Could My Doctor Have Inadvertently Nicked a Blood Vessel?

Question

Had Lower Facelift and Necklift with Liposuction. The Day After Surgery, I Noticed 2 burn wounds on the right side of my face. It took 1 hour to stop my bleeding. He said he had to cauterize a blood vessel to get it the bleeding to stop. Did he inadvertently nick a blood vessel? There were no incisions externally, so why would I have burns on the outside?

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Whenever a face/neck lift is performed, small blood vessels are cut as the incisions are made through the skin and as the skin flaps are raised.  It is normal to cauterize these vessels to stop them from bleeding.  Normally, this should not cause a burn on the skin, unless the bleeding was possibly coming from the skin side of the flap.  I would discuss your issue with your surgeon, as he would know exactly what was done during your particular procedure.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Thermal discharge from electrocautery used to stop bleeding can cause burns from beneath the skin that may be seen on the skin's surface.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

All I can do is speculate what may have happened. I would recommend that you ask your facial plastic surgeon why you have the skin changes that you discovered. As part of facelift surgery, one routinely encounters blood vessels that need to be sealed with electrocautery. For this process to take 1 hour is rather unusual.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Blood vessels are routinely cut during facelift surgery.  This is a normal part of the procedure.  Bleeding is also routinely cauterized.  You will need to discuss your specific case and recovery with your surgeon further.  All the best on your recovery.

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD · Answer

During some surgical procedures, such as a facelift, some blood vessels that have to be cut are cauterized to stop the bleeding and sometimes the skin tissue can absorb some of the heat, giving the appearance of a burn.  During the healing process this burned appearance can show up but can be taken care of easily with post op care. I recommend contacting your treating surgeon and discussing your concerns and what can be done to properly take care of it. “Dr. D”

Could My Doctor Have Inadvertently Nicked a Blood Vessel?

Answers (6)

Answer: Facelift Surgery

Answer: Facelift Surgery

Answer: Blood Vessel Cauterization

Answer: Blood Vessel Cauterization

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Could My Doctor Have Inadvertently Nicked a Blood Vessel?

Answers (6)

Answer: Facelift Surgery

Answer: Facelift Surgery

Answer: Blood Vessel Cauterization

Answer: Blood Vessel Cauterization

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Neck Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.