar tissue that can develop or even from any kind of fluid collection or bleeding you may have experienced on one side more than the other. Hope this helps.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

One side can feel tighter after facelift.  If the cosmetic result is very good, I would wait a year or so.  Massage may help the tight sensation.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD · Answer

It's important to remember that it can sometimes take a full year for these issues to resolve. Your face and body is still recovering from this process, though you may expect to see optimal results by now. Make sure that you let your plastic surgeon know about your concerns and be sure to continue to follow your post operative care regimin.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

It is certainly reasonable to have tightness that is different on one side versus the other.  The response/healing process can differ from side to side.  This difference may be due to many factors.  

	Dr. ES

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Hello, and sorry to hear about your discomfort.  The side effects of a facelift, which can vary depending on the type of facelift that was performed and the severity of the patient's issues, may include the following:

	 

	1) Swelling
	2) Bruising
	3) Temporary numbness
	4) Nerve injury that is usually temporary but can sometimes be permanent
	5) A feeling of tightness
	
	One of the goals of a facelift is to lift and tighten the skin of the face and neck.  In order for the results to be long lasting, tissues deeper than the skin have to be lifted and tightened.  This will causes a tight feeling in the face and neck which is a sign that the proper tissues were lifted.  This is an uncomfortable feeling after surgery, but the feeling will greatly improve or resolve 6-12 weeks following surgery. However, every patient heals differently, and the tightness may last longer. Massage and exercises that improve the range of motion of your neck will help to improve this tight feeling. I do not recommend these movements unless the patient cannot tolerate the tight feeling because they will loosen the tissues that were tightened for the facelift.   The fact that you are experiencing this tightness only on one side is not any cause for alarm, as we all have asymmetries that may cause us to heal different. Your surgeon may have had to perform more invasive work in this region to correct for issues that may have been different on that side. I would recommend speaking with the surgeon who performed your procedure to determine how you may safely ease some of the tightness if it is causing you discomfort.  Thank you and good luck!

Is Greater Tightness & Discomfort on One Side Vs. the Other Normal After Facelift?

Answers (5)