last year i had a facelift and developed hematoma on two sides. it was drained for over a week. i have scar tissue underneath but theskin where the hematoma was is loose which shows as irregularities. i filled them up with filler but it doesnt help. Recovery was long 4 months to look halfway decent. i would like to have it redraped at the one year mark: 1) will it damage my skin? my skin was very dry for a while. 2) how long to recover? 3) does it cost as much as a facelift?
December 5, 2014
Answer: The Skin after a Facelift Complication Sorry to hear about your prolonged recovery. I read many of the answers below and It seems like you are getting some good advice. Healing from a facelift can be very difficult and prolonged in some people. This is not common fortunately however as a surgeon, it is our job to help you through the process and ensure there are no complications that can not be repaired. It is common after a hematoma to have some fibrous and slightly abnormal appearing skin. This can be due to many factors and may be due to things like a deep scar contraction (the deep tissue forms fibers and can pull on the overlying skin). If you wait a year and this still is visible, there are some option to try. Rarely do you need to do a second surgery, so I would be cautious about that. One option is different forms of non-ablative radio-frequency treatments. This can heat the deep layers of your skin and help break down the small scar fibers. There is certainly no guarantee this would work, but I think it would be work mentioning to your treating surgeon. This would also be substantially less expensive. Regardless, its difficult know the best option unless you could see your photo's or your face live. Hopefully this was somewhat helpfull,Dr James P. Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSCOtolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryFacial Plastics and Reconstructive SurgeryOttawa, Ontario, Canada
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December 5, 2014
Answer: The Skin after a Facelift Complication Sorry to hear about your prolonged recovery. I read many of the answers below and It seems like you are getting some good advice. Healing from a facelift can be very difficult and prolonged in some people. This is not common fortunately however as a surgeon, it is our job to help you through the process and ensure there are no complications that can not be repaired. It is common after a hematoma to have some fibrous and slightly abnormal appearing skin. This can be due to many factors and may be due to things like a deep scar contraction (the deep tissue forms fibers and can pull on the overlying skin). If you wait a year and this still is visible, there are some option to try. Rarely do you need to do a second surgery, so I would be cautious about that. One option is different forms of non-ablative radio-frequency treatments. This can heat the deep layers of your skin and help break down the small scar fibers. There is certainly no guarantee this would work, but I think it would be work mentioning to your treating surgeon. This would also be substantially less expensive. Regardless, its difficult know the best option unless you could see your photo's or your face live. Hopefully this was somewhat helpfull,Dr James P. Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSCOtolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryFacial Plastics and Reconstructive SurgeryOttawa, Ontario, Canada
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December 3, 2014
Answer: Prolonged recovery from hematoma Congratulations on your facelift. I'm sorry to hear that your recovery was prolonged, but it sounds like you are making progress. The question in my mind is what type of irregularity are you trying to fix and whether or not surgical intervention is necessary. It sounds redundant, but photo evaluation and clinical exam is best in order to make a reliable recommendation. However, some findings are consistent regardless. Hematomas do happen, and despite appropriate evacuation and drainage, prolonged edema and contour irregularities can happen. Sometimes waiting 1 year is not enough. Meet with your surgeon and evaluate your options. Fillers/fat grafts etc can often temporize to get you through the healing cycle. If skin elevation and re-draping is indicated, your surgeon will help you evaluate the appropriate time with regards to risks.
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December 3, 2014
Answer: Prolonged recovery from hematoma Congratulations on your facelift. I'm sorry to hear that your recovery was prolonged, but it sounds like you are making progress. The question in my mind is what type of irregularity are you trying to fix and whether or not surgical intervention is necessary. It sounds redundant, but photo evaluation and clinical exam is best in order to make a reliable recommendation. However, some findings are consistent regardless. Hematomas do happen, and despite appropriate evacuation and drainage, prolonged edema and contour irregularities can happen. Sometimes waiting 1 year is not enough. Meet with your surgeon and evaluate your options. Fillers/fat grafts etc can often temporize to get you through the healing cycle. If skin elevation and re-draping is indicated, your surgeon will help you evaluate the appropriate time with regards to risks.
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December 2, 2014
Answer: A hematoma is best drained after a facelift as soon as is recognized. A significant hematoma will eventually resolve but will leave a sizable amount of scarring that may take years to totally flatten. In general, a large hematoma is removed completely at the time that it is recognized.
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December 2, 2014
Answer: A hematoma is best drained after a facelift as soon as is recognized. A significant hematoma will eventually resolve but will leave a sizable amount of scarring that may take years to totally flatten. In general, a large hematoma is removed completely at the time that it is recognized.
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