How Long Should Swelling and Numbness Last After a Facelift?

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.

That's a good question. Numbness
from a lower face and neck lift will generally begin to resolve within a couple
of months, but complete resolution takes a year or more, with the area just in
front of the ears taking the longest. This is because the nerves grow so
slowly. On the other hand, swelling is usually pretty completely resolved
within 3 months, except occasionally the cheek area just underneath the eye can
take longer. At 6 weeks, in most people 80% to 90% of the swelling will have
resolved.

This is a difficult question to answer without knowing exactly what was done surgically. What levels were entered, what was sutured to what, which sutures were used, how far the flap was taken towards the lips etc. I would say you should see significant improvement over the next few weeks from a swelling standpoint. See your surgeon for a more detailed plan to help reduce swelling. I often have patients eat a low sodium diet (less than 15oomg) as that has been shown to help.Numbness can vary. It again depends on the depth of the lift. It is not uncommon for there to be skin and ear numbness for up to 3-4 months though. Hope this helps.Best of luck,DrC

This is a great question!
I would say generally swelling after a facelift begins to resolve after the first 2-3 weeks, however the time for complete resolution of swelling can vary from patient to patient. The majority of this occurs over the first month, however this process continues over the first few months after surgery meaning that the degree of improvement after surgery often gets better over time as things heal and swelling resolves. That being said, the swelling will typically resolve in different portions of the face at different times. For example, swelling of the jaw and neck can sometimes take longer to resolve due to its position and the effects of gravity.
Regarding the numbness, it is normal to have some numbness along the incision lines for several weeks to a couple months as there are cutaneous nerves in the skin that are disrupted as part of surgery.
Hope this helps!

Hello,

The majority of swelling after a facelift resolves in about 2-3 weeks. The mild residual swelling can take another few weeks to fully subside but is hardly noticeable. When fat grafting is also performed, swelling can take a bit longer to resolve, especially in the lips.
Numbness can last anywhere from 3-6+ months and varies greatly from individual to individual.

Warm regards,
Dr. Pedy Ganchi
Village Plastic Surgery

This is a common question and concern for many patients. I usually tell my patients that 3-10 days is the peak time for bruising and swelling. Most people are ‘restaurant ready’ by 2-3 weeks after facelift surgery, which means with make-up on and under not-too-bright lighting. Glasses, even non-prescription versions like blue-light glasses, can help to hide bruises and swelling around your eyes, especially if you also had a blepharoplasty. Milder swelling can go up and down, depending on the day, for 2-3 months. Though this does not usually affect daily life, you want time to heal fully before a big event. Numbness in areas of the face, neck, and ears is common and may take as long as a year to resolve. Most patients find that it has improved enough by 6 months that they don’t find it bothersome. It is possible that some areas to remain numb long term.As always, I advise patients to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial surgery and find someone you connect with and trust. Good Luck!

There are many variables that contribute to healing. Genetics, lifestyle/diet and age can all play a role. Generally, patients can return to work feeling confident 2-3 weeks following Deep Plane Facelift surgery.  Residual swelling and numbness may still be a factor, however both will dissipate over time, anywhere from 1-3 months on average.  Facial fat transfer may cause generalized swelling to the treatment are which should settle down within 2 weeks following the procedure.  Many patients feel completely healed 1 month following both procedures, while others may require a bit more time. Dr. Philip Solomon MD FRCSCSolomon Facial Plastic, Toronto

Hello and thanks for the question. There is a lot of variability regarding the recovery following the procedures you describe. Numbness around the sides of the face and ears is quite common and can take several months to fully resolve, though it generally improves with each passing week.  Swelling is similar in the sense that much of it improves in the first few weeks, however it continues to slowly dissipate over the ensuing weeks and can take a few months to fully resolve.  Hope that helps and good luck

Our practice sees patient return to work and social engagements at 10-14 days.  You will still have residual swelling and numbness at that time which will continue to resolve over the coming months. Our practice is founded in a holistic approach to healing and we use many complementary medicine techniques to help nurture the healing process.  There are homeopathic supplements, prescription medications, as well as treatments (lymphatic drainage, myofascial release) that can help expedite this healing process if used in a safe and appropriate way.  

Thank you for your question.  Each patient heals differently.  Some patients take much longer to heal  than others.  Bruising and swelling will typically go down after a few weeks, but ultimately it takes six months for everything to completely heal.   Best wishes.

So much of how long swelling lasts depends on what procedure was done and the individual's reaction. Generally though you can assume a few weeks of swelling with gradual return to normal over a few months. There should be little to no bruising if a drain is used and the sensation should return where the flaps were raised over two to three months. Take care drying your hair during this period
Dr J