Nerve Damage After MACS Facelift 15 Months Ago?

    Nerves can recover for up to 2 years after injury, but, after 15 months, recovery is less likely.  Going to a neurologist may be helpful.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Hi @GJColley,
Thanks for your question. I suspect you have nerve damage to the left buccal and possibly zygomatic branches of the facial nerve. At this point you should have improved or at the least been assessed or followed for improvement. Possibly BOTOX on the right to make it more symmetric while you recover.
The Buccal Branches are the most commonly injured nerve branches during a Facelift but they are usually the least likely to be noticed because there are so many Buccal branches that they compensate for one another.  
The Buccal Branches supply motor control to many muscles including those for flaring the nostrils (Nasalis Muscle), and lifting the upper lip (Levator Labii Superioris).
There is still hope for recovery because once a nerve branch is cut, the muscle it supplies can last 18 months before it can no longer be salvaged. And the nerve branches regenerate at an inch a month. There is still hope for you to recover and I would seek out a plastic surgeon with experience in Peripheral Nerve Surgery to evaluate you and walk you through your options.
Best Wishes,
K. Chopra, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Trained Plastic Surgeon
Face, Body and Breast Expert

Facial weakness following facelift surgery is in the vast majority of cases temporary and results from bruising of the nerve branches.  Recovery usually and occurs within 3 months and very little recovery occurs after 12 months although some improvement can still occur.  A neurology assessment can help determine if any further recovery is likely with the use of motor nerve testing.  

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC, FACS.