Overtightened smas after facelift? Smiling has become hard work out, even a little smile feels like lifting heavy Weight.

Question

1 year ago i had a faclift and since i feel so constricted below my skin. Smiling has become hard work out for my muscles instead of being easy and natural. I look disorted smiling as the cheeks dont blend to the sides, they block in front and buldge below my eyes projecting very unnaturaly to the front while the sides(15 cm from my ears toward my cheeks)stay totally flat. I stopped smiling as i hate the forced weird look it give to my face.My skin On the opposite is still loose with more folds

Callum Faris, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question.
This si not normal after a facelift. If you post photos of your frontal view at rest and smiling then it is possible to be more accurate. Please seek advice form your PS.
I hope this helps.

Keshav Magge, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and sorry to hear you are having problems so far out.  I would recommend speaking to your plastic surgeon and if you are not happy with those answers speak to another board certified plastic surgeon for a second opinion and an in person evaluation.  All the best,

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

What you describe is not normal after a year postop. Return to your surgeon and if not satisfied get a second opinion from a very experienced facelift surgeon.

James Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSC · Answer

Healing from a facelift can be stressful. The best option is to talk to your surgeon. However, i wrote an editorial on this and you may find that useful. Feel free to check out the link below. Dr James P. Bonaparte

Sam P. Most, MD · Answer

Dear memyself15-Thank you for your question.  I am sorry you are experiencing this.  It is a bit unusual to have these problems this far out from your lift.  You may want to have another visit with your surgeon to express your concerns.  Perhaps he/she will be able to shed some light on this and offer some solutions.Good luck to you.

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS · Answer

Early on following facelift, altered facial muscle function, a "tight" sensation and smile distortion can certainly be expected.  This, however, should diminish over the first 1 to 3 months and certainly is no the at 1 year.  Please address this with your surgeon and seek out other opinions if you feel that is warranted.  Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC, FACS.

Raghu Athre, MD · Answer

The problems you are describing do not seem normal a year out from surgery.  Please see your surgeon and discuss, or seek a second opinion.

Dominic Bray, MBBS, FRCS · Answer

really difficult to comment objectively on this without photos. What you describe however is not normal adn you should discuss it with your surgeon.

William Marshall Guy, MD · Answer

Hello memyself15,The lack of photos limits what can be said.  You should not be having that difficulty with smiling after a facelift.  Rarely a nerve that helps control that part of the smile can be damaged, depending on the technique used, but there is redundancy of that nerve so it would have been expected to improve.  The contour irregularities and bulges are also not to be expected after a facelift.  It would be nice to know the actual technique that was used.  Without any photos I would recommend you follow up with your surgeon for an evaluation.  What you are experiencing would not be considered the normal post operative course.  Your surgeon would be able to give you a better idea of what is going on with your healing.  I hope this helps and good luck.

John Ward, MD (retired) · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  I am sorry to hear that your are having complications and this does not sound normal.  Your best option is to speak to your surgeon and if you are not satisfied with his/her answer then get a second opinion with a board certified plastic surgeon with experience with secondary/corrective facelifts.  Best of luck.

Overtightened smas after facelift? Smiling has become hard work out, even a little smile feels like lifting heavy Weight.

Answers (12)

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