recently had a lower facelift, necklift, fat injections in nasafolds. 6 weeks postop still swollen and numb. Is this normal, and if so how, long before i am completely healed?
How Long Should Swelling and Numbness Last After a Facelift?
Doctor Answers 115
I usually tell patients to expect about 10 days to two weeks for bruising to resolve after a facelift. Many times it can be earlier, but I have heard so many patients say that "I am a good healer and will be less", and then it is still 10-14 days, that I want to be realistic and conservative. I have also experimented with different aspects of the lift, including bigger, bulky dressings, tissue glue, and/or drains and none of them have appreciably improved healing time over other means.
The swelling is typical, and begins to create a horizontal fullness to the face through the first week. The second week the face looks more like patients expect, but can still be heavy or masculine along the jawline. By about a month, the face takes on a more natural, heart shape that showcases the strengths of a rejuvenating facelift. But there is clearly swelling to the incisions, jawline, and neck to three months. As swelling resolves, gravity draws it lower in the face. So the jawline and neck take longer to resolve than the cheeks.
It is normal to have numbness around your ears after a face lift. Normal sensation typically will return within 3 months, but can take up to a year if not longer in a select few. As things return to normal, you may experience some sharp shooting pain, tingling, or even the urge to itch the skin. Return to normal will not be that far off if you start to experience these symptoms.
Swelling may also take a while to resolve, but typically residual swelling may be confined to certain areas, not the whole face. Many patient will actually feel more swollen than they physically manifest. This is like when you walk out of the dentist's office, the lips are numb and feel like they are huge, but they are not. The same applies to the face; when it is numb, those areas will feel more swollen than they actually are. But even in the presence of identifiable swelling, it may take months to resolve.
I usually tell people that most of the healing including swelling, numbness will be 60% complete at 6 weeks and 90% around 6 months. The nerves grow at a maximal rate of 1 mm per day. but is usually slower than that in my experience. Taping, pressure dressings, steroids orally or injections could work.
You might also like...
Facelift Pictures
Photos from the community
The swelling and numbness following a face lift typically are most notable for the first 3 months but may take up to 6 months prior to achieving a stable appearance. The numbness may continue to resolve over a period of 2 years.
Swelling and numbness are both to be expected, of course, after a Facelift. Of the two, it is the swelling (and bruising) that keeps people out of work/circulation. Most of my patients are able to go back to work in about 7-10 days as 70-80% of the swelling will have resolved. The remaining swelling can take 6-8 weeks more to fully resolve. The numbness takes longer to totally resolve (even up to a year in some case), but in the majority of cases, the numbness is a non-issue after about 3-4 months.
Dr. Y
Numbness is a normal part of the recovery after Facelift and most will resolve in 6 - 8 months after surgery. Some areas of numbness, like the cheeks, fade more quickly. Others like the stitch lines themselves take longer, maybe 18 months or longer.
Swelling will mostly dissipate within a few days to a couple of weeks, but some spots, like around the internal stitches in the cheeks and under the chin will take longer. Some of these areas of swelling are subtle in appearance, not so much noticeable by others, but may be felt as firmer spots under the skin.
Swelling after a facelift is typically 2-3 weeks, but many patients can look good at 7-10 days. Numbness, however can last for several months. Most patients find the numbness quite tolerable and have very little discomfort post op. As the numbness resolves, some patients will experience a burning or itchy sensation, dude to nerve recovery. This is very normal and resolves over time.
Web reference: http://stevenringlermd.com/facial-procedures-grand-rapids/surgical/facelift-procedures/
It really depends on the patient. The majority of the swelling resolves by around 6 weeks. But the ultimate result may take 4-6 months.
As far as the numbness goes, it may take 6-12 months for complete return.
Good luck.
Web reference: http://www.feplasticsurgery.com/orange-county-facelift-newport-beach.php
It is normal to have some residual swelling and sensory changes at this time. Swelling is mostly resolved by about 3mo, but some can still be seen even 6mo or 12mo after surgery (i.e. some subtle changes may manifest at this time after all swelling goes away). Numbness is common, but return is highly variable, a few weeks is expected but changes/improvement can be seen for as long as a year. I hope this helps!
Web reference: http://www.correaplasticsurgery.com/face/facelift/
You are still early in the post operative course. Everyone heals at a different rate. Also, did you have any bleeding under the flap, or any other issues? It takes weeks to months to finally see the swelling go away. This goes for the nerves as well. Nerves do not like to be pushed or otherwise messed with. They may take their time coming back.
Web reference: http://www.jjrothmd.com/procedures/facelift-necklift
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
You might also like...
Related Content
Facelift Recovery
233 doctor answers
How Long Until Swelling Is 100% Gone After Face Lift?
53 doctor answers
What Can Be Done to Reduce Swelling and Lumps After Lower Facelift...
22 doctor answers
Massage After Face Lift? (photo)
9 doctor answers
Ask a Doctor
Get personalized answers from board-certified doctors. For free.
Facelift Pictures
Photos from the community
