Black Eyes After Facelift Surgery

Black eyes after a face lift are related to iron from blood bruises that deposit in the dermis of the skin. They usually can hang around for 3 to 6 months. While this does not happen tto everyone, it occurs in a good 15% of patients.

It’s not
unusual for patients to experience bruising following facelift surgery. When
more aggressive facelift techniques are utilized this bruising may even involve
the eyelids. In most cases bruising resolves in 2-4 weeks following surgery. Unfortunately
when discoloration last for longer periods of time, other explanations are more
likely.Under these circumstances,
hemosiderin deposition may be a more likely explanation. This problem occurs
when patients experience bleeding following face lift procedures. This can
result in red blood cells permeating the soft tissue in the involved areas.
Over the course of time, these red blood cells and their hemoglobin are broken
down and degraded. One of their by products is hemosiderin.Hemosiderin can stain the soft
tissue. Although this staining isn’t permanent it can take years to breakdown,
resolve and disappear. Unfortunately there’s no treatment that can accelerate
the process.

Two month afterfacelift surgery most of bruising, swelling and numbness should be resolved. Initialhematoma or seroma formation can lead to distortion of lymphatic drainagecausing prolonged tissue edema beyond two months period, leading to prolonged discoloration of tissue. Warm compress followedby deep massage, as well as anti-inflammatory medications will help to reduceedema and bruising followed by facelift surgery. Sometimes hydroquinone can be helpful to reduce the darkness of skin. If it is bruising and not just dark circles I think you just have to let it subside on its own.

It is unusual to see black eyes after a facelift.  In select patients, in particular those with dark eyes already, patients can have some prolonged pigmentation issues post procedure.  Seek advice from your surgeon in ways to expedite the healing.

I agree that its been quite a long time since your surgery to still have bruising. It's impossible to give a real answer without pictures before and after. Please follow up with your surgeon.