Should I be concerned about hardness after my facelift?

The firmness and tissue ridging that you describe is common after face and neck lift procedures. It will take several months for the tissues to return to a normal, soft and pliable state. Massage along the regions of concern is effective, as is external ultrasound therapy.

At 12 days, your healing is within the spectrum of normal. I usually tell my patients that you will be 'restaurant ready' or appear 'presentable' after 7-10 days , however, the numbess, bumpiness and hardness after the procedure varies from patient to patient depending on the skin quality and extent of procedure performed and that can take from 2-6m to completely dissipate.

The recovery period after facelift happens in stages. The main bruising and swelling will resolve after two to three weeks, and it is often normal to feel some ridges and thickness underneath the skin for up to three months. These can related to the regions which were tightened and sutured..

Once the area starts to heal a little more, your surgeon might recommend massaging the areas to help the "ropey" feeling soften.

You are still very early in the healing process after your surgery. Try and hang in there.

-Dr. Jamil Asaria

     Hardness as well as lumps are normal at 12 days following a face and neck lift.  The hardness may take 3 to 6 months to soften, but most of the swelling is gone by 2 to 6 weeks, depending upon what was done and how it was done.

12 days is still very soon after your surgery, and you will be experiencing swelling and tightness at this time. It can take some time before the side effects resolve, and it is important to be patient during the healing process. In the meantime, I would recommend speaking with your surgeon regarding any concerns, and seeing him or her for a follow-up if necessary. Thank you, and best of luck with the remainder of your recovery.

Yes, this is totally normal 12 days after a face and necklift. This will improve with time as swelling diminishes and your healing progresses. What you describe is totally normal at this point in your recovery. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Thank you for your question.

To clarify, I am a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic procedures, including all newer aspects of the short scar procedures.  I'm also a proud member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).  I am board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I am also an active member of the American College of Surgeons.

After many patients receive this type of procedure, they begin to have their doubts and concerns when the healing process begins. Following the procedure, you will feel swelling, stiffness and numbness. The hard areas on the face will eventually fade away within time by applying ice packs and massaging the area thoroughly. A few weeks after your procedure you will begin feeling yourself again.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call us at 847.696. We would also be happy to mail you some additional information and brochures. In case you have not done so yet, please check out our website at prplastic.com for a wealth of additional information as well as a lot of before and after pictures.

Thanks for your question. Have a great day!

Best regards,

Dr. Speron

Given that it is still quite early in your recovery, I would not worry.  Contour irregularities (lumps, bumps, ridges, depressions) are pretty common after facelifts and may persist for a couple months.  They will likely diminsh steadily and eventually go away.  In our practice we combine home massage and in office ultra-sound to help speed the process along.  Best of luck!

At two weeks post-op, it is not unusual for patients to note the "ropey feeling" and areas of firmness you have observed in your face and neck. While most of these findings can be attributed to post-operative swelling and inflammation, their etiology may also be a function of the type of facelift your surgeon performed.

 

For instance, if your surgeon performed an extended biplanar SMAS facelift with an aggressive plication of the platysma to accentuate the contour and improve the definition of the neck, as I routinely do, you may actually be palpating the overlap of the SMAS flaps in the neck. Similarly, if he performed a MACS style face lift, you may be feeling the elevated soft tissue engaged by the loops of suture he has placed.

 

Lastly, although it is uncommon, areas of firmness may denote a small collection of blood or organized clot beneath the skin. The bottom line is that your surgeon is the best person to answer your questions about the specific procedure he performed, and he will probably be grateful for the opportunity to provide you with reassurance that your post-operative course is progressing just fine.

12 days after facelift surgery is still very early in the healing process. It's expected to have a degree of firmness or hardness after cosmetic surgery. Most of this sensation is usually due to swelling. Keeping the head elevated, ice packs, salt restriction, and following your plastic surgeon's care instructions will help maximize healing and minimize swelling. Facial massage may help too soften the skin. However, you must speak with him/her regarding any issues you have. Best of luck.

 

Dr. Chaboki