How long is applying cold compresses effective? I still have swelling on my face and jaw line 9 days after surgery.

Question

I am 9 days post op from a lower facelift and neck lift. 50 yrs old. I have swelling still on face and jawline and on right side along jawline I can feel a ridge. Will the compress help it at this point? Thank you

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Swelling typically do some size over two week process. The majority of swelling will be gone within the week. Patients vary in the response to surgery. Continue close follow up with your surgeon.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question.First 24-48 hours after the operation face will be swelling. After 48 hours swelling will be decreases. Scalp area stitches are taken from the day 10. Final results may take 1 month. Patients can return to work after 1 week. The effect of gravity varies according to the aging speed and lifestyle but it provides an average permanent effect of 10 years. I wish you all the best.

Avron Lipschitz, MD · Answer

Peak swelling after facelift occurs at about day 5 . It tends to recede thereafter. Several techniques can improved facial swelling post op and you will need to discuss these with your surgeon.
1. Arnica - a herbal supplement comes as tablets or cream or both. Non invasive and works quite well. Best to start it preop.
2. Light lymphatic massage - this needs to be done by an esthetician familiar with facelifts because too vigorous will cause damage to the underlying delicate surgical work or worsen the inflammation. 
3. Ultrasound treatment- best works if swelling is persistent or occurs more than 2 weeks out - quite powerful and great to break up scar tissue and tightness.
4. A short course of steroids (medrol dose pack) 6 days.
5. Time - this is the most important treatment, almost all swelling will go down with time but we try to accelerate the process with treatments 1-4 above
best of luck with your recovery 
Avron

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

It seems that your recovery after surgery is going okay. Usually cold compresses are effective for the first two days. After two days, the swelling is at a maximum and then starts getting better. Please make sure not to use cold compresses or ice too long or often as the last thing you want to get is frostbite or injure your skin since it might be numb after your surgery.
To answer your one question, yes usually it is not uncommon for things to be swollen after a facelift. Usually it's worse the first week but gets better every week. I know it's hard to be patient after surgery.If it does not settle, you can undergo corrective surgery with additional surgery.  I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of facelifts if you want a second opinion and of course, make sure you follow up with your own surgeon and talk about this if you have concerns that linger. I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Cool compresses or ice in the first few hours after facelift probably helps swelling modestly. After that it has no effect and is used primarily for comfort.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Swelling after a facelift varies, depending on your age, what medications you normally take, on the surgical technique used etc.  It is perfectly normal to remain visibly swollen for two weeks or so, and it can really take full three months or more for all swelling to be completely resolved.  I don't think cold compresses will make much of a difference 9 days after surgery.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

After surgery or any trauma, there is an inflammatory process which causes swelling.  Ice will help to impede this from occurring by decreasing blood flow to the area over the first 48 hours or so.  After that the ice is not very effective.  The inflammatory process starts to change, and the body is trying to get rid of the inflammatory cells which are present.  So after 48-72 hours of ice, you should switch to warm compresses to increase blood flow to the area.

Paul S. Howard, MD · Answer

Swelling in the lower face is a typical response to facial surgery. By 9 days the swelling should be resolving unless there is a reason for it to continue. Ice is always a good idea but in the neck it is best to wrap the face and neck to maintain pressure so that the effects of gravity causing swelling can be reduced. This is especially true at night so we recommend wrapping with the pressure on the neck at nighttime. The swelling is frequently better in the morning

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In our practice, we do not have patients apply cold compresses after a facelift procedure because they're numb, and only has very minimal effectiveness, if anything. Best to check with your operative surgeon to make sure there's not hematoma or a seroma present. Anticipate visible swelling and bruising for two weeks after a facelift procedure.

Michael Stefan, MD · Answer

Use a neck bandeau, but do not wear it too tight.  It is uncomfortable, so try to keep it on as long as possible during the day.  There is no value to compresses, either hot or cold.

How long is applying cold compresses effective? I still have swelling on my face and jaw line 9 days after surgery.

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